[MassHistPres] Heating, Ventilating, and Cooling Historic Buildings

[rcsmitharch at verizon.net]

You should talk to the Shelburne Museum in Vermont. I attended a seminar there a few years ago- they have a collection of historic houses, and most of them are allowed to go cold in the winter.   They decided that for their climate at least, fluctuating humidity was more problematic than cold temperatures, and keeping the buildings cold keeps the relative humidity more stable, reducing swelling and drying out in the wood.  Documents and artifacts are kept in temperature and humidity controlled spaces, but documents have different climatic needs from wooden buildings.

 

Richard Smith

Swampscott Historical Commission

 

From: MassHistPres <masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu> On Behalf Of Jack via MassHistPres
Sent: Tuesday, May 16, 2023 9:39 AM
To: Diane Gilbert <d.m.gilbert51 at gmail.com>
Cc: MassHistPres MA <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>
Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] Heating, Ventilating, and Cooling Historic Buildings

 

I am on the Warwick, Massachusetts Building and Energy Committee. My reason for joining in 2007 was to save the 1910 windows in our 1910 Town Hall.

 

We put good quality aluminum storms on the exterior.  We also air sealed the attic and insulated the walls and attic with cellulose. Hayward Restoration restored the sash and jambs, and we built Winserts for the interior storms. Wooden windows need aluminum storms, or they will rot. We don't have lead paint any more. Plastic acrylic paint won't adequately protect old windows. 

 

We cut the building's carbon pollution by about 75%, short term. Long term, the cellulose might cause a problem, because the walls are not air sealed.

 

We have a building with no fresh air ventilation, and I am concerned about condensation in the walls. Fortunately, we did not destroy the building with spray foam. What we did can be reversed. We should have installed foundation drains to reduce mold. 

 

The HVAC problem for old buildings is improved if the cellars are dry. That's not enough for indoor air quality in public spaces. Warwick now uses the 23 year old school for public functions. We re-engineered the HVAC system there to provide adequate fresh air. Long term, I am hoping to install a fresh air HVAC system in the Town Hall. 

 

The State is giving out money to throw out good windows, and replace them with vinyl. Vinyl lasts 20 years, and goes into a dumpster. Repairs last 100 years. Five replacements, vs repairs and maintenance of the original sash. 

 

Jack Cadwell

Cadwell Windows

Warwick,  Massachusetts.

 

 

On Tue, May 16, 2023 at 8:17 AM Diane Gilbert via MassHistPres <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu <mailto:masshistpres at cs.umb.edu> > wrote:

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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