Should I get cast-iron radiators?

You are really talking about a new heating system for your house. It will be expensive but it will add to the comfort and livability. With a boiler hot water heat is better--more even and constant--than steam heat. What would make most sense is to do the whole house completely and do it right, both first and second floors.

Today cast iron baseboards or radiators are not ordinarily used because copper pipes with aluminum fins and a sheet metal cover are much cheaper. But if you want radiators you could shop around for used cast iron radiators. They will also be much fancier with designs. An experienced heating installer could help you do that.

With your new heating system you certainly can keep your old air conditioning system. All you really have to do is to just not use the hot air heating.

Finally, if you were to extend the hot air heat to the second floor most likely you would need a new larger furnace as you are heating more space. That money can be put to a new hot water heating system.

Marly: I have done this many times with more then thirty years in H.V.A.C in the Northeast. I would like to say if money is no real object installing radiators is by far the best way to go. You don't say how big your house is and how many rooms you have but the old decorative cast iron radiators connected properly to a condensing boiler is a great way to heat a house. I use radiant heat manifolds so I can control flow to each section for comfort. Each radiator is well over a thousand dollars new and about half that used. The boiler and all the piping is expensive but worth it if you can afford it. I just finished a two story house 100 years old 2500 sq ft.

Now for forced air there is nothing wrong with it, if installed correctly. Also you may not be able to just add ducts to the upper level from the lower level system. The ducts and size of the system may have to be analyzed first. You can however add a whole new system and run ducts to the upper level. As far as allergies go just install an electronic air cleaner and a humidifier and you golden.

Sorry i cant give you more pricing but i don't have enough information.

Also if you install a hydronic system the Unico small duct system works well in conjunction.

Thanks

Greg Murphy

Ambient Mechanical Systems

Fishkill, NY

Firstly, Cast-rads are all said & good, but do they come with the necessary

reducers & couplings to suit, copper / Hep piping, If not- then there is a Lot

of expense to be added to the Final bill.

If I were getting the work done You describe, I would Definitely get at least,

5 or even 6 separate Estimates, Providing they are free- of Course.

For such an outlay, would consider at least 3 anyhow, And just make sure

They' are fully Qualified to carry out All the work, that You intend to have done

for yourself.

That way you can expect the work to be "fully guaranteed". (Hth).

.

Have to considered getting a mini-split to heat and cool the top floor? A mini-split is a heat pump/air conditioner. They are super efficient and very ideal for a situation like yours. I would find an HVAC dealer that deals in mini-splits and have them come give you a quote.