steam radiators and cooling systems

Steamhead (in transit)

Dean achieved some dramatic fuel savings when he restored his system. We've had reports of similar savings elsewhere. So if you see some rather high fuel bills for a steam-heated house you're thinking of buying, don't worry- that can be fixed.

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lena

need info please

i have been reading the threads and hope that someone can answer a question for me. i am in the process of buying my first home(yipee). the area in which i am looking has a lot of beautiful, old, large brick tudors. while i love the homes and the space (not to mention the price of some of them) i have some reservation about the steam heating systems. i live in MI and if you've never been in here in summer, you have no idea how hot it can be. 90 degrees with 70 to 90 percent humidity. basically what i want to know is is there any way, other than wall a/c units, to have a central cooling unit in a house with steam heating. i heard that i would have to replace the entire system with duct work and that may not make the home worth it. if anyone knows how and if this can be done on a less expensive scale please, please please let me know. i appreciate any advice.

thanx

Keith_8

removing humidity

is the key.
Lena, The steam system cannot be used for air conditioning purposes. However there is no reason to remove it for a ducted system that provides heating and cooling.
My advise would be to leave the steam system intact and think about installing a ductless mini-split system.
They do a great job of wringing out the humidity without tearing up the house and wallet retrofit ductwork.
Depending on the size of the house and floor plan this can be a feasable option. Do you want the entire house A/C?
Keith

lena

thnx keith for the response. yes i would like to a/c the entire house. bad part, the house i am leaning toward is over 1700 square feet.

Steamhead (in transit)

Or

you could use a mini-duct system such as Unico or Space-Pak, put the air handler in the attic and run mini-ducts down to the rooms. In many cases mini-ducts can be fished thru the walls, eliminating the need for installing ugly bulkheads.

Are there large trees on the property you're interested in? Is the attic well ventilated? Yes to either of these will make the house much more comfortable in summer. Here in Baltimore it gets hotter than in Michigan but many old houses, like mine, stay cool the old-fashioned way.

You definitely do not want to tear out the steam system. It will give you much more comfort and efficiency than forced-air ever will.

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lena

thanx for the response and the advice. there are lots of big trees around the home. i'll look into both of those systems. this is a relief to know that there are other options. thanx again.

Dean_7

cooling

I live in MI also in a 103 year old house with steam heat. Last year we restored the steam system. This year we are installing central air after looking at the options we settled on the Unico system as best for our situation. You do have options and can have both steam heat and central air.

thfurnitureguy_4

Minivents

I saw a minivent AC system in a huge stone home in Hunt valley. There was little to no sign that the house had been modifyed. 90deg day in Baltimore and the house was great