Yes! Cast Iron Radiators Add Character, Charm and Function to Your Richmond Home.
Many old-home purchasers have called me after moving into their homes to get my opinion on whether or not they should remove the old cast iron radiators which are common in Richmond's homes built in the first half of the 1900's. The radiators are the heat exchangers in a hot water heating system that uses a boiler to heat water and circulate it through a home's radiators for central heat. Would a modern, forced air system make more sense?
What factors should be considered when deciding whether or not to keep the large, old fashioned cast iron radiators? First, let's look at the pros and cons from a heating system perspective.
The positives are that radiator heat is quieter than forced air systems, produces more comfortable humidity levels, delivers more uniform heating with no drafts or cold air pockets, can be easily zoned and continues to provide heat from warmed radiators for some time after the boiler has turned off. Looking at cost, there is little difference in the cost of heating similar sized homes with comparable insulation using a hot water or a forced air system. New, high efficiency boilers can be installed to improve the efficiency of older hot water systems, especially those with old boilers large enough to occupy one third of a basement.
There are some disadvantages to hot water systems: radiators take up space that could be used for furniture placement, require a little maintenance (bleeding the air out each year), are slower than forced-air systems to heat a room, harbor dust and may be associated with stagnant air because air is not moving or filtered.
There are also what I consider to be perceived problems that usually have simple solutions. For example if you have a few non-functioning radiators should you scrap the system for forced air? There are ample sources to replace non-working radiators including new reproductions or businesses that reclaim and sell old home elements such as radiators. Another misconception is that the radiator space is completely lost. There are good sources of radiator covers that make them functional for holding books, decor, and other items that can further add to a home's ambiance.
As a real estate agent I think an often overlooked aspect of radiators are their character and how that fits with maintaining great, old-home character. It goes to the root of why people buy older homes - they appreciate a bygone era and want homes that have original features and as much character as possible. So I believe that having the radiators adds substantial value to old homes and that while we may be gaining some floor space without them, character and associated value are lost. Keep your old radiators and enjoy the best heat ever!
Best regards,
Kent
Kent@RVAhomes.com cell: 804-221-1065
