Separate Boiler for Tenant
We are renovating a small 3 story house with the intention of having a tenant on the top floor (approx 750 sq’) at least for a few years. We are planning on having a separate boiler for them so the tenant will be responsible for their own heat, but we were wondering if anyone had…
We are renovating a small 3 story house with the intention of having a tenant on the top floor (approx 750 sq’) at least for a few years. We are planning on having a separate boiler for them so the tenant will be responsible for their own heat, but we were wondering if anyone had an opinion about this if the ultimate goal is to live in the entire house, after hopefully 5 or 6 years–and if it will be a total hassle to convert to one boiler system. Thanks!
We have just completed a similar installation.
The top floor is probably the easiest level to separate, as the venting requirement for a high efficiency unit is direct vent, and the top floor is the only floor in which that is practibale (can’t go in flue, does not draft)
You will save significantly on the balance of your heat bill, just by zoning off the hard to heat floor.
I can’t say if your ROI will be 5 years, but you have picked the low hanging fruit.
bruceatjerseydata.net
you guys miss the point of having the seperate boiler. here in new york, when you want to get your tenant out, or make him pay his rent, the number one problem is he complains about heat. the seperate boiler is to take away that ammunition.
a small boiler in a fireproof closet on the top floor may be a solution you can leave in or sell in 5 years. its the seperate gas meter that takes time to install /uninstall because of Con Ed and the Building Dept.
My guess is that you will not recoup your investment in any less than 5-7 years.
Still=”silly”
Still idea on a 5 year timeframe…you’ll spend way more than you ‘ll get back from your tenant, unless you’re planning to gouge him on the rent (he will get a rent reduction, right?)
But more oddly…if you do do this, why would you bother to change back to one boiler later? Don’t believe the boiler cares about your CO.
I cannot speak to the practicality for the owners when they take over the whole house. But I can say as a tenant on the top floor of a (four story) brownstone, where getting enough heat up here is a real problem, I would definitely consider controlling and paying for my own heat, assuming there’s a reasonable break on the rent. Just mention this as another point of view on it being a selling point or not to a potential renter.
Five years seems soon to me.
Do you need a new furnace anyway? Often these days, we have been told, you install two small furnaces to replace one large. (we are about to replace our 50 year old furnace).
Maybe that configuration can actually work in your case if you need a replacement furnace. But if it costs anything to do this, I can’t imagine spending money for it… it doesn’t seem like a selling point for the rental.
If you don’t need a new furnace right now, why not just make the rent include heat and price accordingly?