Any advice on hot air duct heating systems?

[december2020]

Please forgive me any wrong terminology, this is a new space for me.

We currently have a hot air duct heating system (house from the 70s) and the whole house (and therefore the system) runs on electric (not connected to the gas grid, no meter etc.).

I'm between two minds whether to replace this with a wet central heating system (so radiators and getting the house connected to the gas grid).

We've bought the house about 3-4 years ago and I suspect the air duct system has never been updated (or potentially even looked at) since the house was built.

The open/close mechanism in the room vents are meh at best and I don't even know who makes these air vent ducts anymore to replace like for like or to service or repair (and would it even be worth replacing like for like?).

Has anyone had any experience with a similar situation? Would you recommend replacing the systems (high upfront cost short term but long term benefits)? Or is it not worthwhile?

Attached is the central vent 'box, (for lack of terminology on my part) if it is of any help.

I had to deal with a hot air system at my dads house when he got poorly and I had to manage all his affairs. His house was built in late 60s and had the original system in. He had not wanted to upgrade to central gas heating. Of course the heating system packed up one winter. I manage to locate gas engineers with experience of this type of heating system and they got it running again. Now my brother lives there after dad passed away, and he has it serviced once a year and touch wood it’s still working fine. The house is in Kent, I’m happy to give you the details of the company of you like. They are very reasonable and reliable.

My first two houses had warm air central heating. The upside was that it instantaneous, but the downside was the noise and the dry air. Also the inconsistency of the temperature. If it's electric yours must be expensive to run too.

I'd definitely swap to gas and radiators. Being able to hear your water from the same gas boiler will also save you lots. And the heating itself is much more consistent. No more nice and warm when it's blowing, but cool within a few minutes of it going off.

Hear= heat, obv!

@whataboutbob my sincere condolences.
That would be wonderful thank you, do they have a website and I can scout them out?! Would you know if they also do electric ones? This one is sadly electric as no gas connected to the property. Though I am still also considering just replacing the whole thing, such a dilemma.

@saraclara that is really useful! I think this is so outdated as well (for example we use a little electric heater in the bedroom anyways as it doesn't seem to really heat the house evenly or properly).

I suppose you could overcome not having Instant heated rooms if you get a timer or similar on them?

Yes it feels quite expensive right now, everything in this bloody house is electric! Gah! It hurts!

Did you find the air ducts prevented humidity or it wasn't so bad even with radiators and gas?

You're definitely swaying me to replace!

I grew up in a house with it
Parents used to block different vents with carrier bags to even the flow
I hated it then and I hate it when I go back to visit
If I had to buy a house with it I'd rip the whole lot out and replace with modern wet under floor
(I love under floor I just hate the Roman system that was trendy in the 70's)

@ they are Kent heating, www.kentheating.co.uk/
As I mentioned they have been very professional and even kind, I warmly (boom boom) recommend them.

The timer definitely makes it very easy to ensure that the place is warm by the time I need it to be. You can ask the boiler installers to put in a hive thermostat that you can control from your phone, which will add very little to your costs, but will mean that if you're coming home earlier that unusual one day in the winter, you can switch the heating on from your phone before you set off home. I'm retired so my routine isn't as structured as it was when I worked, so my heating is on a timer, but I can override it wherever I am with the hive thermostat and app. So if I go out intending to be an hour, but end up with plans keeping me out all day, I can turn my heating off from wherever I am and save money.

Seriously, a gas boiler and radiators with a hive thermostat will be a massive improvement, both in comfort and cost.

This warm duct system just feels really inefficient to me, so hearing your experiences and points of view, I'm glad it's not just all in my head!

I think I know inside that I need to replace the system and in the long term it's the right thing to do (from running costs, house warming efficiency, any resale value etc.) it's just the big upfront expense and works I need to brace myself for, all the way to the gas pipe works and connections and meter installations. 😂

And yes definitely to a proper smart home system! I think it'll make a big difference being able to override timers.

A relative used to have the duct heating system, but replaced it with gas central heating some years ago now. No regrets in doing so.

We have wet electric heating.
Its good, it works exactly the same as wet gas heating, but it's extremely expensive - it costs us about £1.50 an hour to have the heating on.
And if there's an issue with it, finding someone who'll look at it is a nightmare. I spent about 4 hours calling companies when we had a leak from a pipe by a radiator, and no-one would touch it because it is electric. The company that eventually came in were under the impression it was a gas fired system
We have no choice, we've nowhere to put a tank for oil or calor, and no gas, but I'd seriously research it before you go with it, and be prepared to spend an awful lot of money on electricity!

It seems pretty clear to replace the old electric system and go for a gas central heating system.

Now I just need to brace myself for the awful upfront cost and gas grid connections 😭

Am I right in thinking it would also help the resale value down the line?

Thank you all for your advice! Really helpful!

You need to be careful when looking at connecting to the mains grid for gas. Questions you need to ask first, are, does a supply pipe run past your house? If not, then I would instantly rule it out as you will be looking at a minimum of probably 80k upwards, for supply.
You can always look at getting lpg bottles fitted. The running costs are a little bit higher, but it is a cost effective way to get a heating system for those who are stuck for space in regards to storage.
Having a natural gas supply doesn't add much value to a property as far as I know, but it will probably add a little, maybe 2-5k.

We had the hot air system when I was a child until my parents had it replaced with radiators.

The best/worst thing was that you could hear everything through the vents! So I could hear what my parents were saying downstairs 😬