Is Air Recirculated Throughout Pre-War Buildings? (apartments, landlord, live)

[nobodysbusiness]

I am not sure how the heating system works in buildings, or even if there is a difference between Pre and Post War buildings in this regard.

I know that heat is mandated to circulate after a certain date (which I would find uncomfortable).

I was just wondering if this air is recirculated throughout the entire building or just how it works.

[SeventhFloor]

Originally Posted by nobodysbusiness

I am not sure how the heating system works in buildings, or even if there is a difference between Pre and Post War buildings in this regard.

I know that heat is mandated to circulate after a certain date (which I would find uncomfortable).

I was just wondering if this air is recirculated throughout the entire building or just how it works.

I've never been in a pre-war apartment where the bathroom had no window

Oldest building I've ever been in like that was NYCHA built 1955

I don't know when HVAC systems became a thing but the trick is if the bathroom has a window or not

[NYC refugee]

I lived in a pre-war built in 1930 or 1932. It had steam radiators and you circulated the air by opening the windows.

[Coney]

Originally Posted by NYC refugee

I lived in a pre-war built in 1930 or 1932. It had steam radiators and you circulated the air by opening the windows.

Yup! And my bathroom did have a window in the shower/tub, which was painted over and could not open. There was a pipe that ran vertically in that bathroom which was very, very hot. The bathroom was the warmest room in the apartment, which was nice when it was freezing out, but not so nice other times. I had to keep a small fan in there because you know, bathrooms can get smelly and leave the door open.

[nobodysbusiness]

I'm asking if the system circulates and recirculates air from one apartment to another.

I understand if you have windows you can open them.

Just wondering about the system itself. What happens if no windows are opened? Are you breathing other people's uncirculated air?

[NYC refugee]

There is no "system" in an old building. You have steam pipes and radiators and that's the whole system.

[Mr. Ryu]

Originally Posted by nobodysbusiness

I'm asking if the system circulates and recirculates air from one apartment to another.

I understand if you have windows you can open them.

Just wondering about the system itself. What happens if no windows are opened? Are you breathing other people's uncirculated air?

have you asked your super or landlord this question? If so, what is their response?

[nobodysbusiness]

Originally Posted by NYC refugee

There is no "system" in an old building. You have steam pipes and radiators and that's the whole system.

I definitely don't understand. It sounds like everything is generated in the individual apartment - you just don't get to elect when it comes on (because it is regulated).

There is no venting between apartments, is what you seem to be saying.

[SeventhFloor]

Originally Posted by nobodysbusiness

I'm asking if the system circulates and recirculates air from one apartment to another.

I understand if you have windows you can open them.

Just wondering about the system itself. What happens if no windows are opened? Are you breathing other people's uncirculated air?

There is no system that circulates air from one apartment to another in pre-war buildings.

The only type of ventilation you may have in your apartment is most likely a bathroom vent that sucks the humid air out and keeps your bathroom air nice and dry so you don't have to worry about mold, but I doubt you have that. Most pre-war apartments were built so that you can use cross-ventilation to circulate the air throughout your apartment by opening certain windows.

Are you asking us this because of coronavirus? I damn sure hope not.

[Mr. Ryu]

Originally Posted by SeventhFloor

There is no system that circulates air from one apartment to another in pre-war buildings.

The only type of ventilation you may have in your apartment is most likely a bathroom vent that sucks the humid air out and keeps your bathroom air nice and dry so you don't have to worry about mold, but I doubt you have that. Most pre-war apartments were built so that you can use cross-ventilation to circulate the air throughout your apartment by opening certain windows.

Are you asking us this because of coronavirus? I damn sure hope not.

I have a feeling that it the reason.