On the first of November, our heat was turned on. This seems pretty standard and I for one was quite happy to feel the old radiators slowly starting to warm the room. What I didn't remember from the couple of months when we needed them at the beginning of the year was what a racket they make. I've lived in a number of old buildings throughout my life (college dorms anyone?) and for the most part am very pro-radiator, but I can't remember ever having one that was so noisy! It's not just the gentle hissing of rising steam, these units bubble and swish and oddest of all make strange metallic clanging sounds. Seriously, I can't help but imagine little tiny workmen inside with hammers and wrenches banging on the walls of the pipes and listening appreciatively to the ringing echoes. One of the radiators occasionally spews spurts of (very) hot water out onto the floor (which is fortunately linoleum). Another has no adjustment knob, and the bracket where one should be has been painted into immobility. The cats watch these metal beasts cautiously, with huge eyes and muscles tensed to leap away the instant the monster comes to life.
I really dislike being cold; don't get me wrong, I love Christmas and snow and drinking hot chocolate on a crisp winter day, but when I'm in my apartment I want to be warm. So if I have to pick cold and quiet or warm and noisy... I'll just have to learn to live with the radiator gremlins.
(The good news; active radiators means the hot water is on. And there was much rejoicing!)
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