Policies and Procedures/Part 1
HEATING SYSTEM
HEATING SYSTEM: Your unit is heated by a baseboard radiant heating system sourced from a central boiler. The cost of operations, including maintenance, gas and capital replacement is covered under the condominium fees. There are specific components inside your unit that are not maintained as part of commonly maintained property. These include the zone valves and wall thermostat.
- UNIT OWNER RESPONSIBILITY: In the event of a "no heat" emergency inside your unit in which the cause of the problem is not directly related to common property management, any additional work will be invoiced and assessed to the unit owner as per the registered condominium By-Laws. If you are not familiar with these components (such as the thermostat and zone valve) a plumber or heating technician should be contacted to inspect the components, particularly prior to the colder winter months.
- ZONE VALVE: There are main automated (on/off) zone valves for the radiant heating located at the heating manifold in each unit. These should only be adjusted by a heating technician. It is the owner’s responsibility to maintain their zone valve and thermostat if a problem arises. The most common faults with the zone valve are a ‘stuck open’ condition (always heating) and a ‘stuck closed’ condition (no heating); in such circumstances, the services of a heating technician are required. During winter months it is extremely important that this valve operate properly and that hot water regularly flows through the baseboard heating pipes so as to prevent freezing and bursting of the pipes which would then release a substantial volume of water causing significant property damage to both your unit and adjacent units.
- THERMOSTAT: Set your wall thermostat to the desired temperature (never less than 17 degrees Celsius, 63 degrees Fahrenheit). Heating experts recommend a range of 17 to 20 degrees Celsius. Once a comfortable temperature is reached there should be no need to adjust the thermostat further, regardless of the time of year. The thermostat controls (opens and closes) the zone valve for heating and ensures regular hot water flow in the winter.
- OPENING WINDOWS: During winter months windows should be maintained closed which helps to regulate the temperature in your unit. In cold weather, open windows have resulted in baseboard heating-pipes freezing and bursting which then floods your units and adjacent units. This causes grief of those involved and is extremely expensive to repair. Please click on this link and consult the NOTICE concerning the prevention of water damage during the winter months
- SUMMER: If you find that your unit is too warm, you may want to turn off the pilot light on the fireplace. Please follow the instructions located at the base of your fireplace for turning off and re-lighting the pilot light. For convenience purposes, a wall switch serves as fireplace on/off switch, but it is only operable once the fireplace control valves and pilot light have been adjusted properly.
