Is it worth it to replace a radiant heating system?

Question

Looking to maybe get into my first BRRRR property or flip it if the numbers look right. It is an older house with a radiant heating system. Is it worth it to replace it with a forced air heating system?

Evan Polaski · Answer

@Phat Dao, as noted: maybe.  When you say radiant heat, do you mean true radiators from the early 1900's, or boiler and baseboard heat?  Are comps converted to forced air, or are they selling with radiant?  And of course, what is the general condition of the boiler and radiators?

A lot of homes in Cincinnati, in the areas I invest and live, are much older.  Typically radiators are not going to stop a sale, but they are not preferred.  Most nicer areas have converted to forced air and AC.

I personally converted a rental from boiler and baseboard heaters to forced air, mainly because any replacement parts for the baseboard heaters were specialty parts with only one supplier in the city.  And because the boiler was getting very old, and VERY expensive to repair, again with only one or two companies in the city working on them.

From a design perspective, I prefer forced air.  Radiators are just cumbersome to layout furniture around (and can burn you if you touch them while running) and the baseboard heaters I have seen, mean you can't get furniture all the way against those walls.

Chris Svendsen · Answer

Radiant heat is great.  Leave it in.  Only reason I would replace if was gonna put in AC and boiler was shot.  Last house we bought for investment had radiant heat.  Once I got it repaired and running, cost about $500 total, house had amazing heat and even temps everywhere.  Was all baseboard radiant then I changed the bathrooms to euro style wall mount radiators due to changing space around and they worked great too.  Keep the radiant if working.  Get boiler serviced and be good to go.

Nathan Gesner · Answer

Why? Many people, myself included, prefer radiant heating. Forced air heat dries out the air and isn't as consistent. And baseboard heating can be more efficient and cheaper to maintain, particularly for smaller homes.

I would not spend the money to replace radiant heat. I may consider it if my current system needed replacement and costs were comparable, or if there was some other reason like wanting to install central A/C.