Existing Hydrolic heating vs new multizone air conditioning

Hi guys
I'm living in Canberra and recently purchased an old house. The house has hydrolic heating using radiators installed as it's heating system. The system is around 35yr old while the gas heating system for the system has been replaced with a new unit 3yrs ago.

When I started doing Reno I noticed pretty much all of the radiator units are leaking and there is water stain on all carpets under each of the nobs that operates a radiator. I activated a few of them and my hand got wet each time. Basically knobs on all of the 12 units are leaking.

I am thinking that I have two options
1. Remove the whole system and replace it with 2x multi zoje/multi head air conditioning units which would cost me close to 20k.
2. Repair the units, probably the first repair will cost several thousand considering 12 units need to be repaired.

What would you do?

Comments

  • I'd get a quote for the repairs of the radiators, at least as a starting point. $20K is a massive whack of dough. Also, the power bills to run two would be enormous, so you'd probably be looking at solar as well just to offset some of the running costs?

    Air conditioning systems are such a rip off; not that I question their efficacy, just the cost, I mean 20K. Jeez.

  • +1

    Hydronic heating is great, I installed my own in a past house. Hydrotherm in Melbourne make compact high effiency units - aluminium/copper combo. However the issue is the method of water heating - gas is the normal way. These days there could be some sort of solar/gas combo - have a look via Google. If the existing rad units are cast iron, which was often the case in old houses corrosion can be a big factor. That's why I used the Hydrotherm units.

    • I got a quote to replace a unit it cost around 1000, several of them are so old that need replacing

  • +1

    Get a wood fired stove in the kitchen and heat the water that way

    Only kidding I guess, it has been my dream for years to have a wood fired stove and hydronic heating :-(

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