Are gas wall heaters safe?

[rp2813]

A new heater shouldn't be generating sooty residue.  I think your CO alarms would be going off if that were the case.  If you have issues with dust, the heater grille will be one of the places where it will accumulate.

 

In an old building, you're going to have drafty conditions if the windows and doors don't seal well.  The heater will work fine if you cover the gap under the front door.  You can buy a felt sweep on a metal strip to install at the bottom of the door and cover the gap, or just use one of those snakes or a towel to place across the door bottom.  The more drafts you eliminate, the lower your gas bill will be.

 

Again, a compact air circulator placed in an out-of-the way spot and set to its lowest speed will help to distribute heat more evenly.

 

[thomasortega]

I turn on the ceiling fans to distribute the heat.

I'll buy a snake this week (no more than that because it's a rental unit and I don't want to spend a dime here.)
When the contract ends, I want to move away from the 90044 zip code. I'll probably end up moving to Long Beach (Hi Kevin!)

Other day i realized i literally live 3 blocks away from the famous Tom's Liquor Store (1992 L.A. riots, where that truck driver was attacked, remember?)

Other things i HATE, HATE, HATE in my apartment are the cheap floors that no matter how well i clean are always stained and looking dirty, the ridiculous kitchen, the nosey landlord that uses his keys for everything he considers an "emergency" (For example he's driving in the neighborhood and needs to use the bathroom, so he just comes to my apartment, opens the door when I'm not here and dump a submarine in my bathroom, uses MY toilet paper and forgets to flush)
Also, he's a PITA with the disposer. He said he has "advanced knowledge" about disposers, for this reason he brought me one of those drain screens just to prevent any kind of food, for example a pea or a rice grain from falling in the disposer as disposers are meant unly to pump the water out faster and not to grind food waste. I stated clearly that one of the features that made me pick this apartment was the disposer and I'd use it according to the manufacturer instructions. And ISE says i can but almost everything in it. and putting a screen on the disposer would prevent me from using 100% of the features I'm paying for.

If he sees the 30 chicken wing bones i disposed at once (not feeding them all at once, of course) two nights ago he would probably have a heart attack.

Other things that are a PITA here is that the apartment doesn't have AC, the wiring is extremely weak and terribly designed. To run the dryer I must leave the laundry room lights on because the "genious" put the outlets in the same circuit AFTER the switch.

Oh yes, and the walls are green.... parrot green!

Everything I loved about this apartment (because it's "vintage" and I always dreamed about living in a vintage building) turned into a nightmare.
I'm hating this apartment so much that I'm almost saying I want to live in one of those brand new HGTV homes with "Open tragedy concept" kitchen and stainless steel appliances.

Note to add. I LOVE my giant laundry room. I have room enough to have at least 30 full size washing machines side by side if I want.

 

[thomasortega]

Darryl and I were planning to buy the appliances w ereally wanted (all samsung, fridge with that screen, magnetic induction stove, convection microwave, all of them with wifi.

I'm still using an IKEA portable cooktop (magnetic induction) and a mini fridge.

If we buy something for this apartment, it will be the el cheapo BOL model, preferably at sears outlet to be even cheaper because of possible dents or scratches.

Right now I'm finish paying some bills and we'll have some money to invest on furniture, etc.

Don't be surprised if i buy only a cheap folding table at walmart, some folding chairs anda $399 stove.

There is a Magic Chef top freezer refrigerator at home depot that is inspiring me a lot.

But again, we have this mini fridge that was in the apartment and it is working for now. I'm not desperate to buy anything because I'm actually frustrated with the apartment.

The landlord is a very nice man, but suddenly he started doing this little things that really get on my nerves. Add that to the neighborhood I didn't know is one of the worst in L.A., with police helicopters flying over the house with their spotlights on all the time.

BTW, Days ago the landlord surprised me with new blindings in the office. Much better than the horrible cheap crap that was there.

 

[polkanut]

Don't forget to ask at Home Depot if they have any scratch & dent models for sale.  My sister & brother-in-law bought a nice GE fridge at Menard's that had a scuff on the freezer door, and it was marked down significantly from the original price.  You can't even see the scuff if you don't know it's there.

 

[tolivac]

In the days when I used to rent an apartment--It was ILLEGAL for the landlord to enter your unit without 24hrs notice UNLESS it was some sort of emergency threatning safety of others or the building.I would check on that in your area.

