How My Heat Works: Batten

The heating system for Batten is controlled by a boiler, which is natural gas fired. This boiler heats water that gets pumped through the radiators in each room at Batten House. The boiler maintains a water temperature, determined by thermostats located in three rooms. These thermostats are located in Room 100, Room 101, and Room 203. Each of these thermostats controls the heat in that “zone” of the building.  Rooms with thermostats have an effect on all other rooms in that zone (see photo).
 

For example, if the student in Room 100 (which has a thermostat) opens the bedroom window, the thermostat in that room will cause the system to respond to that cold air by running the pump to warm the space. This sometimes causes an over-heating condition in the rooms included in that zone. Conversely, if the student in Room 100 uses a space heater, the thermostat in that room will cause the system to respond to that temperature and shut the pump off, likely causing the other rooms in that zone to be too cold.

It is important to keep the space around your radiators clean and clear of personal items. Blocking air flow to the radiators can cause poor heat circulation.

Note: The main heating valve closes any time the outside air temperature is above 60°F. This means that the heat is essentially “off” when the outside temperature reaches 60°F.

Between the hours of 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, during the heating season, the target temperature range in all the dorms will be set back to 65-67°F.