How to Heat Old Homes

Older homes can be a challenge to heat. The nature of these structures means there are often structural problems to solve before the home can be heated effectively. Here is a brief outline describing heating old homes once those problems have been solved.

Ductless Mini-Splits

Ductless systems are forced-air heat pumps that require no ductwork. They consist of an outdoor unit and several indoor air handlers that are connected to the outdoor unit. The indoor units can be installed anywhere in the home that needs heating. If existing ductwork can’t be expanded, or if there isn’t room for ductwork at all, mini-splits are a good option.

Hot Water Radiators

Hot water radiators were common in older homes. Some may still have the radiators and pipe systems in place. A boiler in the basement he water that is then circulated throughout the home. The water flows through pipes to metal radiators in each rooms. The radiators release the heat in the water, which warms the room.

Radiant Heat

Radiant heat systems consist of a series of pipes installed within the floor, either on top of a subfloor or embedded into concrete. Hot water circulates through these pipes. Heat rises from these pipes, warming the room from the bottom up. Radiant heating can be very effective.

Fireplaces

Fireplaces are another feature that can often be found in older homes. They produce heat for a single room using the old-fashioned method of burning wood. Newer styles of fireplaces use propane or natural gas as fuel. There are also electric models that feature artificial flames.

Standard Furnaces

Standard forced-air furnaces, including both gas and electric models, are still popular options for heating older homes. They can be effective as long as there is enough room to install a properly sized network of ducts for carrying heated air.

CCAC has nearly 40 years of experience in the HVAC industry, serving customers in Corpus Christi and the Coastal Bend area of Texas. Contact us today for more information on heating old homes and for the equipment you need to make sure your old home is comfortable.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Corpus Christi, Texas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about your HVAC system, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 361-678-2495.  

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