Facilities Info Center

Heat Type
Hot water

Building Heat Start Date
Your building’s heating system is set to heating mode, i.e. the heat is turned on by October 15 of each year. However, when the outside temperature is 65 degrees or above the system is designed to block heat to your residence.

Heat Delivery
Your room contains a valance heating and cooling unit mounted near the ceiling, adjacent to your window, which delivers hot air to your room. In heating mode hot water travels through pipes to the valance unit, circulating hot water through the coils. The coils heat the air in the unit. As the hot air rises through natural convection, the ceiling is heated. This heat in turn radiates downward to warm your room.

Heat Control
Thermostats have been installed in each room of your residence. The thermostat senses the temperature in your room and activates the flow of hot water to the valance unit when the temperature is either above or below the set point.

• Your Thermostat
  Your thermostat is located on the wall near your door. To set the thermostat, simply move the dial to the desired temperature within the set points articulated below.
   
• Set Points
  You may set the thermostat to a desired temperature, provided it is within the standards articulated in the University Energy Conservation Iniatives. The set point for heating in your building can be between 68 and 72 degrees.
   
• Raising and Lowering the Thermostat
  Turning up your thermostat starts the flow of water into the valance unit, thus increasing the heat flow to the room, while turning down the thermostat stops the flow of water into the valance, decreasing the heat circulating to your room.

Tips for Residents
As a resident of a dormitory with a valance heating unit, please follow these guidelines to help insure that the heating system in your building performs properly.

• Keep windows shut when it is cold outside and the building heat has been turned on. If the temperature in your room drops because the window is open, the thermostat will read the lower temperature and heat will be increased to your room.
   

Reporting Problems
All heating and cooling problems should be reported to the Facilities Service Center. Technicians will be sent to your room to assess and repair the problem.