Old Radiators in Apartment

Timco

Is your t-stat the only one...or does each unit have a t-stat? Anyone else have heat in the building? I bought a 4-plex that would only turn the heat on 3 times a day up to 69*. If it was above 69*, the heat never came on. Here it is a violation of the fair housing ordinances to allow a unit to drop below 68* at 5' off the floor. Housing Authority governs this. You can also call a housing attorney. You are owed heat, weather you or the landlord pays for the gas.

Tim

Dan_35

Old Radiators in Apartment

I just recently moved into an apartment. Now, there's an old circular thermostat on the wall (when you switch temperatures, you can almost see a spark that lights inside of the thermostat). Anyways, it's supposedly connected to four radiators in each of the rooms. However, none of them appear to put off any heat. My landlord gave me a 'key' to let the air out of them. It has a square screwdriver type ending on it. It goes into a tiny slot on the right hand side. I used the key, and water started spraying out all over the place. I thought this would do something... but nothing has worked. I've already turned the round knob (bottom left of the radiator) but no heat. I know this topic is pretty vague... but does anyone have any suggestions as to what COULD be wrong? I have no experience with this whatsoever. Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks... Dan

hvacfreak

you know..

He should have given you a bucket with the key. " Fill the bucket with water and you'll have heat " ( for about 5 minutes , lol ). " If you try to bleed air , and no air comes out , it aint an air problem " ...that's what were taught here ( and feed our families with this fact ). -Mike

hvacfreak

lifesavers

I think I've heard an urban legend that says something about biting a peppermint lifesaver will produce a spark also , LOL ( re-read your post about the t-87 and the spark , lol ). Call the landlord and tell him you want some " freakin " heat.-mike

Dan_35

Old Radiators in Apartment

Hey guys. I bought the huge bucket... I let the water run in all four the radiators while the heat was one. The water never once got luke warm. I closed the lock on them... and they're not even the slightest bit warm. I suppose it's possible that the pilot light is not lit on the boiler (I don't have access to the boiler room, or I'd check it myself) but my landlord says it's lit. Any other ideas or suggestions? I've already bought an electric heater. Thanksfully it's not too cold here in Pittsburgh... yet!

hvacfreak

sorry..

I was only joking about the bucket...how about call the guy and tell him you want heat. Or , get more electric heaters.

Long Beach Ed

Landlord stuff

Honestly, Guy. The landlord isn't giving you any heat. He gave you a key and a thermostat to play with but the boiler isn't making heat.

Now he probably did that on purpose because he pays for the gas. MAybe he has a contol that only fires the boiler when he feels it's really cold outside. I'm a landlord and that's how I do it. Or maybe it's just turned off, broken, etc.

Tell him you need heat. If the apartment is colder than 65 or so, this guy isn't living up to his bargain.

Long Beach Ed

Perry_2

So one of those....

OK; sounds like this landlord is not getting it.

Whatever community, city, county, etc you live in will have a govement agency that deals with "uninhabital" appartments and housing. Find out who or what they are - and then tell the landlord that you will be making a call for them to inspect your apartment "tomorrow" unless the landlord either provides heat - or is obviously in the process of providing heat (say a heating contractor replacing a boiler - which might take more than one day: but you will know they are their).

Sometimes the local utility company can also help. If it is a natural gas boiler - the gas utility often has the authority to "red tag" a defective boiler and tell the landlord that they have - say 48 hours - to replace it (I've seen it done).

Perry

Timco

If the building is 3-4 units or more, odds are he has a business license, and is assigned a housing inspector. Call the housing inspection division of your City gov.

Tim

GusHerb

Dan_35

It Works

I just wanted to let all of you guys know that the heat is working. The landlord had his son take care of it. I just got home from work, so I'm not sure what he did with the boiler. Thanks again, everybody, for your help.