Hey everyone! I live in a really old house in New York that's about 1,500 square feet, including an unfinished basement, two stories, and an attic. It originally used a boiler and radiators, but that system hasn't worked in about 15 years, and when it did, it wasn't very efficient. I've been relying on space heaters and kerosene heaters to get through the winters, but it's becoming quite expensive. I just moved back to this family home, and while I'm planning on slow renovations, I don't think I can make any significant upgrades this winter. I also can't install a wood stove due to local codes. I'm looking for advice on how to heat my house more efficiently this winter, and any upgrade ideas for next year would be greatly appreciated!
3 Answers
Are you totally sure about the wood stove rule? Modern wood stoves burn super clean, and a lot of people use outdoor boilers without issues. If wood isn’t an option, maybe think about putting an oil-burning furnace in the basement. I lived upstate, and I wouldn’t recommend heat pumps there, though!
Yeah, if natural gas is available, that might change the game too. Just make sure your old plumbing is still good for radiators if you decide to go back that route.
To really up your efficiency, don’t forget about sealing cracks and adding insulation, especially in the basement and attic. If you can’t use ducts at all, consider a multi-head mini split heat pump for heating. We did closed cell spray foam for insulation and it worked wonders!
Exactly! We swapped out our old propane boiler for a ground source heat pump, and it seriously cut our heating bills by 75%!
I'd seriously consider getting a new boiler. Radiators are pretty cool because they keep giving off heat even after the boiler stops, plus they can help dry out wet clothes like mittens or towels.
Totally agree! I've seen places with wood stoves have success too. If you can't do a wood option, I’d suggest a modern baseboard heater system with a reliable oil or gas boiler; it’ll be way more comfortable.