Have you ever had leaks with hot water heating?

[hedgehog]

My son just bought a house with hot water heating and he is worried that it will leak. He's only lived in places with forced air.

[Jersey Devil]

1. Never

Why would he be afraid hot water heating would leak? It is put together the same as all your other water plumbing, with copper pipe and each joint sweated. It is no more likely to leak than any other water pipes in a house.

Been living in houses with hot water heat for over 30 years and never had a problem nor have I ever heard of a problem with anyone else with hot water heat.

[Warpy]

2. No, but you do need to bleed the radiators once a month, or so

That means that air bubbles form within the system and collect in hot water radiators. You need to let the air out for them to function most efficiently, especially the old style upright radiators that used to have quite a bit of air collect at the top.

It's not a big deal, just use a small jar, flip the valve, and keep it open until the air is gone and water starts to come out.

I lived with ancient hot water systems in Boston. When a very rare leak occurs, it's an ooze and not a gusher. The water is not highly pressurized the way it is in the plumbing. The leaks most often occur around shutoff valves.

[NJCher]

3. nope

I've lived in my home 10 years and not once have I had a leak. I love this type of heating system and I've even collected poetry about it. Yeah, for real :). Poetry about radiators.

There's something really wonderful about radiators when they warm up the house, especially on the first night of the season when they're needed.



Cher

on edit: if your son wants a poem about radiators, let me know.

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

4. On the plumbing end

I would agree with Jersey Devil. I have never gone into the entire system with the older radiator heating. I have worked in older apartment buildings with that heating system and I noticed people seem to like radiator heat.I have plumbed and re plumbed houses commercial buildings as well.

I did look up hot water heating systems and it seems Sears has a modern version of hot water heat. Apparently hot water heating systems are coming back. I understand it is very cost effective too.

Would be interested to know what type system it is.

[hedgehog]

5. Well, the house was built around 1901, so.......

who knows what he's got?

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

6. Here is something

We still have a lot of old furnaces in service from that period. Many of the old coal burners have been converted back and fourth between oil and gas ,some steam heat in there too. It is always interesting to trace threw the various conversions. Anybody that knows those old furnaces will tell you never get rid of it. Everything today is built to expire. You know the original Edison bulb never burned out!

I ran into a 70 year old hot tank working away. Today we get 10 to fifteen years out of those.

They do make room forced air heaters that operate on 220 or 110 . And you choose the wattage, they call that pick a watt. Those heaters are energy officiant and effective. One cost's about $125.00 and are easy to install.
You local electrical supply sell those.as does Home Depot.On basement remodels,some people oust the furnace to have the extra room and install forced air electric heaters in every room. And it is cost effective.

In the North West people have those installed to use in the lighter winter months rather than use the furnace. Rooms that are not in use are not unnecessarily heated. Each room has it's own thermostat. Rooms heat up very quickly . This gives you greater control over how much electricity you use for heat and stops waste at the same time.That's right. you train the kids to shut off the thermostat before they leave for school! Waste not ,want not!

If he adds one to his favorite room,he will have his forced air heat!Or the benefit of knowing he brought some of the modernization in without total conversion!