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very OLD ge zoneline in apartment

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snappy514

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
i live in michigan and don't understand alot about the heat/ac unit in my apartment except that my electric bill is HIGH. (my apartment is all electric)

my heat/ac unit is a very old GE zoneline. it does not have the model number on unit any longer, but it is the push button vs the new digital ones.

i am curious to know if the newer models are more energy efficient.

my landlord will not replace unless it no longer operates so i am stuck trying to reduce my electric bill to conserve. i wish i knew a way i could get them to replace without them getting mad where they would not renew my lease..

my sq ft is about 572 including the laundry room. i also have electric hot water tank and put blanket on that. an older fridge too.

would i be better off while i am in my apartment to just use a space heater than to use this as primary heat?

thanks for any information you can give to me..
 
#2 ·
heat

Not sure if you have a heat pump or straight resistance heating. If all you hear when the heat is on is the blower and no sound like a compressor then it straight electric. Check for electric baseboard units that use liquid for long term heating. Use forced air for quick short term. Your real problem could be if the electricity in the apartment will support external heaters. No matter what you choose be safe.

artie
 
#4 ·
Electric heat is electric heat. Using space heaters costs the same per BTU as the Zoneline. If this is owned, it would be wise to replace with a heat pump model. If rented, not much you can do other than have a chat with the landlord.

As was said previously, be careful of using space heaters. They put quite the load on the wiring. Can't have any other products on the circuit or you risk an overload.
 
#5 ·
Even IF your running all electric strip heat, with no heat pump, your not going to save money by using space heaters.

Space heaters have the same efficiency of emergency electric strip heat...because it's the same thing.
 
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#7 ·
yes i would say the newer ones are more efficent, every year these companys compete with eachother to become more efficent, and for them, to sell more units, stay away from space heat it can be uncomfortable when you have to live by it, a good option would be to have a service tech come in, at the land lords expense, and see if he could beef up what you allready have, i dont really know exacly what kind of unit you are talkin about but i know that air forced units have filters, and spots that dust and crap can jam up in and this would cause the unit to run more, and to run under stress, that would be the result of a higher bill, definately see if you can get a service man to come check it out, changeing a couple parts and increasing air flow might just extend that little guys life, and of coarse put a smile on your face with a lower bill
 
Discussion starter · #10 ·
the blower wheel is really caked with crud. the maintenance people at my apartment NEVER do anything to these units on a annual basis.

if the blower wheel is caked in the groves, will that cause the unit to use more electric?

it is resistance electric. there is not a compressor and i do not believe they use any freon in summer for the air conditioning..

the unit heats, but i dont feel the unit blows the heat hard enough..

thanks for the great replies
 
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coolwhip
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