 

[tolivac]

Disposer as a pump??That man doesn't know crap about disposers-they are NOT pumps-they are a machine intended to shred food waste!!

 

[thomasortega]

"Disposer as a pump??That man doesn't know crap about disposers-they are NOT pumps-they are a machine intended to shred food waste!!"

Really? I didn't know that Hahahahahahh

Have you never read the drain? In Sink Erator, sink drain pump to make the sink drain faster.

Laughing histerically

Now I'm wondering.... Who needs a pump to drain the kitchen sink faster? Hahahahah

Gosh, why didn't i think about this before? I may ask the landlord to install one in my bathtub to drain it faster.

 

[thomasortega]

"In the days when I used to rent an apartment--It was ILLEGAL for the landlord to enter your unit without 24hrs notice UNLESS it was some sort of emergency threatning safety of others or the building.I would check on that in your area."

My contract says that.

The problem is "what exactly is an emergency?"

Sorry thomas, i was in the neighborhood and I had an "emergency", i had to use your bathroom. LOL

But again, the landlord is not a bad person and he doesn't do that to be nosey or something like that. He's just an old man that doesn't quite understand anymore the differences between right and wrong.

It pisses me off, but at the same time, as he's a very good guy, the best i can do is pretend i didn't see anything.
I definitely won't have a serious conversation with him about that.

 

[kd12]

No Fan?

I'm stumped as to why these furnaces don't have a blower fan. The wall furnaces I remember from Sears and Wards in the 70s-80s all had a fan at the top to distribute the heat. Blew downward and out the bottom. What you have seems to be popular in California, though. I would strongly suggest moving to a new place. You would be better off in a house with an old-time floor furnace than one of these wall furnaces with no blower.

 

[thomasortega]

Yep, no fan.

Visiting the manufacturer's website I saw there is a fan, optional, that fits perfectly on the top of the unit and it's automatic.

However, I won't open MY wallet to get those.

After I started putting a blanket under the door the difference was huge. That thing heats A LOT. And the ceiling fans in my bedroom and in the living room help mixing the air.

Now only the other bedroom/office remains super cold while i feel comfortable like a turkey in the oven in the other rooms.

 

[sarahperdue]

Gas Company Inspections

So glad you have such a fantastic landlord! and that you have a new, safe heater.

I just wanted to add a note to everyone--if you're worried about a gas appliance, gas companies in most (probably all) areas will come and inspect it for you without charge whether or not you are the property owner.

As some mentioned in earlier posts, the gas company has a vested interest in making sure people aren't using dangerous appliances.

Stay warm,
Sarah

 

[sudsmaster]

OK, not judging. But...

If you are planning on staying in California long term, you might try to wean yourself off that relatively high indoor temp. Why? Well, as you have noticed, prices for residential energy in California are quite high. Perhaps twice the price of, say, the Midwest (Ohio etc). So you'll save some $$ if you get yourself to enjoy lower room temps.

How to do it? Well, I'd start by investing in some indoor winter clothing. Soft cotton sweatshirts and sweatpants are a good solution. Maybe even a watch cap. Warm slippers as well. If you don't like how you look in them, then put something else on when you go outside. Where it probably will be colder, anyway.

It the sweat clothing isn't enough, get some nice sweaters - or a fleece hooded jacket.

Again, not judging, but you did complain about the high gas bill.

As for the "snake" to block drafts coming under the door... well, a rolled up bath towel will do that too. And if blocking the air gap doesn't cause any heating problems, it would be a simple matter to add some weather stripping to the bottom of the door - probably about $10 from a hardware store.

As for your landlord - he sounds like a real character. I'd have read him the riot act after his second intrusion. He has no right to invade your privacy like that. And if he kept on doing it, I'd send him a letter about it AND change the locks to keep him from entering without notice. If he complains that he'd need to enter in an emergency, tell him in that case to just knock down the door, if it's truly an emergency. Worry about the repair costs later.

 

[thomasortega]

Sudsmaster

I understand you`re not judjing (don`t worry about that, I`ll never think you`re judging me)

I can't sleep if it's not like Mrs. Monroe, you know, wearing Chanel #5 (just kidding, not even Chanel) ABsolutely nothing, NADA!

Regarding the lock, the contract forbids me from changing the locks and if anyway I want to change, in 24 hours i MUST give a copy of the keys to the Landlord.

