1895 Late Queen Anne Renovation – Inefficient Ductwork for an Efficient Forced Air System
We are renovating an 1895 Late Queen Anne (prior to moving in). Forced air with a 2008 high efficiency furnace with low efficiency or lack thereof, ductwork. The upper floor wall vents are simply stud spaces with no duct work. Return air vents are the same. Is there a ducting product that can be readily installed in the wall space without removing the lath and plaster (which is in great shape and we are keeping)? We are also debating abandoning the heating and cooling system in favor of radiant heat and a separate cooling system. What about radiant panels in lieu of access between the first and second floor? Perhaps utilize the interior wall/duct spaces for running PEX supply? We are refinishing the original woodwork, so I am not in favor of covering up or removing for baseboard panels. Thanks.
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A lot of questions, and not much to go on.
There is flexible ductwork that can in theory be "snaked" through the walls, but it is considered by many to be a less than ideal product, because it restricts airflow so badly.
Another option is a "high pressure" system which runs basically with hoses. Requires a special air handler, though, and I've only head of it being used in "high value" homes.
An awful lot depends on the specifics of construction of your home. It would really require on-site examination to provide any sort of solid advice.
the mice in the walls are all nice and warm.
if your considering abandoning the hvac system you may want to look in to mini splits. dont know where you are located, so you could have a greater need for air and not hear or vice versa, but these are very efficient and can solve alot of issues if you can stand the sight of them.
Look at Unico and SpacePak for air conditioning. Like most systems, a properly designed system will delight, a "rule of thumb" system may cause problems. So getting a good installer is paramount.
They work well for adding AC to older and historic homes, and they perfectly compliment in-floor RFH.
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Thanks for your replies. I am familiar with the systems such as space pak as we have this system installed in our current home for AC. Boiler Heat with baseboard slant fins. We love the heat, the space pak works great, just a little loud with the higher velocity. But very effiecient.
This is where the decision comes in for the new home renovation. Would rather not deal with forced air and would not mind moving over to radiant panels and a space pak system. The question for this is whether surface mounted radiant panels are worth it, and work as well as in floor radiant, etc.
But at the least I need to make the existing forced air system more efficient. My hope is that there is a simple alternative to keep original wall grates, modify the opening behind by running some type of duct work that actually carries the majority of air to where it needs to be. I have a 7'6" basement, so one thought would be to run 8' sections of the oval duct work to the registers. Logistically may be doable.
So I am not sure which of the options is worth the hassle, cost, etc.
Info: Ohio. Need Heat and AC. 3 bedroom house with two main runs up to second floor. One to bedroom/bath. The other is to the other two bedrooms. Renovation will turn one of these two bedrooms into a master closet and bath. Small addition over existing 1st story will make the new 3rd bedroom where new runs wiill take place from the basement.
I do have some decisions to make, but not hard pressed yet. The wise seek council in multitude, so just trying to get some ideas of what others have seen or done.
Thanks again.