How to improve the heating of an old house (Ottawa)

last year

Hi!

I'm currently living in a century-old house in Ottawa, with central air heating (heat pump + gas furnace when temperatures starts going below -20°C). The house has one basement, ground floor + 1st floor, each around 30/40 m². My problem is there's only one air vent blowing on the ground floor and when winter hits, it gets pretty cold: that air vent is in the ceiling, right by the stairs, and there's a beam between that vent and the rest of the living room. All of that sounds very much not ideal. Same deal in the basement, only one air vent at the bottom of a wall. This is less of an issue, though, the basement isn't a space we use a lot.

I'm going to have my kitchen remodeled in the next months, going from a walled-off kitchen to an open one, which will help with heating the kitchen at least and could be the right moment to adjust the heating situation.

How can I improve the heating of that floor? I don't particularly like forced-air heating (dry air, stratification, draughts, noise of blower are the issues I can think of off the top of my head).

I was looking at wall-mounted inertia radiators (something like this (https://www.confort-sauter.com/Chauffage/radiateur/hekla-horizontal-radiateur-electrique-autonome-connecte-et-lumineux-a-inertie-double-corps-de-chauffe-fonte-facade-chauffante/hekla-horizontal-blanc-2000w#id-filtre-0) or this (https://www.mazdaenergy.fr/radiateur-Inertie-ceramique-resistance-surfacique-PALACY)), but I haven't had much luck finding that in Canada.

I also have a noticeable temperature difference between ground floor and first floor, with heat moving up, which is an issue because with telework one person is working upstairs and one on the ground floor, so it's hard to find the right balance.

Any advice on how could I improve the situation?

Thanks!

Featured Answer

fsq4cw

last year

I would advise exploring either an Air-to-Water heat pump or even better a Geothermal Liquid-to-Water heat pump for heating and cooling with domestic hot water; no gas, no ductwork.

Hydronic distribution could be hydronic in-floor radiant, low temperature radiators or fan coil units. No ductwork, no gas, no draughts, little to no noise, easy zoning - everybody comfortable no matter where they are (as long as they are in different rooms) or what temperature they want to feel!

This is just technical advice - not financial advice!

Often the best active solution for old heritage homes that are leaky and expensive to heat.

Nordic Air-To-Water Heat Pump (Designed & Made In Canada)

Nordic Liquid-To-Water Heat Pump (Designed & Made In Canada)

IMPO

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Comments (10)

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Charles Ross Homes
last year
I agree that hydronic heating is a good option. It can be easily configured to provide independent temperature control on each level and domestic hot water, too.
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rwiegand
last year
Start with an energy audit and do the air sealing and insulation that will almost certainly be recommended. This may dramatically change your heating needs and the solutions available to you. (at a very small fraction of the cost of geothermal heat pump system-- which are wonderful, but can be extraordinarily pricey for the benefits gained)
Guillaume Gaillard thanked rwiegand
Guillaume Gaillard
Original Author
last year
Thanks for the reminder! I applied several months ago for that program, but never heard back from anybody.
Elmer J Fudd
last year
last modified: last year
The energy review is a good suggestion to start with.

Before you get too far shopping for equipment suggested by well-meaning people but at a distance, you need to first assess the situation in a holistic way and then bring in an HVAC contractor or two to assess the situation in person and propose alternatives.

Good luck/Bonne chance, Guillaume.
fsq4cw
last year
Re: Elmer J Fudd

“The energy review is a good suggestion to start with.”

Not saying that shouldn’t be done but beyond a blower door test that might involve a lot of guess work in a century old house.

IMPO

SR
Elmer J Fudd
last year
Energy audits should, among other things, involve an inspection for problems and fixable issues far afield from HVAC needs. Insulation present or absent, sealable holes in the envelope (walls, pipe and other kinds of openings in walls, floors, and ceilings), leakage around windows, condition of weather stripping, yada yada. Typically money spent on these often easy fixes have a much greater effect and faster payback than HVAC solutions.

HVAC people shouldn't be called in until after this kind of work is done or at least identified, it's usually well beyond what they understand and work with themselves. A conscientious load calculation on a status-quo situation before remediation is done will oversize the spec for needed equipment. Good for the HVAC contractor, bad for the homeowner.
fsq4cw
last year
Your confusing a home inspection with an energy audit.

An HVAC specialist can always be called in at any preliminary stage for a consultation. Size can be adjusted later.

IMPO

SR
Elmer J Fudd
last year
No, I'm not.
rwiegand
last year
What Mr. Fudd describes is what I'd expect in an energy audit. Big emphasis on discovering sources of air leakage, combined with evaluation of insulation.

How to improve the heating of an old house (Ottawa)

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How to improve the heating of an old house (Ottawa)

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