I live in a duplex, is it normal for the hotwater heaters to be connected for both apartments?

Question

This is an 1st level apartment so I have access to the basement. From the looks of it, both hot water heaters seem to be connected. Just curious if this is normal seeing as how our gas bill (natural gas for heat and hot water) seems to be high for the summertime.

Answer 1

Easy way to find out. Shut off the water to the water heater. Should be a valve right above the heater. Try it in the morning during their shower. If you have been paying for their hot water, time to visit Judge Judy.

Answer 2

With a rental duplex, it's not uncommon to have a single water meter, in which case the two water heaters would share the cold water supply (and water should be included in your rent).  The cold supply will be the side with the shutoff valve on it.

If you're paying gas, then obviously, all gas services should be seperated.  If you can only find one meter, then that's an obvious red flag.  Assuming there are two meters, the only way to know for sure if the services are properly seperated is to turn off one gas supply, and then verify that the other unit's furnace, water heater, stove, dryer, etc are working.

Answer 3

If you are paying your own gas and water bill, it would be well within your rights to shut off the water feeding the hot water heater for a few days to see what your neighbor's reaction is.

If the heater is in the basement, you can shut off the water feeding it without worrying about shutting off the gas.  There must be water in the heater whenever the gas is turned on.

I am reminded, though, of when we were young and I was going to install an electric dryer in our apartment.  I went downstairs and shut off the breaker to the first floor apartment (ours).  But, when I began to connect the loose wires, they arced and ruined my safety glasses....could easily have been my eyes.   Turned out the owner thought of the first floor as the main floor, the next floor up as the 'first floor', and the attic space was the 'second floor'....

Answer 4

HOW are they connected?  Water?  or gas?  or both?

if you each are paying separate bills for water, AND gas, then these shouldn't be connected together.

how many gas meters are there outside?  there should be 2 if you both pay gas bills.

is the basement split in half as well?  Can you see their furnace?  If the basement is split in half, you could just have 2 hot water tanks, for capacity.  this would mean that there could be more tanks on your neighbour's  side.

regardless, if you are paying seperate bills, you should have separate meters, and systems, water AND gas.

my sister lives in a setup like this, and everything is shared, but the utilities are included in the rent for this reason...

start asking questions.