kit

I hope someone can help me figure out how to adjust our heat so all 3 apartments can be comfortable.
Our house was built in 1909. My apt is on the 1st floor, the 2nd floor apt is exact same floorplan(1,000sq.ft.), and the 3rd floor is an attic apt. There is 1 furnace in the basement for the entire house. The only thermostat is in our apartment. The vents are all big antique ornamental iron.
The problem is--I am very uncomfortably hot at temperatures most people find cold. Ideally, I'd like my bedroom 62 during day, 59 at night, and rest of apt. about 2 degrees warmer.
Right now, it's an OK temp in all units, but I'm afraid that the air flow might be bad--putting stress on the furnace. 3rd floor dampers open, 2nd floor dampers partially open. 1st floor-all vents closed, most dampers closed (there isn't a damper to my bedroom because at some point in the past there was a 'ceiling' plastered over it). Since the temperature is set lower, the heat runs longer to warm upper units. I don't know if 2nd,3rd floor vents open or closed.
Earlier today, our furnace was blowing cold air. Some things I've read indicate there might be an airflow problem. The power got reset, so I couldn't look for the blinking LED fault code. Is there a better way for me to control the airflow so the heat is good for everyone? Or, any affordable improvement recommendations?

Thanks for any input.
Kit

beenthere

Probably have too many registers shut or choked down. And over heated it.

Do all apartments have returns.

Your system is probably a code violation.

kit

Well, I know building inspector ok'd 6 years ago. I think that's why there's another ceiling in the basement-to cover part of the ducts or something.
It sucks because as soon as I notice it's a temp. I like, there's a call from upstairs asking for more heat.
I asked them if any return air vents were blocked, and they couldn't find them...though I'm sure I remember at least 1. There's 2 huge ones in our unit.
I wish the dampers by the furnace were more effective. Are there different kind of dampers I could buy that would really work? Even with them closed to our apt., I still need to block our vents in order for heat to make it upstairs.
It seems to me that if the dampers were better, I should be able to set the thermostat in our apartment to a temperature I'm comfortable in. And with just a damper adjustment, we could adjust the heat distribution so everyone's happy. Am I dreaming?
I'm just a tenant, with open permission from owner to do repairs to anything. She knows I research everything, and watch building codes.I have an ethic that annoys many people--respect for property/things. People get annoyed that I look ahead, and repair potential problems before they are completely broken(even though I have no vested interest in our property). But it's a good quality from a property owner's standpoint.

beenthere

Problem is probably that the other units don't have returns, so it can get enough air into those apartments.

If your apartment is the only one with returns. then closing your supplies does harm to the furnace. lack of supply, means less air blowing over the heat exchanger. And it tends to over heat. And trip the safety.

Add returns to those other apartments, and they will have much better heat.

Yoyizit

The stack effect should help your desired temp. distribution between apts.,
and poor building insulation will work against it.

There is probably a procedure [balancing] for finding the optimum airflow situation, if it exists,
and the first step is probably to open all registers.

The sensing 'stat should probably be in the middle apt.

beenthere

Stack effect occurs when there are open/free air paths between the areas.
Since these are apartments. There isn't a open/free path between them.

Next, he's trying to keep his apartment cool, and the other 2 warm.
While he is also setting the temp back at night.

There is no air balance that will solve this.

If the other 2 apartments don't have returns. Then returns will have to be installed.


Next. He has to be carefull. If one of the other tenants gets angry enough. And reports the temp in their apartment is too cold. the housing authority, can step in, and issue big fines.
National law is min 65°F. Many local codes are 68°F.

Adding returns can be much cheaper then the fines. Plus, the apartment rents the landlord will have to pay for. if the housing authority pulls his permit to rent. He will be required to pay for his tenants to live else where.

Screw around with it long enough. And that is what will happen.


A large building here, got nailed 3 years ago. Owners had to pay rent for the tenants of his 62 apartments. because he screwed around, and didn't replace his boiler in the summer. He was waiting for a company to slow down. So he could save money on the install. OOOOOPS, cost him a whole lot more then he saved.

kit

Thank you for your help. I think first I need to locate the cold air return on 2nd floor. I'm positive I remember one, they've probably just covered it with furniture or something.
It is warm enough upstairs, so there's no code violation. And I have a good relationship with them so they just call if they need more heat.
Really, my concern is air flow, and I'm discovering it's way more technical than I thought it would be. I don't want to harm the furnace.
In our 100-year old, balloon framed house, with 2 floors, an attic apartment, and walk-in basement...repairs get tricky sometimes. There's still lathe and plaster on most walls. When the house was re-wired about 10 years ago, i heard it was difficult because of diagonal bracing and fire-proofing additions. And, there are some ugly, ducts protruding from walls because each unit needs independent heating supply.

Thank you!

spark plug

(Poster #7, OP) If the duct system weren't so antiquated you could install a damper on the duct section that feeds your apartment. Then it could be controlled by a thermostat. (No matter what) Don't Drink and Drive, Ever!!!

beenthere

If there are no returns upstairs. You can put in a hundred dampers, and still not control it.

Yoyizit

For solving this problem, if your first plan is to add returns, what is your second suggestion?
Should the OP post pix?
Does it matter how much temp. differential needs to be corrected?

beenthere

The first problem is, "kit".
Not to be insulting, but his wanting his apartment at 62 while everybody else wants 70, is a problem.

But. Adding returns to apartments that have no returns, or increasing the return to those apartments. Is the first step to getting more air from the furnace to those apartments(ain't going to force more air into those apartments then can come out of them).

Then he can leave most of his supplies choked down, or shut off.

After that, it should have a new thermostat installed. One that has sensors in each apartment for temp averaging(since his apartment will cool slower then the others).

Then the temp on the stat can be set to probably 66. And his apartment will stay close to 62 and the others to 70.
Since it will take the average of the 3 sensor temps to determine when to bring the heat on, and shut it back off.

Yoyizit

Like this?
http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/7058477/claims.html

beenthere

And a simple Th8000 series thermostat can use remote sensors, for temp averaging.

Actually, a customer can be "A", and "The" problem.