[MassHistPres] Heating, Ventilating, and Cooling Historic Buildings

[Diane Gilbert]

The Dartmouth Heritage Preservation Trust manages a historic building, the
1762 Akin House in Dartmouth, MA, which has no insulation and is subject to
drafts and moisture. Five years ago, we installed a ductless heat pump
system that has proven ineffective, impractical, and is no longer
functional.

While the structural integrity of this historic house is reasonably sound,
its viability and longevity as a historic house also depends on keeping the
climate/atmosphere/temperature at a certain level during all seasons to
manage and mitigate the inherent moisture and dampness from further
damaging or deteriorating the structure, including the rare wallpaper in
the sitting room, the furnishings, and other objects and materials,
including paper documents, within.


We cannot address the building's air quality without a solution that
provides heating and cooling with improved ventilation. The house itself
cannot be sustained in an ongoing and unpredictable environment, now
subject to climate change. The air quality will be intolerable for visitors
as well. After fifteen years managing this house, the air quality can have
a tremendous impact on all we do to keep it operational and on our
pulmonary health.


We are pursuing various mechanical system options along with plans for the
installation of interior storm windows to further protect the building.
While the building is open to visitors on a seasonal basis, the house
itself must be maintained at a certain temperature for its own protection
and longevity.


The NPS Preservation Brief 24 offers guidance along with the MHC. My
question to this group is whether or not you have encountered this
situation and how did you resolve it.


As noted in the Preservation Brief, "No set formula exists for determining
what type of mechanical system is best for a specific building. Each
building and its needs must be evaluated separately."


The Akin House may be a building with such unique
characteristics––electricity as its only utility; uninsulated in keeping
with the original historic nature of a 260-year-old building––it's not
air-tight and subject to an unusual amount of dampness and moisture.


Thanks in advance for any advice or solutions from your own experiences, if
applicable. Suggestions for the storm windows also appreciated.


You can also email me or call me outside of the listserv.


Thank you, Diane Gilbert

(508) 965-7265
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