UPDATED Friday October 5th –

HEATING SEASON IS HERE! The staff will continue to switch to AC with warm outdoor temps, typically above 60 degrees. Heating will typically be available with outdoor temps typically below 55 degrees.

There are sensors reading temperatures at strategic locations throughout the building, and our team’s goal is to maintain a level around the low 70s indoors. However, do not hesitate to contact us if you experience any discomfort. During business hours, you can contact the office via e-mail at parktowercondo@draperandkramer.com, or at 773-769-3250. When the office is closed, please cal the front desk at 773-769-3083.

UPDATED Friday September 28th –

We’ve received a couple questions from residents and thought we’d share the answers.

Q – Why wouldn’t we just have the heat on when the AC is off, and the AC on when the heat is off?

A – Well, for example, at the time I’m drafting this post, it is about 62 degrees out, and mostly cloudy. Our hallway sensors are reporting temperatures of about 71 to 72 degrees. If we turn the heat on now, under the present conditions, you’d see those hallway temperatures increase by 5 to 8 degrees on most floors. That would be very uncomfortable for most residents. So on days like this we watch the hallway temps closely, as well as a number of other sensors throughout the building and exterior, and provide heating or cooling once conditions appear to warrant one or the other.

Q – Can’t we upgrade the system so heating and cooling can be provided at the same time, and residents can choose what they want?

A – With enough money and patience, yes. Such a project would be massive and take very long time, requiring coring in multiple locations in every unit to accommodate the additional plumbing. It would probably require a very intense engineering study to determine the cost, but I can say with some measure of educated certainty it would be a multi-million dollar effort.

ORIGINAL POST Thursday September 20th –

Our team is ready to provide heat as the weather calls for it. Thankfully, it seems summer is doing everything it can to hang on with warmer than normal days and nights.

Despite the current weather, given the time of year heating is our priority if it is necessary. Consistent with the Chicago Heating Ordinance, we do have minimum indoor air temperatures to maintain between September 15th and June 1st. We are ready should heat be needed. We will continue to have cooling available should the weather call for it, until about November. After that time the chillers will be taken out of service for seasonal maintenance.

With the present weather outlook, heating may come on at times overnight throughout the next couple weeks. Our system will remain set to transition over to heat when outdoor temps are in the mid to low 50s or colder. AC should come on when the sun is out at around 60 degrees and higher. This is the range of temperatures we monitor in the fall to help manage and maximize the level of comfort. We have sensors throughout the interior and exterior of the building, including the hallways which usually give us a pretty good idea of temperatures in PT units. So our staff will continue to monitor those very closely should we need to switch either way.

Making the transition from heating to cooling and from cooling to heating does not happen with a flick of a switch.

It takes several hours and there are times when we will not be able to keep up with changes in the weather. Heating will be the default priority, but when it is cold overnight and warm during the day, especially with full sun, it may take some time to return to AC service. The water in the system must cool down before it is put through the chillers. The same can be said as we transition from a warm day to a cold night. So we ask for residents patience when we are managing this effort throughout the fall.

Owner and resident feedback is always welcome and greatly appreciated. While it can be a challenge with how quickly the weather can change, and the we realize full sun during the day turns half of the building into a green house, feedback from residents can help trigger manual adjustments which can improve comfort for more residents. This time of year, as the hours of sunlight diminish, we do understand that and we do make adjustments to help improve comfort.

While it will not be 100% comfortable for 100% of our residents, 100% of the time, resident comments and observations can help us make adjustments and improve conditions as much as possible. Shoot us an e-mail at parktowercondo@draperandkramer.com, or call the office 773-769-3250. After hours you can contact the front desk, at 773-769-3083.