Q I live in an older building that has radiator heat. We don't have any control over the temperature in our apartment other than turning the radiator valves off and on. From what I've read, most people get a banging noise from their radiators, but ours scream. Periodically, in the wee hours of the morning, they scream bloody murder in my bedroom for a few minutes, then stop, then start back up again a little while later. I remember something similar last year, but not at this volume or for this duration. Is there anything I can do? -- Arlington

ARadiators that bang, whistle or scream tend to be just as irksome as neighbors who do the same. As with neighbors whose ruckus keeps you awake, your best move is to approach the situation with care. In this case, using caution means that you will probably want to leave any adjustments to your radiator to a professional. That's because radiators tend to be hot and can burn you if hot air or water is running through them when you attempt to solve the noise problem on your own.

Meanwhile, the noises coming from your radiator are a sign that something is wrong, said Bob Kordulak, technical consultant for the Falls Church-based Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association. "If it is whistling or banging or making a lot of noise, there is a problem," he said. There's no clear answer to why your radiator screams rather than bangs, Kordulak said.

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David Singleton, who works for his Massachusetts family's plumbing and heating outfit, David R. Singleton Inc., said that this problem sounds as if it is coming from a steam radiator because "typically, hot-water radiators are much more quiet." The sound hot-water radiators make resembles a running brook, he said.

When steam moves through a radiator that is not well-tuned, there can be a lot of noise. Pipe steam systems have air vents, usually on one side of the radiator, Singleton said. To produce heat, steam works its way through the pipes, and when the radiator senses a temperature increase, the vent closes. When there's a vent problem, either the vent is not working correctly or the vents in the main steam lines in the basement aren't working correctly, it can really bang.

Many people complain of hearing loud radiator noises in the middle of the night, most likely for the simple reason that as your heat system may work a little harder because of an overnight temperature drop and that you tend to notice more sounds in the quiet of the night, Singleton said.

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So what should you do if your radiator is waking you up? Ask your landlord to have a maintenance worker take a look or bring in a professional who is familiar with your type of radiator.

"Nobody should have to live like that; being woken up in the middle of the night is not pleasant," Singleton said. Some systems, however, are so old that there is little hope for repair, he said. And sometimes, he said, landlords with old systems need to fix the whole lot of apartments, not just one, which is expensive and therefore unlikely.

This is my first time renting in an apartment complex, and I am moving in with my girlfriends. We are going to have a meeting about rules and concerns, and I honestly am not sure what to expect. Can you please give me pointers on what some of our rules should be? What are some issues that roommates go through, so I can have an idea of what to expect? We definitely get along well. I am just hoping that we can get along living with one another. -- Hyattsville

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Having a meeting and setting rules with your new roommates is an important first step toward living together peacefully. I don't want to be an alarmist, but a lot of friendships end because of roommate drama. It's important to remember that sharing an apartment with friends may not always work out the way you expect. People who are friends still have different habits and different ways of living.

So the best way to improve your chances at compatibility is to establish rules that you all agree to follow. The main problems people usually have as roommates revolve around finances, hygiene, noise and unwanted guests. You should openly discuss these issues and draw up an agreement that spells out each tenant's expectations.

Such a document should clearly state each tenant's responsibilities for paying rent, utilities and other shared bills. It should also discuss the consequences of moving out early -- you can use your lease termination clause as a guideline. Beyond the financial logistics, you should also go over house rules before signing a joint lease and put these in writing, too. Common issues to set policies for are cleaning, guests, noise, food sharing, partying, cooking and borrowing others' belongings. Being able to respect one another's privacy and desire for cleanliness and order is important to maintaining your friendships.

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Until you live together, you may not know your friend never washes dishes or blasts the stereo late at night. By talking about these things, however, you will have a better chance at a good roommate situation. And by establishing a pattern of open communication, you will be better equipped to weather any storms that come up.

My apartment no longer requires security deposits, and they refunded them to those of us who had moved in when the deposits were required. Why would an apartment not require a security deposit? What happens if someone moves out and leaves the place a wreck? -- Washington

This is a growing trend with larger management companies because they want to reduce one of the major administrative hassles of the rental process, both for themselves and for prospective tenants. Surprisingly, not too much is different when you don't have to pay a security deposit, except of course the obvious benefit of not having to front money for damage.

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Read your lease carefully. Chances are you are responsible for taking care of your apartment and for paying for any damage beyond normal wear and tear. That means, even though your landlord doesn't have a security deposit, he is able to charge you if, during your tenancy, there is damage beyond such age-related problems as worn carpet, faded paint or warped window blinds. So, don't take the lack of security deposit as license to break your appliances, scratch your floors or stain your carpet. Remember that landlords are not known for giving free passes. Your apartment is very much their business, and they are protective of their property.

Do you have questions, comments or ideas about apartment life? Contact Sara Gebhardt via e-mail at aptlife@gmail.com or by mail, c/o Real Estate Editor, The Washington Post, 1150 15th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20071.

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