Minimum Heating Requirements California Sale

6 years ago

Hi,

I own a condo that has radiant heating. I had an electrician install recessed lighting throughout the condo as it was very dark. I had the radiant heating disabled and unwired. We live in Southern California and rarely need heat(almost never AC). I do realize when it comes to the sale of the condo if I want to make it available to as many buyers as possible I need heating of some kind installed. What are some of the best budget options to make this possible that would count as a permanent heating fixture for selling to a traditional buyer?

Thanks,

Adam

Featured Answer

Bruce in Northern Virginia

6 years ago

Depending on exactly where you live, lack of heat and/or A/C may not be a code compliance issue. The only place I've lived that did not have heat or A/C in my house was in Hawaii (it was not needed to be habitable), and Southern California is not quite the same climate.

If you had electric radiant heating before, your electrical system may have the capacity for new electric heating. I'm not a big fan of baseboard electric because of the potential fire hazard from contact with heating elements, but its probably your best option. Depending on how your radiant heat was configured, you might need to use line voltage thermostats in each room, or maybe there was some type of central control.

Bruce

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

mike_home
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
The lowest cost option is installing electric baseboard heating. Home Depot sells several versions in 120 V and 240 V configurations. The thermostat is a separate item. I suggest you also install that also.

Heating with electric baseboard where electricity costs are high might be viewed as a negative to your buyer. But if you rarely need heat then it should not be an issue. I think lack of an AC would also be a negative. But if you are close to the water then it is probably OK.
Adam Ras thanked mike_home
Elmer J Fudd
6 years ago
I think you made a mistake having the heat system disconnected. I don't think that dwelling would even be compliant with the building code, no matter where located.

Listing something with "no heating system", which you have to do, is going to make a potential buyer pool evaporate.

mike, inland and valley areas in SoCal get cold (yeah it's all relative). Heat isn't considered an optional nicety.
Adam Ras thanked Elmer J Fudd
Related Professionals
Alpena General Contractors · Coeur d'Alene General Contractors · McAllen Home Remodeling · Forrest City Bathroom Remodelers · Orangeburg Bathroom Remodelers · Evansville Home Remodeling · Sioux Falls Home Remodeling · Salina General Contractors · Gary General Contractors · Lebanon General Contractors · York General Contractors · Laconia Home Remodeling · Ithaca Bathroom Remodelers · Oneonta Bathroom Remodelers · Concord Bathroom Remodelers
mike_home
6 years ago
I meant to say lack of AC may also be viewed as a negative. I agree every dwelling in the US needs some form of heating.
Adam Ras thanked mike_home
Adam Ras
Original Author
6 years ago
Hi, thanks for all the comments. All the other units in the condo building and the street we live on a street with have heat only as we live right next to the ocean and this is how these places were built in in 60s. The radiant ceiling heaters are so expensive to run that no one in their units ever turn them on. I am just trying to figure out what the bare minimum I can install is to have a heat source legitimately listed.
Elmer J Fudd
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Whether they're expensive to run or not is not a decision you have the right to make for a potential buyer. It's an expected requirement for a housing unit that as you've described it the unit doesn't meet. I'll bet that you have a non-code compliant housing unit that would be red-tagged. A half-vast band-aid probably won't get you where you need to be from a resale standpoint but good luck.