--98.114.xxx.xx

I don't think so. You pay heat and you charge accordingly. There will be either more or less heat on the third floor depending on how well the furnace works. You will have to deal with the radiators to make that situation better. I have had to fourplexes and several duplexes and the only way to separate the heat is to install baseboard electric on maybe the third floor so they can pay their own but no one wants to consider that because electric seems so pricey. You will attract more tenants if you leave it alone and offer it as heat paid. You will be able to get more rent and in warmer years, make a few bucks on less use. People will suggest through the wall gas heaters but by the time you run gas pipe up there, it could be a mess worrying about leaks. --73.178.xxx.xx

You're undoubtedly right that different units will heat at different rates but at least if I have some sort of split metering system, which I swear I've heard of somewhere, I'll be able to point to the numbers... --98.114.xxx.xx

Tenants treat "free" anything like an all you can eat buffet. They can be deliberately wasteful. The price of heating is not going to be going down anytime soon so you can plan on increasing costs and possibly increasing a lot over the next years. --174.216.x.xxx

Install 18000 btu heat/cool wall unit in separate units. Check electrical to see if the units are separately metered and can handle the 240 load. When I had a single gas appliance on my bill, I installed 4 separate electrical appliances in the 4plex - tenants have their own meter and now pay their own electrical. Get rid of your utility bills for tenant usage is my goal. --174.65.xx.xx

heat pumps and mini splits will not work well on the super cold days he will have in Pennsy. IF you are in CA, don't advise him. Randall, when you found shirtless and sweating people it's because there was a problem with heat distribution. If the sweaty shirtless people had the thermostat, others in the building were probably banging on their door asking them to up the thermostat. If the sweaty shirtless people did NOT have the thermostat, it was up to you to knock on the door of the folks that did and ask them if they are cold. If radiators have an air lock they will be cold and all the heat will go elsewhere, like to the sweaty shirtless people. If you can learn this you can run a triplex. If you can't, don't buy a triplex. --73.178.xxx.xx

Allym. Thanks for your condescension. I’ve had singles duplexes n quads for 20+ yrs. dozens of units. The shirtless guy had his own thermostat and CHOSE to put it at 80f in CT in February. Oregon Woodsmoke had it right; if it’s free some tenants will take as much as they can get... I could figure heat distribution. I could figure how to divide n bill back. I would just prefer it all be based on metering to individual units if possible. --98.114.xxx.xxx

Just manage the units with temp bulbs in series with the t-stats, the bulbs open at 75 even if the wires are twisted together. Fix the problem not the effect. --76.188.xxx.xx

As you know, it has NOTHING to do with heat distribution and thermostat placement and has EVERYTHING to do with "tenant mentality". --72.70.xxx.x

AJ Madison (online) is the cheapest we've found for both through-wall/window and PTAC units. Call in and talk to a rep: they are helpful. --50.82.xxx.xx