Duplex heating options - Shared or separate systems?

[Tyler Parish]

Hi guys,

I would like some advice. I have a duplex that I am remodeling. The basement is down to studs and I want to come to a decision on the HVAC. Currently the entire house is on an electric forced air furnace. I wanted to change to natural gas.

I want to know if I should install two heating sources, one for upstairs one for down. It is not required in the bylaws in Oshawa. The only requirement is that it have a fire damper installed if it is common forced air heating. My real question is for the purpose of charging utilities. Some people charge 60%/40% splits if they share utilities/heating sources.

I would assume there would be problems if only one tenant is controlling the thermostat. Any comments?

Appreciate it.

Tyler

[Colleen F.]

You are going down to the studs do two units and they can each pay their own heat directly.  No one feels cheated paying for a % of the total heat used.  The heat waster gets to pay for their own waste. You are out of the utility picture. In the long run it will pay off.