Warm air heating is outdated?

leo.ge

Hello!

We found a flat to buy and there is a central warm air heating there.

The hous is built in 1970 and the heating system seems old, but it works OK.

I heard from people that warm air heating is and old heating system and is not used any more in UK, but I know that it is widely used in houses in US.

Why warn air systems are bad and do we really need to replace this system by radiators?

Thanks in advance...

adouglasmhor

Can the current owner give you an idea of running and maintenance costs on the heating system? Surely that is what you need to know?

anotherbaldrick

Warm air central heating has fallen out of favour but it can still be quite popular with users. Originally they were installed because the installation costs were very low compared with wet systems providing the flat layout was designed to facilitate them . Probably not as efficient as modern systems and can be noisy if fan bearings are on the way out but they can be upgraded see;- Johnson & Starley .http://www.johnsonandstarley.co.uk/warm-air/overview.asp
Their replacement Warm Air Heaters are fully Part 'L' compliant and meet the latest Building Regulations and thus economical to run.

McKneff

We have warm air heating and its blumming brilliant.

Easy, instant heat. Cant recommend it highly enough and no more expensive to run.

Maybe just wait till it dies and then get radiators, but it would be silly to replace something that isnt broken.

We do have it serviced every year but our plumber is retiring this year so we will have to go with BG on the monthly pay contract as i cant find another plumber who is qualified to service it locally

Cardew

The problem, in the systems I have used, is that the heating to rooms is controlled by vents - which even if closed still let in wam air and so loses efficiency.

However warm air heating is making something of a comeback with the new Air to Air - Air Source Heat Pumps(ASHP) - not to be confused with the Air to Water ASHP.

Blackpool_Saver

Does dust come out in the air and affect asthmatics?

Vibrant

Blackpool_Saver wrote: »

Does dust come out in the air and affect asthmatics?

My parents house had warm air heating when I was a kid and I remember my mum moaning about the dust it circulated and deposited on every surface. No idea if it affected asthmatics, as they were rarer than hens teeth in those days.

On the plus side, we kids used to stand on the floor vents, when we came in from playing, toasted tootsies.

Blackpool_Saver

I think that answered my question thanks

bambibashercol

I hate Warm air units, They are dust traps and if they develop a fault can blow Carbon monoxide around the home.
The stuff Johnson and starley sell is not cutting edge in my opinion. But have a look at the Lennox units, They are modern condensing and can be fitted with extras that stop dust from being blown around the home. www.lennoxuk.com They do lots of Commercial units but there is some domestic listed on there site.
Found there domestic stuff www.gasflowlimited.co.uk

richardc1983

Blackpool_Saver wrote: »

Does dust come out in the air and affect asthmatics?

They come fitted with filters & can be fitted with HEPA filters the unit itself doesnt create dust so if your house is dusty then it will blow dust about.

bambibashercol

The units will get dust taken in up through the return duct of the unit. I never serviced one where they have not been full of dust.
The warm air fitted in kitchens are real bad as the fans and filters get clogged up wit grease from cooking.