Heat Pump/Mini Split vs Space Heater

AlwaysCold

I recently moved into an apartment in Massachusetts already occupied by two other people. They heat the apartment using an old natural gas furnace and it's too cold for me to tolerate. The landlord has installed this ductless mini-split system: https://www.daikinac.com/content/assets/DOC/SubmittalDataSheets/Single-Split/FTXS09LVJU-RXS09LVJU%20Submittal%20Sheet.pdf but they don't use it because it's apparently too expensive.

I can't deal with the cold, and I'm willing to pay the offset to use electric heat (my lease is up next March and I'm moving out of state then, but until then I'm stuck here), so I was wondering what the best way to heat the house is.

The weather gets very cold (central Massachusetts, it apparently went down to -1F at one point during the winter), and there's a stretch of a month or two where it's entirely possible the temperature won't rise above 30F for weeks.

I need a temperature of 68F while I'm at home to be comfortable (wearing thick socks and two layers). The natural gas only heats the house to about 55-60F depending on how cold it is outside.

I am only at home intermittently, one hour at lunch and then 6-8 hours before I go to bed, and while I'm in bed I don't mind the cold.

The apartment is old and drafty with terrible insulation. My room is about 200sqft, and the apartment is about 1000sqft total

Given all of these factors, would a space heater or the ductless mini-split be cheaper to use October-March?

ethicalpaul

55-60?? Is that by choice?

AlwaysCold

@ethicalpaul the furnace will heat the house to about 60 but my roommates usually keep it at 55 and don't seem to feel the cold (like, walk around in t-shirts while I'm shivering under covers)

Larry Weingarten

Hi, Two things come to mind. It may sound flip, but an electric vest might be a good solution. Also, is it legal to rent an apartment without adequate heat? I have doubts, but then it could be a struggle to get the landlord to do anything.

Yours, Larry

AlwaysCold

@Larry Weingarten the problem is that there *is* a ductless mini-split system, but my roommates are extremely resistant to using it.

bburd

Massachusetts code requires adequate heat in rental housing (68° except during sleeping hours IIRC) but it sounds like the cold indoor conditions are due to the roommates’ choice of how to operate the system. If tenants have control of the thermostat and pay the fuel bill, the landlord’s only responsibility is to provide an adequate heating system and keep it running.

The ductless mini split will be much cheaper to operate that an electric space heater if—and only if—the OP’s bedroom has its own head and its own thermostat, so that room can be heated independently without operating the rest of the ductless heads.

This assumes that the ductless system is capable of operating in heat pump mode except in extremely cold conditions. Keep that “emergency heat” switch turned off!

EdTheHeaterMan

It sounds to me like a space heater in your personal 200 Sq ft room is your only real choice. Until the electric bill for operating that space heater is realized by the other two roommates, that is your best option for comfort. I'm assuming the mini-split is only available in the main common room.

kflory

They also make 120v window units that offer heat-pump heating, if you've got a window and a spare outlet in your room.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00L4RLMNM/

veteransteamhvac

The only thing that doesn't make any sense to me is the statement: "they don't use it because it's too expensive." The mini split certainly isn't that efficient in heat pump mode, but come on. It's as much or more efficient than basically any other single room heating/cooling device. Why reinvent the wheel>? It's ludicrous for them to think the mini split is responsible for high heat/cooling bills.

Jamie Hall

Since you are only going to be there for a while, an electric space heater -- get a milk room heater such as this https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/redstone-multi-purpose-fan-forced-heater?cm_vc=-10005 -- will do just what you want. You can spend a lot more for a fancy one, but a watt is a watt and that one works just fine.

Daveydigz

The mini split is okay for heat, but isnt very helpful in temps below heating. I have a small studio apartment and i have an mini split. It works very well, and doesnt kill me on the electric bill, but when it sustained cold below freezing i use an oil filled space heater for lower cost and even heat without drafts

hot_rod

these are nice for space heating, quiet and safe. This has a 600W low setting. I think you can find even lower wattage models.

4C4477FE-FABD-4861-A51A-3C7EEF216B31.png

I like @Larry Weingarten idea. You can get electric vests, socks, gloves, etc.

I used electric vests when riding motorcycles in the winter. Keeping your chest and heart warm tends to keep the rest of your body warm. Get a Milwaukee brand and the batteries work in your cordless tools.🤓

Larry Weingarten

Now that's fun Thanks hot_rod ! I had no idea Milwaukee made a heated vest. Here's a link: 271-20

pecmsg

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1744707#Comment_1744707

The average Mini Split heat pump is more efficient then that oil filled heater.

JakeCK

This isn't even really a heating issue, this is an ***h*** problem. If you are paying your fair share you have the right not to be freezing and 50f is most definitely too cold for most people.

If that was my situation someone would have to be making an appointment with a proctologist to have my boot surgically removed.

Pick up a space heater at Walmart and keep your room toasty. BUT make sure the outlet is in good condition, and that the plug is nice n' snug in that outlet, keep it away from anything combustible and do not allow anything to go over top of the cord. I personally hate space heaters but these a**** aren't giving you much choice at 50f.

I've lived with temperatures that cold before, not by choice either when the firewood was gone and we couldn't afford propane. It is miserable.