Heating your apartment in winter: gas boiler, air conditioner or heaters
Many Yerevan apartments have individual heating, and each household decides how to keep warm in winter. We compare a gas boiler, an air conditioner and electric heaters — and explain why insulation should come first.
Contents
Three main options
Winters in Yerevan can be harsh: the average January low is about −8 °C, and in cold spells the temperature drops to −20 °C or below. So it pays to settle the heating question before autumn, not on the first cold evening.
| Option | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Gas boiler with radiators | heat throughout the apartment and hot water from one appliance | costlier to install, needs a flue or coaxial pipe, annual servicing |
| Inverter air conditioner with heating mode | cools in summer, heats in winter, quick to install | less efficient in hard frost, dries the air |
| Electric heaters: oil-filled, convectors, infrared | cheap to buy, portable | expensive for constant heating, heavy load on the wiring |
Gas boiler
According to the International Energy Agency, natural gas is the main source of energy for heating in Armenian households. A combi boiler heats both the radiators and the water for the kitchen and shower, which is why it is the most common choice in apartments with gas. When choosing a model, ask whether there is a service centre and spare parts in your city.
- A specialist sizes the boiler based on floor area, insulation and the number of hot water points
- A room-sealed boiler draws air from outside and vents flue gases through a pipe in the wall — safer for an apartment
- Only specialists should install, connect or move gas equipment; ask Gazprom Armenia which documents and inspections your building requires
- Service it before every season: cleaning and checks of the flue draught, pressure and controls
Air conditioner for heating
An inverter air conditioner does not burn electricity; it moves heat from outside into the room, so it delivers more heat than the energy it consumes. For a Yerevan winter it works as the main heating in a small apartment or as a supplement to a boiler in spring and autumn. Ask the seller down to what outdoor temperature the model can heat: its efficiency drops in hard frost.
A bonus especially valued in Yerevan: the same unit rescues you from the summer heat. The downside is dry air, so a humidifier is useful in winter.
Electric heaters
Heaters are good as a temporary or spot solution: for the bathroom in the morning, for the room where you work, for a short cold spell. Heating a whole apartment with them all the time is expensive, and old wiring may not cope with several at once. If you must use them, choose models with a thermostat and automatic shut-off for overheating and tipping over.
- Don’t run powerful heaters through extension leads or multi-plugs
- Don’t dry laundry on them or cover them
- Don’t leave them on unattended, especially in a child’s room
What it costs in 2026
Household tariffs did not change in 2026. For electricity, the Public Services Regulatory Commission decided at the end of December 2025 to keep tariffs unchanged; for gas, the commission took a similar decision for households on 1 July 2026. Your final bill depends on floor area, insulation, the temperature you keep and your equipment, so there is no universal figure. The best guide is your own bills from last winter.
Insulate first
Any heating method works better when heat stays in. The IEA notes that most of Armenia’s apartment stock was built in the Soviet era and is poorly insulated. Low-cost steps that help straight away:
- Seals on windows and the balcony door
- Insulated reveals when replacing windows
- Heavy curtains at night
- Radiators not blocked by furniture or decorative covers
- A reflective panel behind radiators on external walls
Key points
- A gas boiler is the main option where gas is available, but only with professional installation
- An inverter air conditioner complements a boiler well and can be the main heat source in a small apartment
- Electric heaters are for spot and temporary heat
- Household tariffs for 2026 are unchanged, and your bill depends on insulation
- A gas detector and annual boiler servicing — for your own safety
