We live IN Ca and the home we rent has a really old (1930-1940) furnace in the sub-basement. It does work, however to run it costs us $200 or more per month. It costs about $80-90 just to have the pilot light (think closer to BBQ grill size) on. It basically has a on or off switch, no thermostat. I would like to know if anyone can tell me if I can ask the landlord to replace the old furnace as it is much too expensive to run. I don't mind paying a higher than usual bill in the winter months to stay warm but $200 or more a month is ridiculous. Is he within the law by having a working heater or is there anything that says it has to be resonably cost efficient to the tenant? Thanks.

Knowing nothing about your furnace but if it as old as the house, I’ll bet it is a convert coal or oil furnace. I will also bet that if a “Qualified” furnace company inspects it, they would tell you it needed replacing just for safety.

Start there and see where it takes you. He has met the heat resposibility. Now, is it safe.

My question to you is if there is no thermostat, how do you control the space temperature?

The furnace is natural gas. To turn it on you have to go into the sub-basement and light the pilot. Once again, the "pilot" looks a little more like the register on a BBQ grill and there are two of them. Not small like your water heater pilot. Then there is a switch on the wall in the main hallway with two buttons. High and low. No temperature control. Just on low the house becomes sweltering hot and no way to control the temp without shuting off the gas to the pilot. I can't afford to have someone inspect it unless the gas co would come take a look if I call and say I feel it may be unsafe? Or get the make and model and call around to heating/cooling co's and see if this is outdated or unsafe etc? Any help would be appreciated as I can't seem to get a straight answer anywhere on the net and can't afford one of those "low cost" attorneys to clarify a simple question. Thanks for your time.

Just by your discription I can tell you it's old. Most gas companies will do a safety check for you.

Please have it checked as soon as possible.

Remember, while I have the knowledge, it is impossible to give you a good answer with out being there.