Preset Thermostats and Heating Issues

Preset Thermostats and Heating Issues

Landlord · Rochester, NY · Member since 2012 · 9 posts · 3 votes

As a landlord, I need to know what I can/should do about complaints from some tenants about the heat in their apartments.

Three months ago I acquired a 6-unit apartment building in Western NY. The building was structurally very sound but tired. After a month of owning the apartment, a pipe burst in one apartment (vacant, thank goodness), and was repaired. At that time, I had the hot water boiler system checked. It's very old and needs replacing, but is fully functioning. All the lines were bled and it is working fine. Right after this, one tenant complained that the apartment was very cold. I checked all the lines and found one needed to be bled. I did that and it was working fine.

Next I installed preset thermostats because several of the tenants were turning their old thermostats to 85-degrees. I am paying heat (the boiler is not broken into separate billable zones yet).

Since I replaced the thermostats, the two tenants who set their heat up at 85 have complained about their apartments being too cold. I had a boiler specialist come in and check the system and that apartment. He did some adjustments to help. It is an old, drafty building, and I've suggested that tenants cover windows with plastic.

I am still receiving calls and emails from these two tenants about their apartments being cold, but I know their thermostats are working and they are set at and registering 71, which is the maximum setting.

Do I need to do more? If so, what? If not, how can I respond to these two tenants?

Also, I have an RFQ out to have this very old boiler system replaced in the late Spring. This will be a minimum interruption because the tenants are mostly students.

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  • Contractor · Anchorage, AK · Member since 2012 · 351 posts · 196 votes
    13y

    I understand that you pay the heat and want to save money, but hot water baseboard recovery time is quite slow, and depending on the thermostats differential/ heat anticipator setting, with a 71 degree max it may get down in the mid to low sixties at the bottom of the heat cycle.

    Youll have to weigh tenant comfort against the cost until upgrades are made. It wouldnt be good if they start running space heaters. A little caulk and weather stripping can go a long way to reducing drafts and letting them know you are interested in their welfare and may buy you some time.

  • David NilesBusiness Member
    Property Manager · DeLand FL · Member since 2012 · 860 posts · 243 votes
    13y

    Hi Lori from another WNY er and welcome to BP.

    I would second Randys ideas of probably a bunch of weatherproofing to stop the cold spots caused by leaky windows and doors creating these cold drafts. While boilers are slow for recovery, they are usually a more even comfortable heat then forced air so that shouldnt be an issue. Air in the system can cause cold radiators but you said you had the system bled so that shouldnt be an issue any longer so I would take the seal up approach and work from there.

  • Rental Property Investor · Mercer Island, WA · Member since 2008 · 22k+ posts · 14k+ votes
    13y

    Even if the heating system is working well, I'd consider 71 to be on the chilly side. I know that's not very green of me, but I'm paying for my heat and want to be a bit warmer than that. Further, most places aren't very uniform. My house has a couple of rooms that are always chiller than the rest. A thermostat set to 71 probably means those rooms are only in the mid 60's.

    When you buy a place with owner paid heat, this is kind of part of the deal. If your tenants get upset, they may get visits from authorities. If you want to eliminate this problem, I'd make it a priority to get it converted to tenant paid heat. Realize though you'll have to reduce the rent when you do this. And some tenants may balk if most other properties in the area are owner paid heat.

  • Contractor · Anchorage, AK · Member since 2012 · 351 posts · 196 votes
    13y

    You're right, David! Baseboard is generally more comfortable than forced air. Infrared photos of a typical heated room show highest concentration of warmest air delivered by forced air is in the upper third of the air column. Baseboard shows in the middle third, while infloor radiant the bottom third. Where the the recovery makes the difference is that a thermostat doesnt call for heat until the temp hits 3 to 5 degrees below set point. A slower recovery, especially when hindered by drafts/excessive heat loss, can double that temp drop before the upward swing back up to satisfy thermostat.

  • Member since 2011 · 798 posts · 216 votes
    13y

    85? Wowza. That heating bill must have sucked for you.

    I keep mine at 70-72 in the winter, tops. 75-78 in the summer. With units like yours, 72 might be a better minimum. Maybe 74.
    I read that most offices keep their offices at 72 in the winter.

    85?? I hope you can get split billing soon. What if you had an included utility allowance? Too many tenants take advantage of included utilities.

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