EASY TIPS FOR WARMING UP YOUR "FREEZING" APARTMENT

The residences of Park Vista live in buildings that are at least 50+ years old if not older and the technology in heating our buildings just isn't in the 21st century. Some units experience comfort while others say they are much too cold and others its too hot, the uneven heat flow can be due in most part to how your apartment is furnished, window coverings in place and how big or many windows you have in your unit. Overwhelmingly we all recognize the need to install new up to date thermal windows, certainly this would alleviate the issue and in speaking to CAPREIT, this is certainly in the plan, but there is much planning and assessment that must be completed prior to such an announcement and the likelihood of an AGI. CAPREIT recently completed  the massive balcony reconstruct project in all 4 buildings and the construction and the interruptions are finally behind us. However, rest assured, the landlord is fully cognizant of the need and this project is in the plan.

The heating equipment for each Park Vista building supplies all suites. The controls automatically adjust the heating supply based on outside temperature readings. Individual suites do not have thermostats to control the heat. Tenants cannot increase their suite’s heat higher than the heat generated by the equipment. There has been found a varying range of temperatures in the buildings based on location of suites, however, CAPREIT ensures the minimum is 21 Celsius no matter what the location.

The Toronto by-law does state that starting September 15th to June 1st, the minimum temperature our respective apartments must be is at 21 Celsius. Although we have been experiencing hotter than usual temperatures this month, with cooler over-nights, the heating system may not kick in due to this variance.During this period of time, it is suggested to use:

1. heavy blankets
2. space heater

However, when temperatures remain at steady cooler temperatures in addition to the above 2 recommendations you may want to try the following:

1. Try using a fan to circulate the air, given baseboard heating or vents are located right below the windows, a couple of oscillating fans set on low can keep the warm air directed towards the inside of the apartment instead of out the window

2. Weather specific (i.e. energy efficient) (thermal lined) Drapes/Blinds can help with heat loss, there are some great deals for example at WalMart and Blinds to Go, that when installed can actually prevent heat loss from the windows in the winter and keep your apartment cooler in the summer, speak to your local retailer of your choice about these products, they do work!

3. Keep the heating baseboards, vents free & clear, if you have furniture blocking the heat flow, think about relocating the furniture allowing the heat throughout the room, as well remove any window coverings over the vents, make sure they have nothing over them.

4. Investing in a portable convection heater or parabolic heater

5. Put plastic sealer around the windows and/or weather stripping and the balcony door threshold. Kits of plastic film to install over windows also works well, available at Home Hardware, Canadian Tire, Home Depot, Rona, Lowe's etc.

6. If applicable, one thing that you can do with radiators is place aluminium foil shiny side toward the radiator right under your windows and on the wall behind the radiator, this allows the heat to bounce back into the room instead of escaping out

7. Plexi glass panels over windows also works great, some Tenants have used this option and report cozy warm apartments.

8. Vaccum your vents, radiators, the built up dirt may hinder the air flow, if these are tightly sealed and/or painted over, issue a work order and the CAPREIT Maintenance Team can provide assistance to gain access to clean these out thoroughly.

9. Lastly, PVTA will inquire to CAPREIT about 'bleeding the radiators' to make sure they are working at their best.

Hope these tips will help you to stay warm!