Shared thermostat problems

cool guy

I am currently a new tenant in a building with 6 other units all sharing one thermostat on radiator heating. There is a constant battle for temperature control...I am too cold, others are far too hot. My question is this: can one unit turn off it's rad without affecting the other units? If so how? I've spoken to someone that said that it cannot happen because we all share one contained system in series and that if one were to be shut off all the others follwing that one in the chain will be affected too. If that's true is there a way around it or do we just have to compromise?

Mike T., Swampeast MO

If hooked up in series stopping the flow at any one point stops the flow through the entire loop.

Baseboards are the only devices commonly hooked up in series--thus you rarely see valves installed on them.

Iron radiators though are rarely hooked up in series. They'll be hooked up either with two pipes or one pipe. With two pipes there is no problem whatsoever shutting down some radiators. With a one-pipe system however, shutting one will have a greater effect on those following, but it won't stop the flow of water.

Likely if you see valves on the radiators, convectors or whatever you have they can be adjusted.

Balancing a system with hand valves can be quite difficult as changing one affects all of the rest. You might be able to find a setting that pleases most some of the time.

BillW@honeywell

If they all share the same circ pump...

try a reset system, and eliminate the individual stats. The system sets the water temp based on the outside air temp, and while the insulation, windows and sun loading effect each apartments differently, it may be a good compromise. You also might consider individual thermostatic radiator valves, but you will need to make some piping changes and add a differential pressure valve. Either way, your landlord will sve energy and your comfort will be increased.