Warm Air Ducted Heating

Horizon81

I'm looking to buy a house that has an old air ducted heating system circa 1970 and whilst there are (some) arguments in favour of keeping the system and just replacing the boiler I'm firmly in the camp of removing it and going for a wet system.

Has anyone ever had work done on their house to remove the old system? There's obviously the boiler to come out, but what about all the ducting? Does that need removal or can the grills just be removed and the vents boarded up/plasterboarded over? Just wondering if there was any problem with leaving the ducts in situ. Would want to do a proper job!

Mankysteve

My advice before buying the house is to check for asbestos. It was quiet common in hot air system of old.

Horizon81

And how do you go about spotting asbestos? Send in a specialist? The old bolier would be removed by a qualified engineer. Would the ducts have asbestos in them?

Chunks

No technical experience to share but I owned a property with a warm air system - until the mid 1980s. Terrible system to live with(smelly - kind of warmed up dust smell you get when you fire up rads for the first time after the summer break - drafty and noisy). I would avoid altogether personally.

Be interesting to see what the other experts on here say about replacing with a wet system - got some nice ducting to run your pipes in if nothing else.

Good luck.

McKneff

To be honest, we have had our warm air system for 20 years now and I woundlnt have anything else, The old boiler was replaced 10 years ago and we had the choice to have a wet system or replace the boiler, which cost around about the same amount of money at the time, we love it.

Instant heat, house is warm within minutes. Brilliant system, but each to their own.

Miss_Havisham

I've got warm air heating in my 1969 house and I love it. No noticeable smell, heats the house very quickly and handy for drying clothes on a clothes horse near the vents. Neighbours who have replaced it are now regretting it.

Miss H

Chunks

Well there you go..... two for and one against. With apologies to the OP - what about running costs guys? When I had that system gas was virtually free so no worries.

new2012

I've got warm air heating as well.

Wouldn't change it and as for any burnt dust smell, you do know that there is a filter to be cleaned and should be cleaned at least once a month?

Horizon81

Still, if I wanted to replace it with boiler and radiators, would the old ducting need removing or is it doing no harm left in situ and boarded over?

Electr0n

Horizon81 wrote: »

And how do you go about spotting asbestos? Send in a specialist? The old bolier would be removed by a qualified engineer. Would the ducts have asbestos in them?

Asbestos was used in some warm air heating systems, electric storage heaters (up to 1976) and in flameless catalytic gas heaters (up to 1988) and some early „coal effect‟ gas fires.

Asbestos materials in good condition that cannot readily be damaged are often best left where they are because removal can lead to higher levels of fibres in the air for some time afterwards.

anothertoo

Hi

We have warm air heating, and think the boiler needs replacing - small gas pipe leaks, fan motor gone etc.. and it is 31 years old now.. anyone got a clue what the average replacement prices are?

Thanks