HEAT using the OVEN??

Question

i LIVE IN A BASEMENT APT. IT'S PRETTY DAMP AND COLD, i have no control over the heat i get down here, it's regulated from upstairs and my friend keeps it no higher than 62, even in the dead og winter. I have a energy saving ceramic space heater, but she told me im not allowed to use it, that it doubled her bill,{we know thats not true.} she said if i get cold to heat the place up uing the oven, there is one vent so when there heat does come on i do get some of it.
well, i do use the oven from time to time, and in about 10 min, you feel like u can't breath! it's awful. and YES i will be moving soon. also at night, i do sneak and put the space heater on.
what are the risks of using the oven for heat???

it's a gas stove. and i have one room to heat, the other room is to cold to want to go into.

Answer 1

You have got to find someplace else to live. That is just horrible. Your profile says you are 53 ... you have lived enough life to earn a warm place to sleep. I can't believe you call her your friend. She is a nasty person in my book. If it is a gas oven you must NOT do this for the reasons already mentioned here. Besides, in the winter gas is MUCH more expensive then electricity. If it is electric then your friend is wacky because an electric stove would cost much more to run than a small space heater ... that is ridiculous. She is lying about the "doubling" part. If necessary ... offer to pay some or more of the electric bill. You could literally freeze to death and THAT is not funny or OK at all!!

Do you have children that can help you out? I would never leave my mom in a living situation like that. I'd let that lady have a piece of my mind. I am glad you are moving. Please do so ASAP and find a place were you have a warm bed and can get a good nights sleep. That is essential for health ... and you cannot stay healthy without it.

Best of luck to you ...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Answer 2

If it was a gas oven, it would definitely use less electricity.... But seriously, the cost would be very similar. Try turning each one on in turn, then see how fast your billing meter ticks over. Leave the oven door open if you want to heat the room. If there is nothing on or in the cooker, then there is no danger. If you're worried, just set the timer to switch off the ove after 15 mins. I used to do it all the time at university, with no ill effects. It works well. We had no other form of heating in our kitchen then.

Answer 3

That's some friend you've got.

You should NOT use the oven for heating. If it's electric, it will be much more costly. If it's gas, it could KILL you.

Use the space heater, and tell him/her that you'll gladly pay any overage on the bill -- then insist on viewing the previous AND future bills to confirm whatever spike there is.

If you are paying rent there, you have every right to be comfortable. Regardless, you need to get out of there as soon as possible -- your friend is not cut out to be a landlord, nor does that basement sound like it's an ideal living space.

Answer 4

from past experience I can tell you that using a gas stove to heat is not good because of the gas. As for the space heater I would use it cause it is not going to raise the bill up at all. The risk for using the oven would be breathing troubles that can effect the lungs and heart. I am glad that you will be moving soon cause you don't need that kind of risk. I will be lighting a candle for you as this is my way of saying a prayer for you. please keep me informed as how you are doing as I care about all my contacts.

Answer 5

68 Degrees is the legal minimum temp allowed, and basement apartments were out lawed in NY City years ago. Find out from your local building department what are the legalities in your town. If things are not the way they should be, then report the landlord, who may be subject to fines. When you do move, be sure of your rights before you sign a lease. Good luck, and Happy New Year.

Answer 6

Carbon monoxide will kill you, I would keep using the electric heater and also persuade the owner for a upgraded energy efficient furnace. You should have a separate zone heating system with your own thermostat. Remind your "friend " that heat rises and she benefits as well as you from any heat that you are losing through the ceiling.

Answer 7

A very big risk to use a gas oven for heating. The pilot light can go out and you could be killed by gas fumes or carbon monoxide. It's totally unsafe..You are wise to be moving out.

Answer 8

Using the oven for cooking and getting residual heat as a bonus is OK, but I wouldn't use it for the purpose of heating. There could be carbon monoxide worries. You are dead right to be moving soon.

Answer 9

...use the energy saving space heater and offer to pay a bit more for the extra heat expense of running it...it's not safe to run the stove in the way you described...and move out of there...don't know where you live, but it is obviously winter...I live in apartment over my brother and his wife...they are the landlords and I run into similar "heating" complaints...so I just offered to pay more in rent to make up the difference...it has helped

Answer 10

don't think there is any problem with using a stove, as long as you don't leave it on unsupervised, but it uses a 220 plug and that will take more electricity than a space heater. it's better to use the space heater if they are worried about the bill. my dad has been known to do that and he's never had a problem with it, but his is electric. you didn't say if yours was gas or electric.