No heat contest?
sac, when I lived in NYC the laws for landlords mandated heat between October 15 and (I think) April 15 - they didn't usually put it on earlier than that, even if we did have a few very cool early autumn days. It wasn't my opinion (in fact I was probably complaining that I was cold), it was the law that governed what was required of the landlords. I don't know if it is still the current regulation - I haven't lived in NYC since 1980.
cody said:
sac, when I lived in NYC the laws for landlords mandated heat between October 15 and (I think) April 15 - they didn't usually put it on earlier than that, even if we did have a few very cool early autumn days. It wasn't my opinion, it was the law that governed what was required of the landlords. I don't know if it is still the current regulation - I haven't lived in NYC since 1980.
The heating season in NYC is from Oct 15-May 15. Having heat before that date depends on what kind of building you live in, and how attentive your landlord is. I always lived in smaller buildings, with an individual landlord, and they were generally less focused on specific dates than say a management company would be. In the last building we lived in, the landlord never "turned off" the heat, so if it went below a certain temperature, it would come on, no matter the time of year. In the building before that, the thermostat was in the first floor apartment (owner did not live in the building). If it got cold, we would just knock on the first floor apartment door--we were friendly with the tenant--and she would turn the heat on. She told us that the landlord would occasionally tell her to be careful with the heat, but that he didn't care very much or bother her about it too often. It was nice being a renter and having control of the heat--and not paying for it! The worst situation was years ago, when I lived in an owner-occupied building. He and his family would turn the heat on for a few hours in the AM, then turn it off until around six in the evening, leaving it on until about 10, when they would turn it off for the night. I was usually at work during the day, so this didn't really affect me too much. However, sometimes they would go away for the weekend to their second house, and leave the heat off, or it would stop working. Not fun.
I will say that if I get cold, my heat is going to be turned on to 69 or 70 degrees. Hate being cold
cody said:
sac, when I lived in NYC the laws for landlords mandated heat between October 15 and (I think) April 15 - they didn't usually put it on earlier than that, even if we did have a few very cool early autumn days. It wasn't my opinion (in fact I was probably complaining that I was cold), it was the law that governed what was required of the landlords. I don't know if it is still the current regulation - I haven't lived in NYC since 1980.
I try to use October 15th as a guideline. I've certainly turned it onearlier...
cody said:
sac, when I lived in NYC the laws for landlords mandated heat between October 15 and (I think) April 15 - they didn't usually put it on earlier than that, even if we did have a few very cool early autumn days. It wasn't my opinion (in fact I was probably complaining that I was cold), it was the law that governed what was required of the landlords. I don't know if it is still the current regulation - I haven't lived in NYC since 1980.
I get that, but we aren't in NYC and are free to turn on the heat when we please. Or maybe I misunderstood the post ..
We are out as of this morning. I had trouble sleeping last night, even with extra blankets. So, this morning I set the thermostat for the main floor at 62 for overnight, 65 for during the day. And I will make sure the duvet covers are washed and the down comforters are stuffed into them and ready for action.
Such a sudden shift!
At 2:40 AM, woke up and it was 62 degrees in the house. Pulled sheets over head and went back to sleep. Gonna try to tough it out a few days so that when we do turn it on, 68will feel toasty!
When I was doing my junior year abroad in England, the college I lived in had a policy of turning on the heat as of November 1. Coldest October I can ever remember. They also didn't start running hot water until 6 a.m., so when I needed to catch a very early flight out of Heathrow and had to shower at 4:30, I got the shock of my life. In December.
Hate policies like that.
Heat is on, kids are sitting on the radiators warming their butts, and the house has that steam heat smell. I'm in my happy place. No shame here.
Guys, I was making a off-the-cuff, humorous (I thought) comment based on my experiences quite a while ago. This thread - and threads like it - have not usually been dead-serious. Put your heat on when you like, or off when you like - it's not my house, so I don't really care. 
If you are about to turn on the heat and have allergies, don't make the same mistake I just did. Clean the dust from the radiators first
Too late, Orzabelle! I turned on the heat this morning because I was freezing and spent the next hour sneezing, wheezing and blowing my nose. Done now, though.
I built a fire last night, but as of this morning (cue Glenn Frey) THE HEAT IS ON! That bathroom was too cold to take a shower, this morning, so that clinched it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teljgwFfl94
Q: Boiler vs Furnace?
What's in YOUR basement/cellar?
-s.
BTW: Please pardon the plumbing porn...
I think that people around here use the term furnace generically - to cover boilers as well as other heating system types. I suppose that furnace properly only applies for forced air systems, but we all know what they are talking about and I suspect that the vast majority of "furnaces" in our areas are actually boilers for either hot water or steam systems.
January 1985 I lived in Miami during a cold snap -- it went down into the 30s three days in a row. We couldn't turn the heat on because the house didn't have a heating system. Boy was that a cold week!!
(Edited to apologize for thread drift!)
I'm still in! Just took my ACs out and shut the storm windows. Made braised short ribs in the oven. I am feeling rather warm with the inside temperature being 61°. 
According to this definition (that I found by googling), it is not wrong to use the term furnace for a boiler. https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=furnace%20definition
But furnaces can also be the heat source for hot air systems and I think that is the more common usage of the term.
At any rate, I think that there are more important fish to fry than the semantics of home heating system terminology.
sac said:
According to this definition (that I found by googling), it is not wrong to use the term furnace for a boiler. https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=furnace%20definition
But furnaces can also be the heat source for hot air systems and I think that is the more common usage of the term.
At any rate, I think that there are more important fish to fry than the semantics of home heating system terminology.
Not really. In a climate like this, people should know what is responsible for keeping their house warm and what kind of specialist to call if something goes wrong. Calling a plumber for a furnace issue is not going to be much help. Calling an HVAC company and telling them you have a furnace when you actually have an oil boiler is also not going to be productive.
Granted. I was referring to the terminology used on the message board not being critical . Of course people should know what they have.
I have a thingy that burns natural gas to heat up water and it then circulates the hot water through copper pipes that is connected to baseboard units throughout the house. Is that a furnace or a boiler
spontaneous said:
I have a thingy that burns natural gas to heat up water and it then circulates the hot water through copper pipes that is connected to baseboard units throughout the house. Is that a furnace or a boiler
Boiler
Really? Good to know. I though boilers were only for steam heat. I thought mine just made the water hot, but not to boiling.
ETA: Google tells me that boilers hear the water to 180 degrees. Well, that isn't really boiling then, is it. 
Don't try to make sense of plumbing/HVAC terminology. Otherwise we could be here all day about male and female connectors, nipples, and ballcocks. It's an interesting business.
sac said:
.
At any rate, I think that there are more important fish to fry than the semantics of home heating system terminology.
Fish to boil, I think you mean.
Sweetsnuggles