AC/Heat for old house--options?

[burnbrightly]

Any advice is appreciated.I just moved into an older from with no central air and a 30 year old boiler with surbase heating near the floors. Trying to figure out my best option. High velocity AC vs full ductwork traditional cantral air. Do I buy a new boiler and keep the baseboard heat OR use forced air heat from the new ac ductwork.. does high velicty also run heat? Thanks!

[Steve Wiggins]

We need pictures and a location.

Most important are pics of the whole house as seen from the street.

[HeyBob]

Originally posted by Steve Wiggins

Most important are pics of the whole house as seen from the street.

Yo Steve! You aren't gonna tell him about the rule that says if you cover the house with three fingers he needs a three section boiler are ya? :D

[johnsp]

What's surbase heating? You mean copper fin tube baseboard? I would replace the boiler and keep the hydronic heat. I hope it's zoned. If you have nat gas, look at the condensing boilers out there that run at 90% efficency. H velocity will usually cost more and you need to find someone who's experienced in it. It's gonna depend how much alteration to the house you want to do to get the ductwork downstairs (or pushed upstairs). HV or standard ductwork is simplier and more effective for AC with supplies in the ceiling. Two seperate systems is usually better then one.

[4l530]

You can pipe the boiler to a hot water coil that mounts into a high velocity system.

[mjk_na]

Is the boiler still working? If so, keep it.

You can install AC system with ductwork.

[burnbrightly]

no the boiler is very old and needs to be replaced and it goes to metal baseboards my friend in HVAC who is doin gthe install thinks i should just go for standard ductwork with central air and FA heat. rip out the baseboards and old boiler and call it a day... thoughts?

[docholiday]

He's trying to save you a few bucks, but at the cost of comfort. I would replace the boiler with a new one and add a seperate ducted air conditioning system for optimum comfort.

[burnbrightly]

yeah? but avoid high velocity? go with standard central air with full ductwork? god everyone hates forced air heat huh?

[docholiday]

I dont hate it, but given the choice, wet heat is generally more comfortable. I do on the otherhand hate high velocity systems, but hey it's your call if your space constrained.

[burnbrightly]

I think I am going to pass on high velocity and go with standard AC ductwork. Why do you not like high velocity AC? Is there a price difference in monthly heat bills between boiler and forced air heat?