Freshfields

I heard that Maltese homes can be very cold and damp in winter because there is no central heating available.
How do you heat your homes? Which methods are best and how much does fuel cost?

Gozit

Very cold indeed they can be in winter. In our house there our air con units double as heating units, and that's what we use for heating in winter. They run off of mains power.

roger.rabat

@Gozit. Presumably the "our house" is in Canada.
As electricity costs in Malta have dropped recently more people may use this option (where installed) but the majority would probably just wear more clothing or perhaps go to bed earlier taking the advice of the RC church!! Electric fan or radiant heaters may be used. Popular among the expats is the moveable heater fueled by gas - the exchange bottles are delivered weekly or can be obtained from the local depot. Currently they cost just under 20€ and one should be enough to keep a living area cosy for a week of evenings. They do cause condensation and some ventilation is advised during operation. RR

Freshfields

Sounds pretty grim -80e a month to keep one room warm for a few hours. Would be worried about the high condensation and risk of carbon monoxide poisoning too. I run full house gas central heating and hot water for that in UK.
Never heard of any religion that advocated going to bed early wearing several layers of warm clothes before! If this is what locals do then Maltese TV and other entertainment options must be pretty bad. Haven't been to bed before 9pm since I was in primary school and don't intend to.

May have to get a few of those aircon/heater units then. How much do they cost and do they require special installation by an engineer ...or can you just plug them in?

roger.rabat

I wish you well. With your brain life must be struggle.

Gozit

By "our house down there" i meant my grandparents place in gozo. We have central air con and heat in canada

Gozit

And the aircon / heat units require professional installation unless you get a portable one. Then its just plug in

roger.rabat

@Gozit:Please read again. RR

PS. Permanently installed A/C units around 1,000 to 2,000€ each with running costs around 30 to 50 cents per hour. May already be installed in better quality modern apartment.

Portable unit: needs heat exchanger so not an option. RR

Gozit

Sorry, late night posts last night Thanks for ballpark price. Naffing expensive! But worth every cent.