Would you purchase a house with warm air heating?

TanDiy

Hi, we have been going round in circles trying to decide whether to change our warm air heating (gas). We have a 70's 4 bed detached house with a 12 year old boiler. It has been serviced by BG every year, it has never broken down, and spare parts are available for another 5-10 years. We would like to move at some stage and have been told by estate agents that a new wet system (with radiators) would make the house more attractive to potential purchasers. Having done some research we quite like the idea of a combi boiler.

We really would appreciate your views (1) Would you purchase a house with warm air heating or would it really stop a purchase. (2) If you have changed to a combi boiler - do you like it and does it work well?

Thank you very much indeed.

victor2

I must admit I'd be very reluctant to purchase a house with warm air heating. Given the cost of electricity compared to gas, it would have to be a very efficient system and extremely well insulated house to make it attractive.
I would want to see annual utility bills, preferably for a year, during which time the warm air heating was installed and the only form of heating to be convinced it wasn't going to be a financial burden.
If it was a gas powered warm air heating system, I'd be more likely to be swayed in its favour.

bryanb

Q1-No
Is it possible to utilise the existing boiler on your wet system? Is it a gas boiler?

anguk

I've lived in a house with warm air heating , it never broke down and heated the house really well (it was particularly good for drying clothes on an airer). But as victor2 has said electricity costs are so high now it's more economical to have gas central heating.

If you weren't selling I'd say stick with the warm air until it broke down (the cost of replacing it would be much more than the extra cost of running it). But if you're wanting to sell gas central heating will be much more attractive to buyers, many people wouldn't want the hassle of moving in and then having to replace the heating system.

It might be a good idea to get a few quotes for removing the warm air (ours had asbestos involved so needed more care and expense) and putting gas central heating in.

TanDiy

Hi, thanks for the replies. Just to clarify - it is GAS warm air central heating and not electric

st999

I have gas warm air heating and I prefer it to radiators.

Almost instant heat.

Mine is 22 years old and still working.

victor2

TanDiy wrote: »

Hi, thanks for the replies. Just to clarify - it is GAS warm air central heating and not electric

Then I would consider it. OH hates radiators taking up wall space!
I have no idea how it compares to wet central heating though, so would have to research it.

dorsetlady

I used to live in a council house in the 1990s which had warm air heating and I thought it was much better (and in my experience cheaper) than radiators. It wouldn't stop me buying the house.

ognum

If it does not need fixing then I would stick with it until it does. There will be things about every house that some buyers don't like, location, size of garden, no of bedrooms etc etc. Yours may be the heating system that some will love and some won't.

I would make sure that when you sell you have the annual cost of the heating available for buyers.

EAs can always find ways of you spending but in the end the house will sell if the price is rights.

alleycat`

Lived in houses with Radiators and lived in two houses with warm air heating (gas in all cases).

Personally prefer the warm air heating every time.

Swipe

warm air all the way. One of the reasons I now have an aircon for heating.