Schaumburg gives apartment buildings more flexibility on switching between heating and A/C

Schaumburg trustees this week granted landlords of properties with boiler systems more flexibility on when heating and air conditioning replace one another at the change of seasons.

Sixteen of Schaumburg’s 30 multifamily buildings fall into this category, requiring a single dedicated shift between the two systems each spring and fall.

But the village has long required the exclusive availability of heat in these buildings from Sept. 15 to June 1. This has caused discomfort for residents and complaints to village hall when summerlike heat has exceeded that period, as it did this year.

While the benchmark dates remain, trustees’ unanimous vote allows landlords the ability to decide for themselves when to switch systems within 30 days of those dates. The complaints mainly have been about heat. The change means air conditioning could return as early as May 1 and linger as late as Oct. 15 each year.

The overall goal has been to ensure residents are able to maintain a temperature of at least 68 degrees in their apartments. But that has led to some unintended consequences as resident John Finch told the recommending Planning, Building & Development Committee.

He said his air conditioning at The Grove of Schaumburg Apartments was turned off a week before the Sept. 15 requirement for heat to make the transition. During the hot days that recurred for the rest of the month, not only was he without A/C but the heat was actively on and flowing through the vents.

An email he shared from the management of The Grove cited the village-required responsibility to maintain a temperature of at least 68 degrees.

“It doesn’t matter how hot it gets as long as it’s above 68 degrees,” Finch said.

The village had considered changing its rules on the issue in 2021 but ultimately didn’t. Only a few surveyed suburbs have changed their policies in the past four years, according to Schaumburg’s research.

Hoffman Estates added its first required time range for heat from Sept. 15 to May 31, Mount Prospect moved up its start date for heat from Sept. 15 to Sept. 1 and Naperville changed its end date for heat from May 31 to May 1.

Though Schaumburg doesn’t require air conditioning as it requires heat, any A/C system that does exist must be maintained and operational, Community Development Director Julie Fitzgerald said.