bfbryan
Registered: 06/10/09
Posts: 8
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Reply with quote | #1 |
Has anyone ever split their heat in a multi-family? I have an oil boiler (on its last legs). Each tenant (4 fam) have their own thermostat. Heat and h/w included in the rent. Ideally I'd like to upgrade the heat system and split the heat at the same time to bill back to the tenants. This way the risk of rising oil prices is off my P&L. I do not have access to natural gas as I am too far out of town. The best I have come up with is propane. Any ideas?
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rkkeller
Registered: 04/07/08
Posts: 426
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Reply with quote | #2 |
I know it would cost more but any chance of 2-4 smaller boilers or heaters ?
My friend just did that in her rental. One heater for one zone and another for the other.
Costs a little more initially but then she stopped including it in the rent so the tenants pay for what they use. In the long run it will save her thousands. My duplex has everything seperate, even the water.
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OHlandlord
Registered: 01/20/07
Posts: 1,836
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Reply with quote | #3 |
You could also install electric baseboard heaters or furnaces in some units (furnaces can fit in an empty closet) and an electric H2O heater.
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bfbryan
Registered: 06/10/09
Posts: 8
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Reply with quote | #4 |
I have thought about electric but in the North East rates are so expensive and this is an old house. I think my best bet is 4 small propane boilers, 1 for each apartment and then a seperate hot water tank unless someone has a better idea. Apts already have seperate zones. |
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MOON
Registered: 09/16/08
Posts: 275
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Reply with quote | #5 |
What do you know about propane ? I had propane it was horrible, I would rather have electric. propane is worse than oil, very expensive in the winter & you have no control on winter charges. ( this was in south jersey ) |
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OHlandlord
Registered: 01/20/07
Posts: 1,836
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Reply with quote | #6 |
I agree. Propane, gas, & oil costs are huge here in the midwest. Tenants prefer to have electric. An all electric unit is a bonus here. They like not having that extra bill.
One other thing - how can you be sure they would fill the propane? Big problem here - tenants don't sign up for it and the house freezes. (There go the pipes.) Electric is already on. Plus some companies won't allow tenants to get propane here because they've gotten stiffed on unpaid bills. They require the owner to get propane and oil in their names. Then you have to bill the tenants. Please check.
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