Uhhh, heater issues.
Sweetleaf
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Joined: 6 Jan 2011
Age: 36
Gender: Female
Posts: 35,278
Location: Somewhere in Colorado
This is getting freaking ridiculous, they have sent out like three different people to fix the heater in me and my boyfriends apartment. And so far it has not been fixed, so finally now I guess they will send someone out before Saturday to actually fix it...hopefully. Based on what I heard from the maintenance guy today while he was on call to the supervisor or whatever...the heater in our unit is different from all the other ones. Perhaps that explains some of the difficulty if our heater isn't even the same as the ones in the other units. Basically the problem is it either won't put any heat out when we turn up the thermostat, or it keeps putting heat out when we turn the thermostat off.
Its an electric heater and seems when it was working the box that runs the whole unit has a metal dial that will turn to regulate the heat. Well since it has not been working the metal dial does not move no its own, so they will probably have to replace that little box with the dial. I kind of figured that was the problem when I observed that dial not moving, but I figured I'd just stay out of the way of the professionals looking at it...but now I wonder if I had mentioned that observation if it would have sped of the process. Like seriously three different crews over two weeks to look at it, to finally figure out what I just kind of suspected is the actual problem is the actual problem. and I don't even know how the thing works but I figured that was part of the problem when it first stopped working.
But yeah just didn't want to be that annoying homeowner that sticks their nose in everything when people are trying to do their work, but I could have easily told them...'when the heater was working this dial here would turn, but I have not seen it turn since it went out'.
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goldfish21
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Joined: 17 Feb 2013
Age: 43
Gender: Male
Posts: 22,612
Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Is it an electric baseboard heater? Curious what the dial looks like that you're referring to, and of course what it looks like. I'm no heating technician, but it sounds like the heating element itself still functions fine, it's just a matter of on/off regulation controlled by the thermostat - a coiled "spring," sort of switch that will shrink/expand when it heats up & cools down, making contact with the switch that then automatically turns the heat on or off to maintain the temperature you set it at. Styles vary, but basically there's the heating element (great big toaster!), an on/off switch, and a thermostat of some sort. Sounds to me like it's the thermostat. I am curious what the dial you're talking about looks like and if there are any markings on it, like, is it a thermometer? Or does it indicate something else? Any chance you could take and post a pic to satisfy my curiosity?
And I think you're correct. If you haven't told any of the people that yet, don't feel like you're butting in.. and don't convey the message as if you withheld the info because you didn't want to butt in.. just tell them that since they were last there to look at it you noticed that that little dial isn't moving anymore and you remember that it always used to, so maybe it or something attached to it is the root of the problem. That will probably help them diagnose and fix the problem, and it won't frustrate them if you disclose it that way vs. tell them you noticed and remembered this a while back but opted not to mention it. Chances are these guys rarely work on systems that look exactly like the one in your place, so the info will be helpful & appreciated by any technician worth his pay.
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nick007
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Joined: 4 May 2010
Gender: Male
Posts: 28,552
Location: was Louisiana but now Vermont in capitalistic military dictatorship called USA
I relate to your frustration Sweetleaf. We had problems with our heater after we moved in. We talked to maintenance about it & he changed the thermostat which is a dial but the real problem is that the floor furnace wasn't lighting. Since he changed the dial the temp usually stays abit under whatever we set it to. Sometimes we have to set it 7 degrees warmer than what we want it but when the temp warms up like during the daytime in early fall or late spring, the temp difference goes to only a couple degrees. We went visit my parents for a few weeks during the Christmas time about a year after we moved in & the heater quit working while we were gone. I called property management after we got back & they sent out a maintenance guy who couldn't get it the heater on at all. He gave us a couple space heaters & got a professional to come look at it. The professional said things were pretty rusted & it'll be better to get it replaced. Property management had to approve a new heater & then a couple guys came to change the unit out. I told them about the thermostat issue & they said they'll check it out. It was a warm day for that time of year so the temp by some miracle actually got to the temp it was set to so they didn't change it. The thermostat is still having the same problems thou. Our heater also sometimes has a hard time lighting when it's been raining or lots of snow has been melting due to moisture in our basement. It also has a hard time lighting if the temp gets to or bellow 70. When we need it the most, it's the hardest to light.
I wish you alot of luck so the people can fix it. This time of year we really need the heaters.
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Is your heater now working properly? If not, then I would suggest you to buy a new heater so that it works better. If you want to use your old heater, then you can contact Electricians Villanova PA as they are experts in electrical services. I am sure they will give you good services.
