Warm air heating system
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Discussion

GT03ROB

Original Poster:

13,985 posts

244 months

Thursday 19th August 2010
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Looking at a property that is heated by that 70's concept of warm air heating system. Anyone got any experience, pros/ cons?

-Pete-

2,914 posts

199 months

Thursday 19th August 2010
quotequote all
Not very nice, they smell of dust, they dry the air which is bad for your health and furniture, all the heat goes upstairs - especially if you have an open-plan downstairs layout, and they're not cheap to run. They're quick to start heating the house up, and they're better than electric storage heaters, but that's about the only good things I can think of.

GT03ROB

Original Poster:

13,985 posts

244 months

Thursday 19th August 2010
quotequote all
-Pete- said:
Not very nice, they smell of dust, they dry the air which is bad for your health and furniture, all the heat goes upstairs - especially if you have an open-plan downstairs layout, and they're not cheap to run. They're quick to start heating the house up, and they're better than electric storage heaters, but that's about the only good things I can think of.
Well that may be one pro! The house I'm looking at is open plan, but upside down, living areas upstairs with the master bedroom. Can you not put moistening systems?

-Pete-

2,914 posts

199 months

Thursday 19th August 2010
quotequote all
"Moistening systems?"
Sounds a bit seedy smile

I have no idea, I suppose plenty of plants might help, maybe an evaporative air cooler or two. I hated the smell of warm dust, but the upstairs did get warm within 10 minutes of switch on, as opposed to 20-30 minutes with radiators.

I'm sure you could live with it, but it's usually considered worth replacing with boiler to radiators, in a "you'll get your money back" sort of way.

StevieBee

14,832 posts

278 months

Friday 20th August 2010
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Our house had one when we moved in and was the first thing to get stripped out.

As previously mentioned, an open plan offers problems of it's own but with a standard layout, air distribution is not even so you end up with hot and cold rooms throughout.

The vents are dust traps too.


Mr GrimNasty

8,172 posts

193 months

Friday 20th August 2010
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I think Pete is confusing a warm air heating system with electric heaters.

jeff m

4,066 posts

281 months

Friday 20th August 2010
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I have hot/warm air heating. If the ducting and the registers (outlets)are correctly sized then your house should be very comfortable.
Moisturiser ??? If you are contacting a contractor try calling that a humidifier or he will think you are gay.
Hot air heating along with a humidistat to control the humidity works very well.
It also gives you the option of installing air conditioning using the same ducting and a whole house electronic air cleaner which are fantastic.

With regard to smell when you first switch them on. Before we got the electronic air cleaner there was a burnt dust smell for a while til it burnt off. Now we get a slight smell for about 10 to 15 minutes in October when it has been off for some months. We just run it with the windows open for a while.

-Pete-

2,914 posts

199 months

Friday 20th August 2010
quotequote all
Mr GrimNasty said:
I think Pete is confusing a warm air heating system with electric heaters.
Which of my comments made you think that? I have owned houses with night storage heaters, warm air heating, and gas fired central heating.

GetCarter

30,770 posts

302 months

Friday 20th August 2010
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Grew up with one in the 70's. Worst thing ever invented.

MonkeyHanger

9,266 posts

265 months

Friday 20th August 2010
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Mr GrimNasty said:
I think Pete is confusing a warm air heating system with electric heaters.
I spend a fair amount of time removing the damn things and in my opinion he's hit the nail on the head.