Replacing radiators with baseboard heating
When my family moved into a new house, there were a lot of necessary upgrades to make.
There were signs of water damage on the ceilings and walls.
The windows were extremely old and leaked air. The floor felt spongy and the brown shag carpeting installed in every room was absolutely hideous. All of the appliances were outdated, and we needed to completely replace the front porch. One of my major concerns was the boiler heating system. I worried that the boiler in the basement was old and inefficient. I was unhappy with the ugly radiators installed in every room. Not only did the radiators detract from aesthetics, but they occupied a great deal of living space. Because they became dangerously hot to the touch when in use, the furniture had to be arranged to accommodate them. I was afraid of the kids or the dog getting burned. While we had the whole house torn up replacing the ceilings, walls, floors, electrical wires and plumbing system, I decided to see what could be done about the boiler. I hired a licensed HVAC contractor to inspect the heating system and provide recommendations. I was surprised when he said the boiler simply needed professional maintenance. He said that boilers are exceptionally reliable, durable and long-lasting. He suggested that we tear out the ancient radiators and replace them with baseboard heating. The boiler would still be used to heat water and deliver it through a series of pipes. The baseboards placed around the perimeter of the room would work to infuse heat into the air. Because of the heat entering the room at floor level, it keeps the warmest temperatures at lower levels rather than up by the ceiling. The baseboards operate silently, never become hot to the touch and provide a wonderfully even, clean and gentle comfort.