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02.01.13, 03:50 AM New York City
44 replies
Those of you who live in pre-war apartments without central air/heat: how do you regulate the temperature in your dc's bedrooms when it's very cold outside? I'm constantly battling the radiators in their rooms. If I don't put the a/c on, their room temp can go to 80 degrees thanks to these old radiators. Way too hot. But when it's this cold outside, and I put the air on, then the room temp can drop to 60 with the radiators on. Too cold. Ugh. Any suggestions? DCs are 16 months old. TIA [ Reply | Watch | Flag ]
New York City 02.01.13, 03:50 AM Flag
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There's this thing on the side of the radiator that you can use to adjust how much heat you get. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.01.13, 03:58 AM Flag
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That's not actually true. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.01.13, 03:58 AM Flag
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:( no. Makes no difference temperature-wise [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.01.13, 03:58 AM Flag
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All it does is make it more likely that you will flood your apartment. My roommate at Columbia Law School did this, despite housing telling us many times that the valve did not affect temperature. The flood was quite unpleasant! [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.01.13, 04:03 AM Flag
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Sorry to sound stupid, but I don't live in an apartment. How are the heater and water connected? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.01.13, 04:10 AM Flag
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The radiator is steam heat. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.01.13, 04:13 AM Flag
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Radiators use hot water from the building's boiler. If someone (like my roommate) repeatedly messes with that little valve that is used to turn on or off the radiator, leaving it part-way on, it can cause a leak, since there is actually water involved in this form of heat. It's no fun! The water was pretty disgusting. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.01.13, 04:26 AM Flag
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We turned off all of our radiators (except the one in the bathroom) 20 years ago and have never turned them back on. We get enough heat from the floors below. I like a slightly cold apartment (better for you health wise as far as I am concerned). We have down comforters and sleep in pj's. No problems. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.01.13, 03:58 AM Flag
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You did that with one-year old dc's? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.01.13, 04:00 AM Flag
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we did that before db was born and continued with a newborn and beyond. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.01.13, 04:03 AM Flag
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We did this too with a DB. With the radiators on, it was dangerously hot in her room and I didn't want to open the windows in the bitter cold. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.01.13, 05:50 AM Flag
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I think 60 is fine with appropriate pjs. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.01.13, 03:59 AM Flag
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We just open the windows when it gets too hot [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.01.13, 04:02 AM Flag
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Wouldn't it be better just to turn off the radiators? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.01.13, 04:01 AM Flag
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we do both. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.01.13, 04:04 AM Flag
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I can't understand why anyone would run an ac in the dead of winter. what a waste. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.01.13, 04:01 AM Flag
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it sounds like one, but when it's the only control you have over the temperature in the room, you use it. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.01.13, 04:03 AM Flag
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Because room goes to 80 degrees (minimum) without it. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.01.13, 04:04 AM Flag
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open the freakin window! stop using energy. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.01.13, 04:05 AM Flag
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+1 what a weirdo [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.01.13, 04:10 AM Flag
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I was thinking the same thing. Open the window for 10 minutes. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.01.13, 04:10 AM Flag
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And then close it for 10 minutes. And then open it for 10 minutes. And then... [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.01.13, 04:15 AM Flag
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no she rather up the electric bill [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.01.13, 04:14 AM Flag
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Exactly! That plan doesn't work if parents want to get six hours of sleep. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.01.13, 04:15 AM Flag
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it works beautifully for us - not sure why you are having such a hard time with it - perhaps you obsess about the temp in your child's room too much. We survived in caves [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.01.13, 03:05 PM Flag
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I open it for a while before dc's go to bed so the room gets chilly and then shut it,it takes a while to warm back up. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.01.13, 04:25 AM Flag
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Don't turn on the air, that is silly and will also make the air even more dry than it already is, leading to issues for your db. You have to air out the room while they are in the bath, close or crack window when they sleep. If you're cracking he window, remember to go in before you go to sleep and close it. The window is your friend. Not the aC!! [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.01.13, 04:04 AM Flag
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i have 5mo DB and am having the same issue. In fact, last night was the first time he slept through 8 hours--he's been up every hour or two for the last few weeks. I now think it's bc the radiator was off last night bc it was warm outside. The radiators also cause humidity issues. It's a constant struggle, windows open/closed, radiators on/off, humidifier on/off, etc. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.01.13, 04:05 AM Flag
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Constant struggle---UGH! [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.01.13, 04:09 AM Flag
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I am the poster below wit the radiator. We bought it when DB was born, to make sure it was always warm enough. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.01.13, 04:31 AM Flag
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^^with [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.01.13, 04:31 AM Flag
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We turn radiators off and put Dcs in sleep sacks. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.01.13, 04:19 AM Flag
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What kind of sleep sacks? How warm? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.01.13, 04:20 AM Flag
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Np: fleece, Halo sacks. Veey warm. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.01.13, 12:45 PM Flag
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Instead of turning on the bedroom radiators (too hot), I just turn on the one in the living room and let the heat travel to the other rooms [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.01.13, 04:26 AM Flag
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I turned off the heat in the bedrooms. For the kids I have an oil radiator set to 67. It has timer so it turns off in the morning. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.01.13, 04:26 AM Flag
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Hmmmm... How old are your dc's? I guess if they are in cribs that's safe... [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.01.13, 04:34 AM Flag
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5 and 3.5. Never had a problem. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.01.13, 04:40 AM Flag
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I don't have this problem, but if I did, I would (seriously) insulate the radiator. Simplest would be to wrap it with fiberglass wall insulation. Then put a nice-looking cover over that, perhaps a painted wood box with grills, as if if were a radiator. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.01.13, 04:52 AM Flag
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Install thermostatic radiator valve or change radiators to much smaller size. AC solution is unheard of [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.01.13, 05:00 AM Flag
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Your solution doesn't work in a rental. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.01.13, 05:52 AM Flag
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I put the fan on, open the window until we go to sleep , and a very light blanket. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.01.13, 05:40 AM Flag
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SO, I have had the same problem for many years and finally came up with this...we took out the A/C unit and put a small window fan in that has the temperature control (the kind that has two side by side fans and a thermostat reading in the middle). Now, I can set the temperature at 65 or so and leave the fan going and when it hits that temperature in the room (really just by the windows), it will turn OFF. It's been a few months like this and it seems to work great. Also, FYI, I just crack the window and leave the fan propped up against it instead of placing the fan all the way in the open window. Hope that helps you. I think those fans are at Bed Bath and Beyond for like $50 or maybe cheaper. Good luck! [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.01.13, 09:45 AM Flag
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Will check out, thanks so much! [ Reply | More
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General Topics 02.01.13, 01:18 PM Flag
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