Looking for guidance / older Philly area home

[patkellyd]

I recently purchased a 1901 stone house (2100 sq. ft.) in Philadelphia, heated with a new (2005) Peerless oil fired boiler, hot water radiators. There is no AC in the house. Boiler is rated at 180mBTU. The house also has gas service.

My wife and I are planning a 1,500 sq.ft. addition off the back, two stories. (Kitchen/family room & master bed/bath)

We need help to understand:
1. Can we heat the new space with radiant heat (preferably in-floor radiant), using the existing boiler? How does this approach compare $$ wise with a typical gas fired hot air system, that would provide ducts for cooling in the summer?

Any help to budget the cost of radiant floor heat in our new space would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks, pat

[hvaclover]

On the face of it your home must not be very well insulated?

To me that boiler seems big if your home has had supplemental insulation added.

A heat load calc would be need before you proceed any further.

Just wait and there will be other well qualified opinions coming to your post.

[patkellyd]

The house is has stone exterior, balloon framed with plaster walls on lathe, little to no insulation in the walls that we can see. We are only the 2nd owners in 105 years...

[Roscoe]

What section of Philly
Are you sure it's hot water and not steam
Yes this boiler sounds big enough to heat the house the proposed addition and your neighbors house :D jest kidden bout the neighbors.

If your thinking radiant and have a concern about install cost. Forget radiant it's the most comfortable heat [when installed correctly] the most expensive to install,and probably the most efficient to run

[heatpumpguru]

In our area sometimes we put in a small gas/ac for addition areas, we can get you someone in your area if we do not cover it 610-544-4884-148 boiler sounds big and may be able to do water coil or radiant but without seeing it could not tell.

[comfortdoc]

If the budget allows radiant would be ideal. The only way to know if the current boiler can handle the additional load is to have the heat loss calcs performed. Call or email if you would like a complimentary heat loss calc. Contact info in Credentials.

[comfortdoc]

Originally posted by pjs
What section of Philly
Are you sure it's hot water and not steam
Yes this boiler sounds big enough to heat the house the proposed addition and your neighbors house :D jest kidden bout the neighbors.

If your thinking radiant and have a concern about install cost. Forget radiant it's the most comfortable heat [when installed correctly] the most expensive to install,and probably the most efficient to run

Are you in the Phila area pjs?

[emcoasthvacr]

A Heating Load calculation is an absolute necessity.

The existing boiler might have the capacity (but will the pump?)with properly installed thermostatically controlled zone control valves for efficient multi-zoned heating. That way, you have more control to heat areas of your house you want heated while keeping other rooms that aren't used cooler.

I would invest in the radiant piping, especially for a new addition. It's an investment that will more than pay for the added initial cost. I know what it's like to weather a 40" snow storm in the Philly area -- lol.