[MassHistPres] Heat Pumps/Mini Splits in Historic Houses

[annelusk at gmail.com]

The link provided said it was “Forbidden” (because it is Halloween?), but I found a working link.

https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1739/upload/preservation-brief-24-heating-cooling.pdf

 

Anne 

 

Anne Lusk, Ph.D. 

18 Hart Street, Brookline, MA 02445 

Boston University Metropolitan College Lecturer – Urban Agriculture

617-879-4887 h

617-872-9201 c

 <https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/5/4436> https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/5/4436

 

From: MassHistPres <masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu> On Behalf Of Diane Gilbert via MassHistPres
Sent: Tuesday, October 31, 2023 9:59 AM
To: MassHistPres MA <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>
Subject: [MassHistPres] Heat Pumps/Mini Splits in Historic Houses

 

The latest and greatest in heating and air conditioning, Heat Pumps/Mini Splits, may not be suitable for certain historic houses. I learned this the hard way in trying to control the climate in our 1762 Akin House. The exterior compressor may be unsightly and the unit within the interior may detract from the historicity of an important resource. But there's more to this situation than cultural aesthetics.

 

Six years ago, we installed one unit in our gathering room/kitchen hearth location.  I didn't find that it detracted from the house's historic features. The compressor was located on the north side of the house which again didn't interfere to a significant degree from the house's cape style features.  We also have a lift at the east rear entrance to fulfill our ADA compliance requirements. It's very obvious when viewing our house which elements are original, which are new timbers, and which are modern amenities. I call that "practical preservation." When a modern enhancement doesn't function, it's a wakeup call to seek other alternatives.

 

It turns out that because the Akin House has no insulation, no storm windows, and plenty of moisture, the mini-split malfunctioned intermittently, and finally just gave out. The unit was working too hard to achieve a desired temperature and dry atmosphere. Also, MHC cautioned that we shouldn't use heat pumps/mini-splits in that house, in part, because it is contrary to historically faithful preservation goals.

 

When our Georgian cape style house was constructed in 1762, the builders adhered to commonsense principles.

 

“Eighteenth century and later vernacular architecture depended on the siting of the building, deciduous trees, cross-ventilation, and the placement of windows and chimneys to maximize winter heating and natural summer cooling.” –– NPS Preservation Brief 24

 

In our case, historic house stewardship requires that we approach challenges with at minimum one foot in the 18th century. 

 

I urge everyone to consult the NPS Historic Preservation Brief 24, Heating, Ventilating, and Cooling Historic Buildings.  https://home1.nps.gov/tps/how-to-preserve/briefs/24-heat-vent-cool.htm

 

Diane Gilbert

Dartmouth Heritage Preservation Trust, Inc. 

Dartmouth, MA

 

 

 

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