Warm Up Complete
by Mary Ellen Polson
Old House Interiors, Jan. Feb. 2008. Pp. 36-38.

Heating an old house is a balancing act. May early homes were built without any type of central heating system (unless you count central chimney) and other are faced with aging, sometimes inefficient systems.

Unless you are planning to gut the house, you probably have to work with what you have: existing steam or hydronic radiators powered by a broiler, or forced air ducts fueled by a furnace. Even if you don’t intend to rip out the floor, there are ways to incorporate new technology that will make your system more efficient, but more comfortable to live with.

Homeowners have long supplemented central heating systems with wood- or gas-burning fireplaces, stoves and inserts. These often efficient units can boost warmth in a gathering room or even heat a small house at prices that make sense to most homeowners (see “Warmth for Winter,” December 2007, pp. 86-90). But there are plenty of other choices that can resolve certain dilemmas or boost comfort in traditionally chilly spots like entries, porches and bathrooms.

Got a steam or hot water system with balky radiators? No need to throw out the boiler with the bath water when you replace the most troublesome with new ones. Choices include almost silent baseboard units that melt into the wall, flat-fins units that tuck under windows, or streamlined tubular radiators that resemble the originals you may already have, like the ones from Steam Radiators Runtal North America even offers flat-fin units that can curve underneath a bowfront window!

Another option for bump-out windows or large expanses of glass is a narrow radiant register that recesses into the floor. Reggio Registers offers a stylish version that measures 8 feet long by 8 inches wide. The unit draws in cold air, warms it with a hydronic heating element, then re-circulates the warmed air. Kitchens built at the perimeter (like porch conversions) can benefit from the installation of kick-plate registers that direct warmth to your feet, like those from HeatRegisters.com and I.A.P. Sales.

Radiators that work fine but look homely can get a cosmetic makeover with the addition of a radiator cover. The metal ones, like those from Beautiful Radiators or (for baseboard units) Radiant Wraps, often feature traditional grille patterns familiar from the early 29th century. These units can help direct heat away from walls and windows out into the room. If you have a forced hot air system, give vents and returns a more polished look with registers grilles in patterns and materials that are more in keeping with date of the house, like those from Acorn Manufacturing and others.

Remodeling a bath, kitchen or mudroom is a great time to lay down a new radiant floor. Hannel Radiant Direct offers full radiant heating packages from state-of-the-art boilers to PEX tubing and thermostats – good news for homeowners who want the efficiency of an entirely new system, Electric radiant systems are so easy to install that they go down in an afternoon and link to the existing electrical box with a thermostat to control the setting. They even go outdoors: low-voltage electric radiant systems like those from Heatizon can de-ice roofs and melt ice and snow on driveways and walks.

What System Works Best For You?
Forced Air
Pros: Ducts can be used for both heating and cooling.
Cons: Inefficient for heat delivery (especially with heat pumps), Hot and Cold spots; variations in temperature, Retrofitting on installing a new system can cost thousands.
Works Best For: Regions with more cooling days than heating days.
Comfort/Cost Savings Alternatives: Distribute warmed air more efficiently with a ceiling fan, Supplement with radiant floors, wood stoves or inserts, Systems with built-in humidifiers.

Steam/Hot Water
Pros: Efficient, comfortable whole house heating.
Cons: Does not address cooling needs, Older radiators can be balky or noisy.
Works Best For: Colder climates with many heating days.
Comfort/Cost Savings Alternatives: Retrofit noisy, balky, or broken radiators with almost silent new ones (at about $500 each), Disguise ugly radiator with covers.

Heating Stoves/Inserts
Pros: Easy to install (except masonry stoves), a quality stove costs $25 or less, Highly fuel efficient, Masonry and catalytics capable of whole-house heating, Passive cooling in warm months (masonry stoves).
Cons: Effectiveness diminishes in relation to distance from heat source, Wood and masonry stoves require regular feeding and maintenance, Masonry stoves best suited for new construction or major remodels.
Works Best For: Smaller homes, As supplement to whole-house heating, especially forced air.
Comfort/Cost Savings Alternatives: Humidifiers, Distribute warm air more efficiently with ceiling fans.

Heating Stoves/Inserts
Pros: Easy to install (except masonry stoves), a quality stove costs $25 or less, Highly fuel efficient, Masonry and catalytics capable of whole-house heating, Passive cooling in warm months (masonry stoves).
Cons: Effectiveness diminishes in relation to distance from heat source, Wood and masonry stoves require regular feeding and maintenance, Masonry stoves best suited for new construction or major remodels.
Works Best For: Smaller homes, As supplement to whole-house heating, especially forced air.
Comfort/Cost Savings Alternatives: Humidifiers, Distribute warm air more efficiently with ceiling fans.

Radiant (floor, wall, etc.)
Pros: Even, cost-effective heating ($8-12 square foot installed), Cost effective in retrofits (i.e. replacing old wall radiators with new), Spot applications (baths, mudrooms, etc), new construction (additions, whole house remodels).
Cons: Requires hot water for team boiler except spot (electric) units, As whole-house heating ca be expensive and difficult to install in houses without existing radiators, Does not address cooling needs.
Works Best For: Homes in cooler climates; new homes and homes being extensively remodeled; retrofits with existing hot water systems, spot heating.
Comfort/Cost Savings Alternatives: Use as spot-comfort zones where possible (wall and floor radiators).

Heating Things Up

Hannel Radiant Direct: 1-888-298-6036
Heatizon Systems: 1-888-239-1232
I.A.P. Sales: 1-800-416-1298
Myson: 1-800-698-9690
Radiant Floor Co.: 1-866-927-6863
Reggio Registers: 1-800-88-3090
Rinnai: 1-866-RINNAI
Runtal North America: 1-800-526-2621
Steam Radiators: 1-800-966-587
Weil McLain: 1-219-876-6561
Windy Ridge Group/VEHA: 1-800-639-2021
Viega: 1-877-843-4262
Radiators Covers and Registers
Acorn Manufacturing: 1-800-835-0121
Arsco/Beautiful Radiators: 1-800-543-7040
HeatRegisters.com: 1-509-535-5098
Mission Woodworking: 1-877-848-5697
Radiant Wraps: 973-857-6480
Reggio Registers: 1-800-880-3090
Wooden Radiator Cabinet Company: 1-800-817-9110