I purchased a condo in VA Fairfax county. I want to know what is a heat regulations.I cannot get management office to increase a heat (It is a 69 degree in condo) and control my wall thermostat they have some kind of override system to control temperature from the office. Is there anything I can do to force them to turn thermostat control of condo unit to me? I am the owner not a tenant.
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HVAC Heat Rgulation in VA Fairfax
- Thread starter Tigr78
- Start date
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It is possible they have in the past installed a conservation model thermostat. SO first if your unit does not have its own heating system that serves just your unit like say a furnace or boiler in a utility room with in your unit with you paying the entire cost of heating your unit? If not and the entire building is heated with one central system like a hot water boiler. I would say to very carefully review all the document that came with the purchase include in your review details that spell out that the association has a right to use conservation controls to restrict a utility that is not individually metered and billed to occupant. Or any other kind of wording that gives them primary control over the heating system. If you cant find any thing then go to a real estate atty and have her/him review everything and in the very end if they find nothing that would forbid it hire a heating contractor to come in and change the thermostat out. ( In the past for a period of time when I included heat I did install conservation thermostats to limit how much heat tenants could use , they were factory set for high temp of 72 and low temp of 38. ) I dont advocate changing the Tstat unless you have made absolutely sure that there is no written restriction tied to the title of the home that forbids that kind of alteration since if there was and they caught you they would likely not only force the tstat to be changed back but if they have any kind of penalty system use it against you.
Thanks for explanation. All HVAC units at condo complex was replaced with new ones. So each unit has his own.
Here what there bulletin states:
As you learn to use and enjoy the many benefits of your new heat-pump HVAC system, one major difference between the legacy system and your new heat pump is that you can now choose to operate the system to fit your needs.
AND
The Association’s energy-management system (“EMS”) may temporarily override your desired temperature set point based on outdoor temperature and total electricity demand at Condo. The system will automatically return your setting as Condo electricity demand decreases. Please note that that during periods of peak demand further adjusting the thermostat will not increase the amount of heating or cooling in your unit and will only end up costing you more in electricity assessments
Can i do anything?
Here what there bulletin states:
As you learn to use and enjoy the many benefits of your new heat-pump HVAC system, one major difference between the legacy system and your new heat pump is that you can now choose to operate the system to fit your needs.
AND
The Association’s energy-management system (“EMS”) may temporarily override your desired temperature set point based on outdoor temperature and total electricity demand at Condo. The system will automatically return your setting as Condo electricity demand decreases. Please note that that during periods of peak demand further adjusting the thermostat will not increase the amount of heating or cooling in your unit and will only end up costing you more in electricity assessments
Can i do anything?
Thanks for your question Tigr78
I may be living in the same condo complex or we may be under the same management, at least the wording from your condo docs. is the same as mine.
I am very concerned as well because the air temp. in my condo is low, about 64 F. We do pay dues to the association and the utilities are included in the bill. All units pay the same for utilities, and there is a posibility that this may change in the near future so every unit is billed for whatever they use. However, heat is purchased in bulk by the asssociation and is not enough to maintain average temps.
I may be living in the same condo complex or we may be under the same management, at least the wording from your condo docs. is the same as mine.
I am very concerned as well because the air temp. in my condo is low, about 64 F. We do pay dues to the association and the utilities are included in the bill. All units pay the same for utilities, and there is a posibility that this may change in the near future so every unit is billed for whatever they use. However, heat is purchased in bulk by the asssociation and is not enough to maintain average temps.
Tig if your not getting a electric bill sent to you by the same elect co as other users in your area , you know like SFH, local shops , gas stations etc then its possible your building has huge master meter & its likely that a energy management system was installed to regulate consumption possibly in favor of a lower rate for the master meters use ( do you know what the regular local rate per KWH is VS what is being paid where you live ?) and if that is all spelled out in your homes bylaws there may not be much you can do , its all going to be in the docs them self. If this building is set up this way I have to wonder how many of your neighbors already are using portable electric heaters.