I rent a house with an oil furnace. The heat bill is included in my rent. There is no visible thermostat to adjust the heat. How does the furnace know when to kick on, and where might I find a hidden thermostat? I believe the thermostat is hidden or non existent to save the landlord money. However my rent is so expensive and I have small children I should be able to keep them warm with the amount I pay.

I`ve never heard of a hidden thermostat, not to say it ain`t possible. If this was the case where I lived I would ask the landlord where tstat was located, if he refused to tell me or help me,I would then contact someone in local government and find out if what landlord is doing was legal,I`m sure there is some office somewhere that helps to make sure that when you pay rent for a home or apartment that makes sure you are safe and warm, before you contact them check out your lease to insure there are no fine print that will get you evicted.

wmproop makes a good point. However, I would start by asking the landlord where the thermostat is. He should be able to explian where it is, and/or how it works.