Heating/cooling options while renting?

[naddis01]

Ok guys, we are currently renting a house which basically has no heating. There is a gas bayonet in the lounge room but it is hooked up to gas bottles (only gas option available here) and I'm not keen on unflued gas heaters anyway. So what are our options for heating the house? Obviously being a rental I don't really want a permanent solution that only benefits the landlord in the long term. Window rattler, portable air con, electric heater? What is out there? I was thinking a portable split system but no one appears to make them any more.

Thanks in advance.

[olfella]

I agree about unflued gas. Kogan still make portables.
http://www.kogan.com/au/shop/home-ap...-conditioners/

[naddis01]

I can't see how those units can be very efficient if the whole unit is in the room. That is why I was thinking a portable split system. Am I missing something?

[GasoLane]

What's the problem with the Portable (unflued) Gas heaters ?

[naddis01]

I'm not keen on the idea of the emissions in the home environment.

[olfella]

Originally Posted by GasOLane

What's the problem with the Portable (unflued) Gas heaters ?

Nitrogen dioxide for one. Also burns all the oxygen in the air and replaces it with CO2 so you could end up having a long sleep.
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/pdfs/79-116-e.pdf

[olfella]

Originally Posted by naddis01

I can't see how those units can be very efficient if the whole unit is in the room. That is why I was thinking a portable split system. Am I missing something?

They are portable split systems. You shove a pipe out the window. They supply a universal kit for that purpose.

[GasoLane]

Hmm, well, the wife has been using one in her shop for the last 7 years.

[olfella]

If the door is open or some other source of fresh air then you would be OK. Otherwise I would buy a Carbon monoxide alarm (similar to a smoke alarm) and it will alert you to dangerous levels.
Made a slight blue above and referred to CO2 - should be carbon monoxide.

[naddis01]

Originally Posted by olfella

They are portable split systems. You shove a pipe out the window. They supply a universal kit for that purpose.

But aren't that style a single unit with no outside unit?

[olfella]

Works the same as a window rattler but a lot easier to move from place to place. They go well in rentals as no damage done to the house. If you have a retailer down there they will have something similar you can look at.

[STEALTHY]

Your other option is to ask the landlord, and offer to pay a % of the cost (i think 33% is acceptable).

I've done this when i wanted an automated rollerdoor, at two seperate houses. Both landlords were happy to ablige, as its part of their investment (they may even foot the entire bill if they're nice, and in the instance of a heater, it'd add value to how much rent they can charge)

[naddis01]

Does anyone have any experience with electric panel heaters? Are they any good or do you have to be sitting on them to feel the warmth? Do they use much power?

http://www.rinnai.com.au/heating/ele...l-2200w-model/

[danzvtil]

Originally Posted by naddis01

Does anyone have any experience with electric panel heaters? Are they any good or do you have to be sitting on them to feel the warmth? Do they use much power?

http://www.rinnai.com.au/heating/ele...l-2200w-model/

Some of the panel heaters are very economical to run but aren't one you can sit in front of to feel warmth, they just warm the room to take the chill off, may have to run them 24/7 too.

[Yellow_Festiva]

A few 2400w fan heaters may work?

We had 2 in our unit and they would raise the temp in a room quite fast.

2 In the living area and 10 min before bed time we would re-position one to the BR.

Cheap and portable - probably not that efficient compared to other options.

[Yellow_Festiva]

You may also want to look at common sense stuff like isolating rooms to trap heat in, door snakes for under the door, foam strips around loose fitting doors etc etc.

Cheap yet effective.

[LyleXR8]

We've got one of those panel heaters, 2000 watt model and it heated the kitchen lounge dining room pretty easy, was set at 17-21 degrees on the thermostat and got to 21 degrees within 10 minutes, was surprised with no fan how quick and warm it got

[BENT_8]

How long have you been there, is the house relatively new?

The house were in currently is a rental, been in it 5 years. Its a 4 bedder and only had a r/c split in the living room.
After 12 months and a scorching summer i decided if we were staying they needed to install a ducted system as the front rooms were unbareable on hot nights.
I did my homework, got a few quotes and approached the RE property manager.
She flat out refused to put it to the owner so i told her in no uncertain terms that i was happy to move if nothing could be done, its rediculous to build a 4 bdrm house for a family and heat/cool it with a single split.

She reluctantly agreed to put it to the owners, they said no probs as we are perfect tennants, treat the place as our own, never late with the $$'s.
The ducted system went in a fortnight later, just in time for summer.

The rent went up by $10pw which i thought fair, weve been here 4 years since and everyones happy, im going to put the hard word on them for a Puratap now as they've finally decided to raise it another $10 for the next lease.

Oh, the owner came around one day to do some work, i told him i didnt like the RE property manager and was considering moving to get away from having to deal with her.
A week later the owners dumped the RE company and now manage it themselves...

[naddis01]

Originally Posted by BENT_8

How long have you been there, is the house relatively new?

It is an old house that has been renovated (obviously not by a professional). We have only been here for a couple of months so far.