Looking for some general advice as I start to think about replacing my heating setup. We bought a 1890's house over the winter, and managed to get through the winter with only a couple breakdowns, and as weather gets warmer we are looking to replace before next winter.
The house was once used as a 2 family and has a bit of an odd setup which has me puzzling a bit about the best direction to take. There is forced water baseboard radiators on the first floor. However, the 2nd/3rd floor are forced air.
The first floor has a gas boiler (Hydro-Therm of unknown age, guessing 70's) and standalone gas water heater (GE tank). The 2nd floor has a gas Ruud furnace from 1969, and another standalone gas water heater (Whirlpool tank).
To frame this: For a variety of reasons, the intent is to convert this 2-family into a single. We also intend to be here a long time. I know we want to add AC, and I know we should get to a single hot water heater efficiency wise. The question is what to do about the boiler and furnace. The house is about 2400 sq feet counting the attic. Most of it is not insulated, but the plan is to add blown in cellulose with the help of a local utility.
I had an informal discussion (not a detailed bid) from a plumber I've worked with before who suggested getting a new high efficiency boiler with zoning to do forced water heat on the 1st floor and a Hydro Air coil zone to replace the furnace and provide heat upstairs. He indicated you can get a coil with AC loop as well to easily tie that in. (We did not specifically discuss, but expect this setup would also involve a indirect hot water tank on the boiler). I don't know a lot about the Hydro Air coil -- it seems like a decent enough idea, but my research suggests varied opinions on it.
Another thought would be to go entirely forced air. The ducting exists only to the 2nd/3rd floor (semi-finished attic) now, but likely would need to be replaced due to it's condition anyway--so likely a cost I'm in for regardless. The 1st floor already has grates everywhere -- it clearly was forced air once upon a time. This would have the side benefit of getting AC everywhere easily.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't expect there is an argument to maintaining two separate systems (i.e. replace both furnace and boiler, leave setup more or less as is). I know I'd likely get more in rebates from local utilities this way, but expect long term efficiency and run costs wouldn't bear out.
I'm just starting to reach out and get some bids but appreciate any guidance as the mixed heating types have me a bit puzzled.
The house was once used as a 2 family and has a bit of an odd setup which has me puzzling a bit about the best direction to take. There is forced water baseboard radiators on the first floor. However, the 2nd/3rd floor are forced air.
The first floor has a gas boiler (Hydro-Therm of unknown age, guessing 70's) and standalone gas water heater (GE tank). The 2nd floor has a gas Ruud furnace from 1969, and another standalone gas water heater (Whirlpool tank).
To frame this: For a variety of reasons, the intent is to convert this 2-family into a single. We also intend to be here a long time. I know we want to add AC, and I know we should get to a single hot water heater efficiency wise. The question is what to do about the boiler and furnace. The house is about 2400 sq feet counting the attic. Most of it is not insulated, but the plan is to add blown in cellulose with the help of a local utility.
I had an informal discussion (not a detailed bid) from a plumber I've worked with before who suggested getting a new high efficiency boiler with zoning to do forced water heat on the 1st floor and a Hydro Air coil zone to replace the furnace and provide heat upstairs. He indicated you can get a coil with AC loop as well to easily tie that in. (We did not specifically discuss, but expect this setup would also involve a indirect hot water tank on the boiler). I don't know a lot about the Hydro Air coil -- it seems like a decent enough idea, but my research suggests varied opinions on it.
Another thought would be to go entirely forced air. The ducting exists only to the 2nd/3rd floor (semi-finished attic) now, but likely would need to be replaced due to it's condition anyway--so likely a cost I'm in for regardless. The 1st floor already has grates everywhere -- it clearly was forced air once upon a time. This would have the side benefit of getting AC everywhere easily.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't expect there is an argument to maintaining two separate systems (i.e. replace both furnace and boiler, leave setup more or less as is). I know I'd likely get more in rebates from local utilities this way, but expect long term efficiency and run costs wouldn't bear out.
I'm just starting to reach out and get some bids but appreciate any guidance as the mixed heating types have me a bit puzzled.
