Korean Job Discussion Forums

dam_on · Joined: 12 Dec 2006

Hello all..new member here. Does anyone else have a problem with their water NOT being hot? I could maybe understand if I lived in Seoul or somewhere up north where it is freezing cold, but I'm on the southern coast where the weather is quite moderate.

I've already had the boss's husband come over to check out the water heater...he brought the building's super but thay said it was just OLD!! and there was nothing they could do!! Twisted Evil

The water is just too cold to shower with (I just wash my face and head in morning and evening) and I shouldn't have to pay for a sauna or join a gym just to take a hot shower.

I'm having dinner with the boss and her family tonight so it might be a good time to bring it up again. I know I have to pay like W50,000 a month for the apartment's upkeep and maintenance...should the building be responsible for replacing the heater if it's not doing its job?

Thanks for the help.

tzechuk · Joined: 20 Dec 2004

Take a pic of your boiler control and the actual boiler itself.. then we can see if you have the controls set correctly.

ChuckECheese · Joined: 20 Jul 2006

grainger · Joined: 21 Sep 2006 Location: Wonju, Korea

Actually this is one of my current pet peeves as well. I can only take a hot shower in the morning. In the evenings there's no hot water. I think it's tied into the heating system which only comes on at certain times of the day. It's really annoying because sometimes at night you just want to relax in a hot shower, a bath is a luxury not heard of in this country, and wash off the kindy germs.

Have you tried showering at different times in the day. This may be your problem as well.

dam_on · Joined: 12 Dec 2006

i've uploaded a photo of it here: [img]http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/dam_on/detail?.dir=5977scd&.dnm=380fscd.jpg[/img]

seems pretty straighforward..on/off switch and a temp knob (it's already set to the hottest temp. Confused

midian3x · Joined: 18 Sep 2006

See if this helps- when you turn on the shower do so at the lowest posible pressure that will give you a shower . Crazy I know- but in the winter I can not take a full pressure shower with heat, in fact it will be freezing-but if I turn the shower on so it is not so fast, its a sauna in there.

dam_on · Joined: 12 Dec 2006

mike_gwangju · Joined: 04 Dec 2006 Location: Wokingham, UK

I had a problem with hot water when I first arrived and I had to complain 3 times before I could have a hot shower.

The director couldn't be bothered to visit my apartment to check everything was in a working order, so he told me if I wanted hot water, I should switch the boiler on. Strangely enough, the boiler was always switched on before getting a shower! He then told me that the water in Korea was colder than what I was used to in England. Maybe it is colder here, but I was sure that Koreans didn't shower in stone cold water.

Eventually, after 3 weeks, somebody did visit my apartment and sorted the problem. The water pressure needed sorting apparently. It did do the trick, but I'm now back to luke warm water in the shower. If I want a hot shower, I have to switch a cold tap on elsewhere in the apartment. That seems to do the trick.

I can't be bothered to the hassle the guy anymore.

Qinella · Joined: 25 Feb 2005 Location: the crib

You need to demand that it be fixed. I would refuse to come in to work. Or, I would go to the sauna for a couple hours when I was supposed to be at work, and then just mosey into the office after I've finished up there.

This is not Cambodia or Zimbabwe. Your boss is being negligent and cheap. Lukewarm and cold water is not acceptable.

tzechuk · Joined: 20 Dec 2004

Yeah.. I would say that your boiler is old and need a new one.

When we moved to our current apartment it was old, too, then we had a new one and it worked perfectly.

Press for a new one!!

dam_on · Joined: 12 Dec 2006

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

I would also press for a new boiler. Koreans are not as concerned as we are about hot water for showering for whatever reason. Some time ago I had the same problem and got zero sympathy from my students when I mentioned it to them. Several of them said they never had hot water for showers and thought I was a wimp for expecting it.

Good luck.

dam_on · Joined: 12 Dec 2006

dam_on · Joined: 12 Dec 2006

ED209 · Joined: 17 Oct 2006

Place two lumps of cheese under your armpits and some meat down your pants. Once the students start complaining he'll (the lazy ass boss) fix it. If he doesn't knock on his house everyday for a shower. Don't forget to leave a good clump of pubes in the sink.