Heating System for SFH In Tacoma

[Cathy Ries]

What would you do if you were in my situation? - I am looking at a SFH in Tacoma, WA that will need the heating system replaced. It's running on baseboards and they're all at end of life or not working at all. This is my first rehab that requires work on heating. What type of heating would you consider given a home with these conditions and why? Are there other things I should consider or look into?

- It's a SFH built in 1950s with 3bed/2ba and a little under 2,000sq ft with a main floor and partially finished basement

-All systems run on electric - oven, range, baseboards, furnace

-No heating duct work was seen during walkthru 

-Plan is to buy and hold to use as MTR, LTR as backup plan

[Janice Carter]

Cathy, for a property like that I would start by getting advice and estimates from a local HVAC contractor. They can evaluate the home’s layout, electrical capacity and insulation to recommend the most practical system for that market.

Since there is no ductwork, many investors consider ductless mini-split heat pumps because they are energy-efficient and easier to install than adding full ductwork. However, a local contractor will know what performs best in Tacoma’s climate.