Heat issues at new 4-plex

Managing Your Property
3yFollow

Heat issues at new 4-plex

Ben S.Pro Member
Member since 2020 · 48 posts · 25 votes
I have a tenant that is going to fill an emergency tenant remedies action on me which means I have 24 hours to fix the issue otherwise they are able to force me to pay for a hotel for them or something like that.  This is all for the heat but I keep the heat in there unit at 71 degrees but they are complaining that one of the bedroom is at 65.  But they also told me that the bedroom that is cold has to always have the door closed because the cat goes in there and pees and poops because it's a mess. 

If anyone lives in MN they know that if you keep a bedroom door shut it will always be cooler than the rest of the house.  So I seriously don't know how to fix this issue.  Does anyone have suggestions on what to do?  I personally keep our house at 69 and our bedroom with the door always open that is upstairs is almost always at 65 and we are more than okay with that.  

I've had multiple professional people look at it and they say it's working but if possible I can install a separate thermostat in each unit to help regulate the heat per unit.  Because I have one of the 4 units that has to open a window to cool it down.  The unit that is filling this claim is the unit with the thermostat in it and it is set at 71.
0Reply
36 views

Most Popular Reply

Evan Kraljic
Investor · Minneapolis, MN · Member since 2019 · 129 posts · 210 votes
3y

I feel for you Ben, sounds like you have an issue with unreasonable tenants more so than the heat, but there are some ways you can provide more even heating. So I'll go rapid fire with a few things that crossed my head reading your post. 

First off you said you've had multiple professionals out there to say it's working. For your sake you should get this in writing so you can show that as proof that you aren't blowing off the issue. 

I believe building code states that you need to provide heat to keep temperatures 68 degrees 3 ft from the floor. However I think most people with finished basements know that you can't really get to 68 unless you really crank the heat in the rest of your house, or install an electric baseboard heater. So that would be one option - Home depot sells cadets that you can hardwire (recommended), but they even sell ones that can plug in to outlets too, so that would be used in the one room. That's probably your easiest solution and relatively affordable.

It sounds like you have one heater for all 4 units - I'm assuming this is a boiler with radiator heat then? I would be curious to see what the quote for putting thermostats in each unit would be, sounds tricky but I don't know much about HVAC. I've had issues with uneven heating in rooms where bleeding radiators and tightening/loosening radiator valves at the inlet helped some with the water flow, but there's only so much you can do with these very old systems. I'm assuming if you're had professionals out and they're radiators, that you've already tried bleeding them. 

If you need any more HVAC people and you're around the metro, Dan Schmidt with Ideal Air is good. So is Metro Heating and Cooling

1Reply
See this reply in the discussion

6 Replies

Jump to latestLatest
  • Evan Kraljic
    Investor · Minneapolis, MN · Member since 2019 · 129 posts · 210 votes
    3y

    I feel for you Ben, sounds like you have an issue with unreasonable tenants more so than the heat, but there are some ways you can provide more even heating. So I'll go rapid fire with a few things that crossed my head reading your post. 

    First off you said you've had multiple professionals out there to say it's working. For your sake you should get this in writing so you can show that as proof that you aren't blowing off the issue. 

    I believe building code states that you need to provide heat to keep temperatures 68 degrees 3 ft from the floor. However I think most people with finished basements know that you can't really get to 68 unless you really crank the heat in the rest of your house, or install an electric baseboard heater. So that would be one option - Home depot sells cadets that you can hardwire (recommended), but they even sell ones that can plug in to outlets too, so that would be used in the one room. That's probably your easiest solution and relatively affordable.

    It sounds like you have one heater for all 4 units - I'm assuming this is a boiler with radiator heat then? I would be curious to see what the quote for putting thermostats in each unit would be, sounds tricky but I don't know much about HVAC. I've had issues with uneven heating in rooms where bleeding radiators and tightening/loosening radiator valves at the inlet helped some with the water flow, but there's only so much you can do with these very old systems. I'm assuming if you're had professionals out and they're radiators, that you've already tried bleeding them. 

    If you need any more HVAC people and you're around the metro, Dan Schmidt with Ideal Air is good. So is Metro Heating and Cooling

    1Reply
  • Ben S.Pro Member
    OP
    Member since 2020 · 48 posts · 25 votes
    3y

    Wow, thank you Evan that is a huge help!  You are very correct it is a boiler system, and it is actually only 2-3 years old and 2 people have said it's working as expected. so really it comes down to the fact that these tenants seem to like to keep their bedroom doors closed and require that I figure out a way to heat their rooms like that.

    So I will most likely look into that plug-in baseboard heater option to remedy their needs for now and continue to research to figure out a permanent solution.  The only hesitation I have with putting a thermostat in each unit is that I have one tenant that seems to not understand that if you put a space heater next to the thermostat it will turn off the boiler heat...

    0Reply
  • Travis BohlingBusiness Member
    Property Manager · Gilbert, AZ · Member since 2011 · 65 posts · 78 votes
    3y

    Hey Ben, it sounds like you have your hands full with some unreasonable residents. Could you install a vent on the door to allow for airflow when the door is closed?

    [email protected]602-898-3924
    Home Ladder4.9500 Reviews
    WebsiteView Page
    0Reply
  • William Coet
    Lititz, PA · Member since 2013 · 595 posts · 272 votes
    3y
    Are you sure it has to be kept that warm?  If they are preventing the heat from circulating by keeping the door closed it is their fault. The heating system was designed to heat the room with the door open. You could install a piece of electric baseboard if they cover the electric bill. This is the NYC requirement:


    Building owners are legally required to provide heat and hot water to
    their tenants. Hot water must be provided 365 days per year at a
    constant minimum temperature of 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Heat must be
    provided between October 1st and May 31st, i.e. "Heat Season," under the
    following conditions:


    Day


    Between the hours of 6:00am and 10:00pm, if the outside temperature
    falls below 55 degrees, the inside temperature is required to be at
    least 68 degrees Fahrenheit.


    Night


    Between the hours of 10:00pm and 6:00am, the inside temperature is required to be at least 62 degrees Fahrenheit.






    0Reply
  • Ben S.Pro Member
    OP
    Member since 2020 · 48 posts · 25 votes
    3y

    @William Coet I was told by a city inspector for this city that follows the international standards that every room intended for human comfort has to be keep at 68 degrees 3 ft above ground in the middle of every room.  Unfortunately, that's all the code says, it is very vague.  I have had electric baseboard installed and that seems to have resolved the issue.

    That code is that he referenced I think is here: https://codes.iccsafe.org/s/IB...

    The fact that the tenants can do things that cause the temp to drop is the part where the the property manager will grow grey hairs because the tenants can cause serious harm to the manager here.  They can keep doors closed, or crack windows, or intentionally take plastic off windows, or intentionally cause the heat to turn off before the authorities show up to take measurements.

    1Reply
  • William Coet
    Lititz, PA · Member since 2013 · 595 posts · 272 votes
    3y

    Good that you fixed it.  I hope you don't pay the electric. Property manager should be able to point out the obvious explanation for the lower temp when they are altering the temperature through their actions.

    1Reply
Join the conversationCreate a free account to reply, vote on answers and follow this thread.
Log InJoin for Free