Replacing system - hydro or forced air?

19 years ago

Looking for some advice, we've had several different HVAC suggestions from different contractors.

Adding a second story to a 1955 walk up attic cape in CT. Heating is hot water radiators w/oil boiler (old), indirect water heater (15 yr old amtrol). Want to add ac and new boiler/furnace. At first we thought easy - go with hydro on second, stay radiators first floor, add loop of baseboard registers to basement. BUT, the HVAC contractors we've spoken with recommend taking the radiators on the first floor, particularly b/c we're adding ductwork anyway and it gets rid of low hanging heating system pipes in the basement.

OK, we like radiator heat, but seems to make sense from a cost perspective to switch.

forced air for whole house at that point or hydro? seems like forced air is the best option - does hydro at this point make ANY sense?

What about hot water if we go to forced air? we love indirect hw concept b/c never run out. How good are hw tanks? one contractor recommended tankless. I'm afraid of tankless after all i've read (will have 3 full bathrooms).

convert to gas or keep oil? surprised to hear all say yes to gas, gas line already in house for heat and dryer - no brainer.

I think we're at the point where we're converting to gas furnace, all forced air, but what are my hw options? It's a priority for us to never have hw be an issue.

Sorry for the long message and thanks for your input!

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Comments (3)

kframe19
19 years ago
Does hydro make any sense? In a few words, HELL YES!

I would NEVER abandon a functional hot water system, especially not for forced air, and especially not in an older, likely under insulated and likely under sealed home in a cold-weather state.

Simply put, I believe it's the most comfortable heating there is.

Designing ductwork that works well with both hot and chilled air is difficult, as they have very different properties.

Where are they locating the ductwork for the cooling? Near the floor, or in the ceiling?

If in the ceiling, it's perfect for AC, because cold air drops. But, because hot air rises, ceiling ducts aren't so great for heating. And vice versa.

There's no reason why the heating pipes in the basement have to remain low hanging. Circulated hot water isn't nearly as sensitive to pipe pitch as is either gravity hot water or steam.

Where you live most of your emphasis is on heating. Yes, cooling is nice in Connecticut, because it does get hot and humid up there, but I've been through some New England winters and they can be downright nasty.

Were I in your shoes?

I'd stick with a dedicated hot water heating system with a high efficiency indirect hotwater storage tank, and leave your AC system just that, AC.

You can run the AC fan in winter to help keep air circulating and also to provide filtration.

As for gas over oil... Things are looking ugly on the oil front. I'd probably go with as high an efficiency boiler as I could get.
User
19 years ago
It's certainly hard to choose between going with a clean single-style system of forced air or having a mixed system. Hot water heat is more efficient, less drying and can even be more quiet.

We don't have oil heat here so I can't speak for either fuel.
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baymee
19 years ago
I would never switch from hydronic to warm air heat. Never. I've had a tankless coil in my boiler for over 30 years and never run out of hot water. They provide 5 gallons per minute at 60# of pressure. Do you use that much? If you have a lime problem, then maybe use the indirect.