Old Victorian houses will always be valued for their excellent craftsmanship and unique designs. It’s evident by how much a fully restored Victorian house’s price and high demand on the market. As amazing, as they are, they do have many issues. One of which is having an outdated heating system.
So whether you own a Victorian house or planning to buy one, you might have wondered; what are the best heating systems for such historic homes? Which one should you choose?
Radiant Floor Heat
Victorian houses often have high ceilings. This feature makes it hard to install duct systems in the ceilings. Because of this, any heating and cooling systems that run on normal ducts will be less efficient. So if not in the ceiling, where else? Instead of the traditional heating systems, radiant heat uses pipes installed underneath the floor. This type of heating system first became popular during the 1980s. However, the practice of heating the floors goes back centuries. The concept is smart because warm air rises. And with this type of system, heat is distributed faster and more efficiently.
While it was a problematic system before, due to pipes leaking and corroding, technology has advanced considerably. Not only is the system easier to install, but it is also durable.
Upgraded Fireplaces
If you enter an old Victorian house, you’ll likely see a fireplace at almost every room. The reason behind this is because old heating systems were inefficient. They had to build these fireplaces to add more heat. While they do serve a functional purpose, they also add beauty to a room. If you have such fireplaces, what you can do is to upgrade or improve them.
Before, choices are limited. But now, you can choose from a variety of fireplace inserts, ranging from gas, natural, or faux fire. There are many victorian-style inserts that you can get, which goes perfectly with your historic home.
Modern Wood-burning and Pellet Stoves
Wood-burning stoves are still as effective as ever. When it comes to price, wood is renewable and cheaper than coal or gas. If you’re living in a rural area, you can even chop or gather firewood for yourself. However, they do have an impact on the environment. To counter this problem, modern wood-burning stoves are developed, which produces less emission.
An alternative to wood-burning stoves is the pellet stove. These are electric stoves that use pellets as fuel. These pellets come from industrial wood waste, such as sawdust from mills and factories. They offer many advantages over traditional stoves, including less pollution, better air quality, and better temperature control.
Radiators
Radiators are great systems for distributing heat. They are also relatively easier to install than other heating systems. Radiators can either run using hot water or steam. Steam radiators work by boiling the water to make steam, which then goes through a set of pipes. The pipes heat the room through convection and radiation. For radiators, they can either be connected to a central heating system or installed individually.
Another reason why to go for radiators is that they match Victorian homes perfectly. Victorian radiators give the room a sense of antiquity. They add to the overall beauty of the house. But if that’s not something you prefer, you can still use them by getting radiator covers. Not only do they effectively hide radiators, but they can also provide a functional purpose, such as being a shelf for your decorations.
Call an Expert
These are only a few heating systems that you can incorporate into your Victorian house. As for which one to choose, it will depend on many factors. Before deciding which one to install, make sure to ask the advice of an expert. They can recommend which type of system is the most ideal for your home. Doing so, you can choose the most efficient heating system in terms of cost and heating. They can also check for problems and issues with insulation, which plays a major role in keeping your homes warm.
