Our Pfoho students living in Jordan North, South, Moors and Wolbach Hall have heat provided by 130-degree hot water circulated throughout the building by electrical pumps with thermostats located in each suite regulate the temperature throughout the building.
Holmes and Comstock Halls are heated by 320 steam radiators. For those of you unaccustomed to steam heat, it is very efficient and reliable. However the expansion and contraction of the pipes and the flow of condensation back through the pipes will make some noise. You may hear this through the walls. Some of you may find this annoying at first but after a few days you won’t notice it. It will even become reassuring to hear the heat rising up through the pipes on those early cold mornings. Each radiator has an automatic control valve that you may adjust. This valve is meant to give you control of the heat level in your room and to prevent the wasting of energy providing an individual level of comfort. Remember, that comfort is a relative term, as each person may perceive heat, cold and humidity differently.
You may hear some hissing as the steam rises and pushes any air out of the radiator. Hissing is a good thing. It means your radiator isn’t air bound allowing steam to enter.
The steam supply coming into the building is automatically controlled by two variables: the outside air temperature and the time of day. When the outside air temperature drops below 55 degrees during the day from 6:00 AM to Midnight or below 45 degrees at night from Midnight to 6:00 AM, the steam supply valve opens and a heating cycle begins. The steam then cycles on and off for 40 minute periods throughout out the day or night, supplying your room radiator with heat.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR OPERATING RADIATOR CONTROL VALVES:
- Locate the gray handle dial protruding from the valve. The valve is attached to the radiator, which in some rooms is encased in a cabinet or bench seat.
- Select a comfort setting between 1 (lowest temperature) and 5 (highest) on the dial. This offers you a choice of plus or minus 5 degrees Forcing the valve beyond the maximum setting will not produce more heat but may damage the valve.
TO ENSURE YOUR ROOM IS COMFORTABLE AND NOT WASTING ENERGY:
- Please check that all windows and storm windows are closed tightly. Windows should not be open during the heating season.
- Remove all clothing and books from around radiators to allow air to circulate. Keep the radiators clear.
- Please contact the Building Manager’s office if your room is overheating and you feel it is wasting energy or if your room will not remain comfortably warm during daytime hours.
- Set the gauge on the snowflake symbol when you know your room will be unoccupied for 2 or more days. This setting will not completely shut off the heat but will allow a small amount of steam to trickle into the radiators to prevent them from freezing. If not, hot steam suddenly introduced into a cold pipe may cause the radiator to crack
The walls are full of terra cotta brick, which store and give off heat much like an oven. Early in the Fall, on these cooler mornings followed by warmer afternoons, it never really gives the building a chance to absorb the heat. Until we get into the really cold weather some of you may feel a bit chilly. You may need to layer on clothing. Wear a sweater or sweats. Remember this is New England. Once it becomes colder and we get the heat up and going all of the time, you will find the building to be very comfortable. No one has ever suffered from frostbite or exposure to the cold here in the House. No one has ever frozen!
If an emergency occurs during non-office hours or on the weekend, you may contact the Control Center directly at 495-5560 to report any heating or plumbing problems.
Remember, before you call for help, be sure that all your windows are closed.
Other non-emergency maintenance problems may be reported through this link.
Should you have any questions or problems with your heating (no heat, broken valve or condensation leaks) do not hesitate to speak with me. I do want you all to be warm and comfortable but we cannot afford to overheat the building.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP IN REDUCING ENERGY COSTS