Change Existing Forced Air To Hydronic Heat With Baseboards

Ken1

Hi folks,



I currently have a gas furnace (26 years old) with forced hot air vents on my first and second floors of a 2000 plus sq. foot victorian home in Boston). I have been getting estimates for a new heating system and one person suggested that while it would be more expensive, I would be much happier if I took out the duct forced air system and converted everything to hydronic baseboards. He told me that while there are efficient forced air systems built nowadays, mine was an afterthought in my 100plus year old house and would never work very well. In addition, he touted that with the hydronic system I could easily create multiple zones, get heat to my third floor finished attic (which is currently unheated), my basement (which I plan to build a music room in), could heat my hot water, and that while it was more expense, I would see payback within about 10 years.



I brought up a concern about if I take out the ducts I would loose the ability to do central a/c and he again said that central a/c wouldn't be very effective in my house and would require pulling all the duct work out and insulating it. That I'd be better off with another sort of a/c system (a ductless, I think he mentioned) just in the rooms where it was needed.



I am concerned with the a/c issue, having to put baseboards over my beautiful 100 year old wood that goes around the bottom of my walls, and the invasiveness of adding piping in the walls. But, I have heard great things about the effectiveness and comfort of the hydronic baseboard systems, and we are a little cold and uncomfortable in the house as of now. There are five of us in my family, including stay-at-home mom (for the time being) and two kids under two years old!



Any thoughts or suggestions? Is it wasteful to tear out the existing system or worth it?



Thanks!

nicholas bonham-carter

restoring old heating system

probably, your old house once had radiators and pipes as its original heating system, so there are probably already the piping routes just waiting to be reused [except the attic]. modern radiators for hot water do not have the bulk of the originals, but would work well for hot water.

the hot water system would be more controllable, and the new ductless mini-splits by mitsubishi, fujitsu,  [and others] are more controllable as each one would handle several rooms which could be set individually, unlike a central system, where it is all or nothing.

perhaps jaimie can add something here on the reaction of various musical instruments to the hydronic as opposed to the scorched air environment. 

please keep us informed as this project evolves, as i am sure many people are in the same boat.--nbc

Ken1

Thanks! Any other thoughts?

Thanks Nicholas,



I'm not sure if the heating system was once radiators or if they just went straight from coal to forced air. I don't know much about these things, but there is a fireplace and a spot in one bedroom where there was probably once a coal burning stove.



In any case, do you think the switch over to a hydro system makes sense, or is it too extravagant, a waste of energy, money and resources? Or in the end, will we be happier with the heat it produces and it's efficiency?



Kenny

nicholas bonham-carter

maybe this will be a solution!

show this thread to your boilerman:



http://www.heatinghelp.com/forum-thread/131555/New-steam-mini-tube-system-installed-in-my-own-house-Iron-Fireman-style

nbc

icesailor

Conversion:

You have been given very good information. Listen and take it. I would have said the very same thing. Mini-Split AC systems are The Nuts. Combo AC/Scorched Air systems suck. They either do one or the other. Never both well.

As far as the baseboard and and the heating units, you will not need to cover ALL the baseboards. And depending on how you do it, you may be able to blend the details. I do it all the time when someone doesn't want a hack job.

There are no negatives to what you want to do. A really cleaver installer can make this a nice install.

Steamhead

"will we be happier with the heat it produces and it's efficiency? "

YES!!!!!!!



And don't forget, comfort and efficiency go hand in hand. If you are comfortable at lower temperatures, you don't burn as much fuel.



Also, forced-air has a nasty habit of pressurizing some rooms and de-pressurizing others. This causes more air infiltration, which further wastes fuel.

Ken1

Thanks!

Thanks for the support. So it sounds like a lot of you are in favor of moving from my existing system of forced air to a hydro system. Do you think that it's at all wasteful to just scrap an existing duct system even though the ducts are all in good shape, or is it a wise move and an investment in a house where I plan to live for a good 30 years or more?



Also, should I be worried at all about putting pipes for a hydro system in the walls? Will it be very invasive? Can they burst and cause a home nightmare? Or am I just worrying too much?



Now, I'm just waiting to see the price to do all this!!! I'll keep you updated.



Thanks!