third floor or first floor during the winter time (Cleveland: apartment, mover)

[wolf64]

Hi there all

I am trying to choose between apts right now. I have the option of either a cheaper first floor apt and a slightly more expensive third floor apt.

The third floor apt has a fire place but the first floor does not.

I am not a cold weather person so I am wondering which option would be better for me or would it not make much of a difference?

[SteelCityRising]

Generally-speaking heat rises, so you'd be better off with the third-floor unit because you could benefit from the heat from the other two units beneath you radiating upwards to your unit. Conversely you'll suffer the most in the sweltering summer heat if you don't have air conditioning.

[wolf64]

Right, but does the fireplace make a big difference? Sorry, I should have made that clearer in my op.

I am wondering how significant having a fireplace can be. Are there times during the winter when the gas goes off?

[airics]

it's probably a gas fireplace so that may be irrellevent. I would go for the higher, even though it may be hotter... roaches on the 1st floor

[Cleveland_Collector]

Yeah, roaches can infest any floor. If the first floor has them, it's likely the third does as well.

To be honest, it really matters how well insulated the building is. If it is well insulated, it really won't matter that much. If it isn't, the top floor may possibly be the worst heating bill victim. Even though warm air rises, the temperature differential between floors along with the amount of air leaks between them will dictate the rate at which that happens (radiance and conductance between floors will be minimal). Basically, if each floor has a furnace that keeps them at 70 degrees, there won't be much energy interchange between occupied floors. What will then matter the most is how much surface area is adjacent to the cold outside air. This will usually be the uppermost floor.

Also, nearly all traditional fireplaces are essentially worthless. Most of them suck more warm air out through the flue than what they generate. Efficient wood burning stoves or inserts are the best. Non-vented gas logs are good too. Anything else is mostly a decoration.

[Peregrine]

I love my "traditional" fireplace. Makes winter so much more bearable.
I think you'd be crazy to pass on a fireplace in an apartment.
Should be standard issue in Cleveland.

[tom11011]

What kind of fireplace?

If it is wood burning, then you have to buy wood and haul it up there. Wood has bugs and stuff in it too.

If it is natural gas, this can supply some heat, but truthfully no more heat than turning your furnace up I suppose. If you are paying the gas bill, you will be paying to turn on the fireplace.

Personally, I would probably choose the cheaper ground floor apartment.

Other things to consider, lugging up the groceries to the third floor. Noise from the person above on the ground floor.

[wolf64]

thanks for the replies, guys. It is a wood burning fireplace.

I am not a cold weather person at all so I am debating the necessity of a fireplace

[alamosakid]

I would pass on the fireplace. I'm not a Cleveland native or anything (Detroit but I sure as heck don't see the necessity of it UNLESS you don't control the heat in your apt. and/or you have baseboard or radiator heat. I've survived CO, Detroit, and WI winters and in my experience, the heating scenarios I described above SUCKED.

If you'll have gas heat, forget the fireplace and save your electric bill come summertime. If you don't, I'd still get a space heater or heated blanket before getting a unit with a fireplace. Besides, I don't know about anyone else, but I would NEVER sleep with a wood fireplace going. I lived in a house in CO with a wood stove for heating and we were up every few hours of the night with that thing. But a fireplace? No way...fire hazard, I'd think.

Anyway, my point is, you're probably thinking that a fireplace will keep you nice and cozy at night, when you most want to be warm, right? Well, I wouldn't think that. Furthermore, in my experience, fireplaces raise home values but they're more decorative than anything, especially wood ones, especially when they're in they're, ahem, not in the homes of the lower class and poor. The area around the fireplace will be boiling hot whereas the rest of the apartment will be just as cold as it was. And there's plenty of maintenance involved.

I'd go for the 1st floor apt. in a heartbeat. plus, while these aren't too big of a deal most likely, it'll be easier to move in (no lugging furniture up steps--I used to work as a furniture mover and trust me, this SUCKS), easier to bring home groceries and other stuff, and easier for any disabled and elderly family you might have visiting.

Just my 2 cents.

[Cleveland_Collector]

Originally Posted by wolf64

thanks for the replies, guys. It is a wood burning fireplace.

I am not a cold weather person at all so I am debating the necessity of a fireplace

It's not a necessity. If I were you, I'd ask to see the winter gas (or whatever they heat with) consumption for each apartment. Base your decision on that and the amount of love you have for climbing stairs.