Some people love old houses. But even the most ardent lovers would admit that the HVAC system is not the best thing about their new (old) house.
They swoon over the slate roof and window seats and arched doorways, but heating and air conditioning? Not so much.
It’s likely that their Victorian beauty came with a Victorian-era furnace, whistling radiators, miles of twisted ductwork, and cast-iron pipes. No AC. And no insulation. Back in the day, rooms were added, nilly-willy, post-original construction, and the heating system wasn’t modified.
It looks pretty, but the comfort factor hovers around grim.
There are some ways you can make that antique home livable. Here are a few ideas:
1. If you live in a cold climate, consider having the furnace enclosed. But before you tackle this project, consult your local building inspector. You need to leave enough space to allow air for combustion.
2. Install a thermostatic radiator valve to create mini-zones in your heating system. If you are handy, here’s a video about this: http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/video/0,,20258687,00.html.
3. To repair a noisy steam radiator, have a new air vent installed. This is a DIY or a Call-Your-Contractor (CYC?) job.
4. Consider a home energy audit to assess where you need to focus first. You can rent an infrared camera at Home Depot. Make sure to cover the attic as well as the main house.
5. When you’re ready to replace the HVAC system with something from the 20th century, investigate a hydronic system that use water, not air, to transport heat. You’ll avoid blowing dust and pollutants around and save money on fuel.
6. To create zones in an old forced-air system, check out this video: http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/video/0,,20258687,00.html
7. Hire a good service guy to detect and repair any leaking ducts. This is a low-tech job that could pay off big-time.
8. Find a great— not good, but great— HVAC contractor. You don’t need to replace everything at once, but you want to make sure that it’s ultimately all compatible. Here’s where you start that search: http://www.acdoctor.com/find-contractor/ ')}