Give the Gift of Heat

City codes states that between September 15 and June 1 the temperature in Chicago apartments should be at least:

• 65 degrees at 7:30 a.m.
• 68 degrees from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
• 63 degrees from 10:30 p.m. to 7:30 a.m.

When it’s cold in your home, it’s hard to know what to do. Answer the questions below before a heating outage so you can respond quickly.

Call 311 Immediately If You Have No Heat The 311 operator will need this information to send an inspector out:

1. the building’s address
2. the owner or manager’s name and phone number
3. if you pay your own heating gas bill
4. if someone is home during the day to let an inspector in.

How to Get More Heat if Your Apartment is Cold Get a thermometer. Write down temperature of your apartment 3 times a day for 3 days.  You can use this form:

•  at 7:30am : _________
• daytime, between 8:30am – 10:30pm: _______.
• nighttime, between10:30pm – 7:30am:_______.

If your landlord is responsible for heating your apartment, and the heat is usually below the City code regulations, then notify your landlord in writing that he or she must increase the heat to meet city codes.

Or just call 311 with your recorded temperatures.

Please provide emotional support to your neighbors who are afraid of retaliation for asking for what they richly deserve – a warm home this season.