Seller removes heat source

[ekartal6]

The seller removed the radiator because it was it would be in the way of his new sliding door closet. Now he has a closet and a bedroom with no heat.

[relliott]

How could you tell?
Was there a hole in the floor or did you see a capped pipe below?
Ok one more question.
Is this Beeeerwiiiin!?

[Dominic J. Maricic]

My guess is he could tell from the holes in the wall where the gas used to come in from

[Russel Ray]

Many of the older homes here have closets and bedrooms with no heat. They usually are about 1,000 SF and have only a wall heater or floor heater in the living room.

[ekartal6]

Originally Posted by dmaricic

My guess is he could tell from the holes in the wall where the gas used to come in from

The radiator valve was still in the floor.

[ekartal6]

Is a bedroom without a heat source a code violation if the building is 100 years old or is grandfathered?

[Russel Ray]

Originally Posted by ekartal6

Is a bedroom without a heat source a code violation if the building is 100 years old or is grandfathered?

Not to the best of my knowledge. In fact, I don't think bedrooms need a heat source, although the house itself does. I always note when the bedrooms don't have a heat source because I've lived in a home without heat in the bedrooms and found it very inconvenient, not to mention cold. I suspect a lot of people would in today's world.

[ekartal6]

Hi Russel!

My main concern is that there was a radiator that the seller removed. I'm wondering if having one and not replacing it would be the issue.

[Russel Ray]

Not to me as long as the house had a heat source. I find lots of radiators removed in older homes here without being replaced because newlyweds are buying the older homes with the radiators. The radiators get hot, and as soon as they have a baby, the radiator is out of there. They also take up a significant amount of space, and in these smaller homes with everyone wanting their own desk, computer, television, etc., that space can be very valuable.

[ekartal6]

Thanks.

[Michael R. Boyett]

Erol....read 2003 IRC R303.8

[Russel Ray]

Originally Posted by mboyett

Erol....read 2003 IRC R303.8

Why didn't you leave your earlier post, Michael? It could result in some good discussion.

[Michael R. Boyett]

Here is what I posted earlier then deleted:

2003 IRC - R303.8 - Required Heating - When the winter design temperature in table R301.2(1) (all of the continental US) is below 60°F, every dwelling unit shall be provided with heating facilities capable of maintaining a minimum room temperature of 68°F at a point 3 feet above the floor and 2 feet from exterior walls in all habitable rooms at the design temperature. The installation of one or more portable space heaters shall not be used to achieve compliance with this section.
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Note: The IRC further states that "design temperatures in the western 1/3 of the country must be based on analysis of local climate and topography." It could be that some areas such as far southern California may have winter design temperatures above 60°F but I see no mention of that in the IRC. Since Erol is located in Schaumburg then this should apply.

Also, if the remaining heat source, wherever it is located in the home, can maintain 68° in that room then it meets the requirements. It doesn't say whether the door must be open or not to achieve that temperature.

I just didn't feel like getting into a debate. Seems like that is the norm the last few months around here. Less & less help and more & more confrontation.

[Russel Ray]

Originally Posted by mboyett

I just didn't feel like getting into a debate. Seems like that is the norm the last few months around here. Less & less help and more & more confrontation.

It's certainly not like it was when I became Message Board member #143. But it's like everything in the world--the more people, the more variety, dissenting opinions, etc. So when we have 143 members and, say, 2 bad members, multiply that by 70 and that produces 10,000 members and 140 bad members. However, that still leaves a lot of gray area between bad and good--sometimes bad, only bad after my sports team loses, only bad when Russel says something about marketing, only bad when a vendor tries to be a home inspector, only bad when one didn't get any sex last night, only bad when a home inspection got canceled without anyone telling me, only bad when....

[Doug Edwards, CMI]

Mike,
You got to be like the UPS man. Bring it up to the door and leave it, whatever happens after that he doesn't stick around to watch or referee the fracas after it breaks out.