 

[sudsmaster]

Landlords and locks

From:http://www.dca.ca.gov/publications/landlordbook/living-in.shtml

WHEN CAN THE LANDLORD ENTER THE RENTAL UNIT?
California law states that a landlord can enter a rental unit only for the following reasons:

In an emergency.
When the tenant has moved out or has abandoned the rental unit.
To make necessary or agreed-upon repairs, decorations, alterations, or other improvements.
To show the rental unit to prospective tenants, purchasers, or lenders, to provide entry to contractors or workers who are to perform work on the unit, or to conduct an initial inspection before the end of the tenancy (see Initial Inspection sidebar).
If a court order permits the landlord to enter.116
If the tenant has a waterbed, to inspect the installation of the waterbed when the installation has been completed, and periodically after that to assure that the installation meets the law's requirements.117
The landlord or the landlord's agent must give the tenant reasonable advance notice in writing before entering the unit, and can enter only during normal business hours (generally, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays). The notice must state the date, approximate time and purpose of entry. 118 However, advance written notice is not required under any of the following circumstances:

To respond to an emergency.
The tenant has moved out or has abandoned the rental unit.
The tenant is present and consents to the entry at the time of entry.
The tenant and landlord have agreed that the landlord will make repairs or supply services, and have agreed orally that the landlord may enter to make the repairs or supply the services. The agreement must include the date and approximate time of entry, which must be within one week of the oral agreement.119
The landlord or agent may use any one of the following methods to give the tenant written notice of intent to enter the unit. The landlord or agent may:

Personally deliver the notice to the tenant; or
Leave the notice at the rental unit with a person of suitable age and discretion (for example, a roommate or a teenage member of the tenant's household); or
Leave the notice on, near or under the unit's usual entry door in such a way that it is likely to be found; or
Mail the notice to the tenant.120
The law considers 24 hours' advance written notice to be reasonable in most situations.

If the notice is mailed to the tenant, mailing at least six days before the intended entry is presumed to be reasonable, in most situations.121 The tenant can consent to shorter notice and to entry at times other than during normal business hours.

Special rules apply if the purpose of the entry is to show the rental to a purchaser. In that case, the landlord or the landlord's agent may give the tenant notice orally, either in person or by telephone. The law considers 24 hours' notice to be reasonable in most situations. However, before oral notice can be given, the landlord or agent must first have notified the tenant in writing that the rental is for sale and that the landlord or agent may contact the tenant orally to arrange to show it. This written notice must be given to the tenant within 120 days of the oral notice. The oral notice must state the date, approximate time and purpose of entry.122 The landlord or agent may enter only during normal business hours, unless the tenant consents to entry at a different time123 When the landlord or agent enters the rental, he or she must leave written evidence of entry, such as a business card.124

The landlord cannot abuse the right of access allowed by these rules, or use this right of access to harass (repeatedly disturb) the tenant.125 Also, the law prohibits a landlord from significantly and intentionally violating these access rules to attempt to influence the tenant to move from the rental unit. 126

If your landlord violates these access rules, talk to the landlord about your concerns. If that is not successful in stopping the landlord's misconduct, send the landlord a formal letter asking the landlord to strictly observe the access rules stated above. If the landlord continues to violate these rules, you can talk to an attorney or a legal aid organization, or file suit in small claims court to recover damages that you have suffered due to the landlord's misconduct. If the landlord's violation of these rules was significant and intentional, and the landlord's purpose was to influence you to move from the rental unit, you can sue the landlord in small claims court for a civil penalty of up to $2,000 for each violation.127

Sudsmaster's comments:

Having to use a bathroom is NOT a legitimate emergency to allow a landlord to enter your rental unit without 24 hours notice. If it really bothers you (as it would me), you may object to each occurance in writing, and please note that if the landlord retaliates for your objection and forces you to move, you could sue for up to $2,000 per occurrence.

http://www.dca.ca.gov/publications/landlordbook/living-in.shtml

 

[tolivac]

Another thought on your landlord using your unit as an "outhouse" Is there a Landlord-tenant commission in your area-you could report the problem to them.

 

[sudsmaster]

I've never had a landlord come into my place to use the toilet.

That I know of.

I did have one when I was a student who had a habit of entering units (it was a three unit converted two story home) when he thought nobody was home. Other tenants had warned me; once I was in bed with company and this guy opened my door and peeked in. I thought I was dreaming (it was early morning). He was an odd little guy, but the rent was cheap and I liked the place. Eventually though he sold the place and the new owner jacked up the rents, so I moved out.