The only reason my partner & I were able to afford such a big piece of condo & large condo in an advantageous location was because everything was incredibly rundown.
No one had lived in the condo or done any repairs or updates on the location in quite a few years.
Since we are especially handy & like condo remodeling projects, we were gleeful to get started. The need to gut the condo down to the bare studs gave an option to make variations, but we updated the electrical panel, wires & outlets to better meet our needs & safety codes. We updated corroded plumbing pipes with PVC, swapped out drains & fixtures & installed a new water heater. We made improvements to everything from the appliances, cupboards & windows to the heater. We decided to remove the outdated HVAC duct & old furnace & invest into a new boiler system. We prefer the advantages of hydronic heating over forced air! A boiler operates almost silently, costs less to run & can be expected to last about twice as long. It heats up water & sends it through a closed system of pipes that won’t introduce contaminants into the air or cause issues with insufficient humidity. These pipes work to spread heat across the surface of the floor that rises slowly & avoid frigid spots. There is no ugly device taking up residing space or requiring furniture to be arranged around it. We also have the fortune of zone control. With a separate temperature control in each room, we’re able to avoid heating empty areas & tailor comfort to personal preference.