Warm air heating replacement cost?

retiredin2011

I have Johnson & Starley gas warm air heating that is over 20 years old and is getting noisy, clicking and thumping away, something to do with the heat exchanger I believe and was thinking, while I still have the money, of getting it replaced with a more modern version of warm air heating.

Has anyone had theirs upgraded and what did it cost.

Also have the 2 pilot lights, one for heating, the other for hot water, been replaced with electronic ignition and is there a programmable thermostat available?

Normal programmable thermostats do not work with warm air heating as the thermostat is not an on/off type as the fan speed varies depending on the temperature differential.

I did contact Johnson and Starley but they wanted to send someone from another company to the house but I'd rather have a rough idea what it would cost before I get some salesman calling.

And also any ideas what a complete radiator based system, installed from scratch, Dundee area, would cost, for a 3 bed semi?

If there is not a lot of difference in cost I will just stay with gas warm air heating.

whiskywhisky

I replaced this in my old house about 2 years ago, the orignal had lasted around 40 years and replaced with another Johnson + Starley J32. Differences include electronic ignition, better thermostats, more economic and the only other thing I can think of is it also did cold air (summer - never used).

The costs of replacing the unit, part of the flue and water cylinder was around £2600. At the time I contemplated wet system (radiator), the install cost was similar. But it was the cost of redocorating and doing the floor in the whole house, as would not have wanted to leave the ugly air vents showing in all rooms that persuaded me.

retiredin2011

So there isn't pilot lights anymore? Good.

That will be a saving of about £60 a year in gas.

Did you get Johnson and Starley to do it or was it a local installer?

whiskywhisky

There is still a pilot light just likes most boilers. However if this goes out, you just press a button to re-light instead of bringing a flame externally.

Used an independent chap, he is advertised as a warm air specialist and must say cannot fault any of his work. I live in Kent and believe the independant chap lives in Croydon if that helps!