When heating rental properties in Israel during the winter, safety and cost efficiency are the clear priorities for all landlords, tenants and property managers.
Israel’s winter season is short but can get very cold, particularly since homes are built to stay cool and are not insulated to stay warm!
As experts in managing properties in Israel, at Creative Estates we are conscious of the need to provide heating and cooling for the rental homes that we manage. Today, we recognize the dangers of using bar heaters, which can easily catch fire, so we make sure that tenants are using safe radiators and making optimum use of the heating systems that exist.
Standard Israeli Heating Systems
Air conditioning systems are widely used for heating in the winter, particularly in Central Israel where winters are generally mild. They are cost effective and only require slight modification of the vent direction between summer and winter use. Some ceiling fans have a reverse direction function, which can help to drive warm air back down from the ceiling to the floor.
Hot water supplies in most Israeli homes are generated by solar energy, with solar panels and hot water storage tanks on the roofs of most buildings. In the winter, the lack of sun can leave tenants without sufficient hot water, so most homes have secondary hot water systems. These can be powered by electricity or gas, and usually include timer systems so that tenants can program them to provide hot water at the times they want to take showers.
Installing New Heating Systems
When updating properties and considering heating options, we usually recommend that property owners switch to gas, which has become much cheaper than other fuels in recent years, and particularly since Israel discovered and started to use its own offshore gas reserves.
Installing underfloor heating is a popular facility to add when a property is being renovated, because it is necessary to take up the floor tiles in order to lay hot water pipes. This is particularly worthwhile in Jerusalem and other towns where temperatures frequently drop to freezing.
Safety First
While tenants prefer to keep doors and windows closed when heating their home, it is important that heating and hot water systems have sufficient ventilation systems for safety. Where heaters are powered by gas, rooms must be well ventilated so that poisonous and toxic fumes can escape. It is also highly recommended to install smoke alarms and even carbon monoxide alarms near such heaters.
If you are a landlord and you would like advice on the most cost-effective and safe way to heat rental properties in Israel, contact Shaun Isaacson at Creative Estates Israel.