Heating System for SFH In Tacoma

Seattle, WA · Member since 2022 · 3 posts · 8 votes

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

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Janice Carter

Real Estate Broker · Atlanta · Member since 2024 · 1k+ posts · 608 votes

7mo

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.

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Janice Carter
Real Estate Broker · Atlanta · Member since 2024 · 1k+ posts · 608 votes
7mo
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.
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Sean SmithBusiness Member
Real Estate Agent · Seattle, WA · Member since 2020 · 169 posts · 111 votes
7mo
@Cathy Ries consider doing some mini-splits. With house of that size you'd probably need one for each bedroom and another for the common space. They are ductless, provide room-by-room temperature control, and are often more cost-efficient to run.
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Ryan D.
Investor · Portland, OR · Member since 2026 · 67 posts · 35 votes
7mo
Mini splits make most sense here.
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Richard F.
Honolulu, HI · Member since 2008 · 3k+ posts · 2k+ votes
7mo
You really need to consider which energy source is most economical for your location. Tenants will not be appreciative of unnecessarily high utility bills, and it may well factor into vacancy periods and quality of Tenants.
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