[MassHistPres] Integrating heat pumps into historic homes

[Jackie Blombach]

Many years ago I installed a high velocity UNICO system into a 1950’s split level.  They
ran the ductwork inside the wall cavities.  There was little or no change to the interior of the
house. UNICO systems have been used in National Historic Landmarks.  See below.

	https://www.unicosystem.com/get-started/beautiful-installations/hemingway-house/ <https://www.unicosystem.com/get-started/beautiful-installations/hemingway-house/>

Jackie Blombach
Gibson House Museum, Boston
Building Committee




> On Apr 7, 2021, at 9:26 AM, Ralph Slate <slater at alum.rpi.edu> wrote:
> 
> Running the tubing inside the walls might work in a gut-rehab, but how can these be installed in a less invasive manner?
> 
> With all the talk about the state going fossil-fuel-free in the next 2 decades, how can we get out in front of this? Is there a way to do this on the interior specifically using the radiator infrastructure that is being made redundant? Or, as Tris has suggested, is there a way that this can be run through the interior in an aesthetically pleasing manner?
> 
> I think that telling someone "no" to this without having a practical alternative is not realistic, given the momentum. 
> 
> The other issue is that the exact same infrastructure is used for ductless splits that are cooling-only. That is a bit more of a luxury item, but I don't think it would be permissible for a commission to say "yes" to converting the heating system, but "no" to adding air conditioning, provided that the exterior appearance is the same.
> 
> Ralph Slate
> Springfield, MA
> 
> On 4/2/2021 4:55 PM, twm3 at metcalfe-architecture.com <mailto:twm3 at metcalfe-architecture.com> wrote:
>> Ralph
>> I tell people that it is much more efficient to run heating pipes inside the warm house vs outside in the below zero air where the pipes have only 1/2” of rubber insulation with another inch of fiberglass inside the plastic gutter, which if chosen also needs painting cost added. 
>> 
>> The cost to drill holes in floors and place in room corners and on interior wall ceilings is helped by less electrical use. 
>> Tris Metcalfe
>> Northampton
>> 
>> btw
>> The St John Cantius church in our downtown is being threatened with demolition and a continued CBAC meeting is this Tuesday 4/6/21 @6:30pm. If interested in commenting own load the entry document at;
>> http://northamptonma.gov/AgendaCenter/Central-Business-Architecture-42/ <http://northamptonma.gov/AgendaCenter/Central-Business-Architecture-42/>
>> 
>>> On Apr 1, 2021, at 4:05 PM, Ralph Slate <slater at alum.rpi.edu <mailto:slater at alum.rpi.edu>> wrote:
>>> 
>>> I am seeing a big push for people to convert their heating systems to more efficient heat-pump technology, and I think this will become a significant challenge in the future for owners of historic homes. 
>>> 
>>> The issue that I foresee is that the predominant way to accomplish this conversion in a house without a ducted heating system is via "ductless splits" - where a fan unit is installed on the inside, and a condenser is installed on the outside. The two halves are connected with copper piping which transfers the heat via a refrigerant. There are currently rebates available for these units at Masssave.
>>> 
>>> What I have been seeing is that the most convenient way to install these systems is to run the piping along the outside of the house, and cover it up with plastic channels which look like gutters. A 3" hole is then drilled through the house to carry the piping to the point where the fan unit is located. A fan unit is usually required in every room. Because the interior fan units are somewhat large, homeowners need to place them in very specific locations, not considering the impact on where the channels appear on the outside of the house. The end result is usually an asymmetrical series of channels running across the outside of the house
>>> 
>>> Although these channels can be painted, sometimes homeowners do not do this, and although paint helps, if the channels are installed in prominent locations (like on the front of the house) it doesn't help much. 
>>> 
>>> I do not think that installing one of these systems requires a building permit (triggering historic review), so this issue arises as more of an "after-the-fact" problem, but one which would be difficult to mitigate after-the-fact without a total re-installation. 
>>> 
>>> I will try and paste photos into this email of a few nearby me, hopefully the pictures will come through.
>>> 
>>> My question is, given that this will gain in popularity, does anyone know of a better way to conceal this technology? This may be the predominant method of heating in the future, especially as we shift away from carbon-based heat, because it involves moving heat instead of burning fuel to generate it.
>>> 
>>> Basic guidelines could include requiring the channels to be painted the same color as the house, or disallowing them from the front facade. Is there more that could be asked?
>>> 
>>> Ralph Slate
>>> Springfield, MA
>>> 
>>> <lkefbnmnnkpmilpe.png>  <cnmkfchjljiohhbo.png><ojgpjibfoehodokj.png>
>>> 
>>> 
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