The Cold Truth (and Why It Might Be Wrong)
Let’s address the seasonal elephant in the room: heating an older home. The mere idea seems to conjure up visions of cold toes, astronomical energy bills, and drafty corners where no blanket dares venture. But here’s the thing: much of that is myth.
I live in a house built in 1870. And while it certainly predates the concept of double glazing and central thermostats, it hasn’t sentenced us to a lifetime of shivering. Quite the opposite. With the right approach, it’s entirely possible to keep a historical house warm, cost-effective, and comfortable without gutting its soul.
Old Buildings: Smarter Than You Think
There’s a quiet logic in the way older homes were built. Thick stone walls, high ceilings, and clever ventilation weren’t aesthetic whims, they were part of a passive design system long before sustainability became a buzzword. These homes were designed to adapt, to breathe, to regulate temperature without any need for polystyrene-stuffed walls or humming devices that simulate fresh air.
Visitors to our former townhouse built in 1912 often commented on the freshness inside. It didn’t feel stale. It felt lived in, seasonal, somehow alive. That’s the genius of breathable walls: they allow a building to behave like the organic, evolving structure it is.
Embracing What You’ve Got (and Tweaking What You Need)
Let’s be honest: heating a historical home isn’t about doing nothing. It’s about working with what’s there, not against it. My approach is pragmatic, not purist. A little gas, a bit of wood, a touch of tech:
• The inherited gas boiler still serves a purpose, though we’ve reduced its role over time.
• Fireplaces are more than just romantic. Our two provide real warmth, atmosphere, and a reminder that heat doesn’t have to be invisible.
• Infra-red heating panels were the real surprise: sleek, silent, low-energy, and remarkably effective. They warm people and objects directly, not just the air, making them ideal for rooms that need a quick temperature boost.
No one system does everything. But together, they form a comfortable, balanced, and highly adaptable setup that doesn’t fight the house - it fits it.
Old meets new: Infrared panels blend discreetly into even the most elegant period interiors, bringing warmth without disturbing the aesthetic.
The Heat Pump Hype (and Why We’re Not Buying It)
Everyone loves a trend. And right now, heat pumps are the darling of the energy-efficiency world. But let’s pause. They’re not a one-size-fits-all solution, and certainly not for homes like ours.
They hum. They require invasive installations. Their bulky exterior units are no friend to a heritage facade. And while they work wonders in tightly sealed modern builds, they often feel like a technological mismatch in homes built to breathe, not suffocate.
That’s before you even get to the inflated price tag and the high maintenance costs.
Insulation Overload and the Myth of the "Sealed Box" Insulation is great. Until it isn’t.
Overdo it, especially with synthetic materials, and you risk turning a house into a damp, unhealthy box. Historic homes aren’t broken versions of modern ones. They’re different species entirely.
We need to stop judging them by modern standards and start appreciating what they already do well. Moisture regulation. Passive temperature balance. Air quality. You can boost comfort without suffocating the structure. Natural materials like cork, hemp, or even sheep’s wool offer solutions without forcing a 19th-century wall to act like a 21st-century one.
Proof that warmth doesn’t require compromise. A fire-lit 19th-century room, as comfortable as it is beautiful.
A Buyer’s Perspective
If you’re eyeing a historical property and wondering whether you’ll freeze through November, let me reassure you: you won’t. With a little common sense and a bit of care, these homes are every bit as comfortable, and in some ways more rewarding, than newer builds.
Ours, for instance, runs on a hybrid system: wood for soul, gas for backup, infra-red for precision. It’s efficient, elegant, and unobtrusive. You won’t find humming units or whirring fans. Just quiet, deliberate warmth that respects the house and your comfort equally.
Heating with Imagination (and Without Regret)
In a time when complexity is sold as innovation, there’s something wonderfully satisfying about a setup that works because it’s simple, not despite it. Historical homes don’t need saving. They need understanding.
So don’t fear the old walls. They’ve stood for centuries, weathered wars, seen fashions come and go. They’ll handle winter just fine, as long as you don’t try to turn them into something they’re not.
And if you need a little extra warmth? A well-placed panel, an extra log on the fire, and a cup of something hot usually does the trick.
What are your experiences with heating older homes? I would love to hear how you’ve made your house a warm home.
written by Helen M. Krauss