Out of service?

Question

Hi,The company who provides heat for houses in winter has stopped providing heat, because the spring has come.So can I say "The radiator in my house is cold. It is out of service." ?Thanks very much.

Ayadi Ghait · Accepted Answer

Don't you think that out of service in like too formal! I mean, you are talking about your radiator! Normally we use  out of service for people, I don't know, trains, planes! but not a radiator! with all that been said, I think It's correct!

Anonymous · Answer

The phrase "out of service" normally means something has broken and is in need of repair. In this case, since the radiator is not broken, but is merely off, do not use "out of service."

Stephenlearner · Answer

Thanks very much!

So just "The radiator is off" is OK?
Does it mean "off temporarily or permanently"?

Anonymous · Answer

I think out of action is better in this situation.

Avangi · Answer

How about, "The radiator is not working" ?

Radiators may be in the "off" or "on" condition when working properly.

To clarify, you could add "at all," or "correctly."

Edit. Actually, after reading your explanation, I think "out of service" applies.
You know why it's not working! The service has been discontinued for the season.

A bus driving down the street and displaying the sign "NOT IN SERVICE" works perfectly well.

Stephenlearner · Answer

Great !
Your advice is very precious.
Thanks very much.

Stephenlearner · Answer

BTW, in my area, the company provides heat by running hot water through pipes into the radiators in each house. The radiator is not electricity powered, so you cannot turn in on and off.

Avangi · Answer

stephenlearnerBTW, in my area, the company provides heat by running hot water through pipes into the radiators in each house. The radiator is not electricity powered, so you cannot turn in on and off.

An interesting concept.

My early experience was with steam and "forced hot water." (The cost of installing and operating "radiant" heat (electric) was prohibitive, but some houses had it.)
"Steam heat" had valves on the individual radiators, so they could be shut off selectively. The heat source (for boiling the water) had its own "thermostatic" control. The fuel could be oil, gas, or coal, but the control itself was usually electrically operated.

With the "forced hot water" (similar to your system), there would be one thermostat to control the circulating pump and another to control the water temperature.
It's hard for me to imagine that when your system is "in service," there's no way to control the temperature in the individual houses, or to shut it off completely.

Stephenlearner · Answer

No. There is no way you can adjust the temperautre of the radiator in individual house, as far as I know. In my area, apartments or condominiums are very common. When building the houses, the contractors would install the radiators into each apartment. It is made of iron or steel or aluminium. It is unmovable, often attached to the bottom of the wall.  Now, families would buy electric radiators, if their house radiators could not provide enough warmth in winter. The electric radiators, however, are adjustable, so you  turn it on, off, up, and down.

Avangi · Answer

This is fascinating!
Are the radiators piped in series or in parallel?

I'm assuming the water goes back to the source to be reheated when it cools off. In other words, it recirculates.

It seems that if the houses in a neighborhood are piped in series, the houses toward the end of the line would always be cooler than the others.

If they're piped in parallel, I see no reason why a simple hand valve could not be used to stop the flow, when the temperature in a particular house gets too hot.

Out of service?

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