Bozeman, Montana, is experiencing a surge in demand for custom hydronic heating in historic homes, driven by its growing affluent population. The goal is to blend vintage charm with modern comfort, as seen in the renovation of a 125-year-old house.
The renovation involved gutting the house, adding insulation, and installing advanced radiant and snowmelt systems. Dual ALTA condensing boilers with high turndown ratios ensure efficient operation at high elevations.
Nathan Bailey, owner of Bailey’s Plumbing and Heating, was tasked with handling the mechanical scope of the project. The customer wanted to pair the home’s turn-of-the-century architecture with modern comfort and performance.
Headed into the project, all trades involved knew that every element of the home was to be custom. The timeline reflected this, with no definitive completion date given. Bailey technicians soon encountered challenges they’d never experienced before, including live knob-and-tube wiring running through the rafters.
The house was gutted to the studs, and the team found large pieces of bone mortared between the foundation stones. Hand-painted tile came from Italy, and Water Monopoly brand plumbing fixtures were imported from the UK.
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Bailey worked with partners to ensure the most current products and design met the scale of the project.
The heating system design was dictated by architecture and aesthetics, approached differently from space to space. Staple-up radiant with heat transfer plates was used on the third floor, while the first and second floors were primarily served by filigree-covered cast-iron radiators imported from England.
The system is controlled using outdoor reset, with a maximum supply water temperature of 125°F for a central Montana design day.
Outside, two independent snowmelt zones keep the property clear, covering the rear walkway to a detached garage and the front walk, city sidewalk, and curb.
The snowmelt system can be configured to operate in various ways, but the team leaves the loops cold until the sensor detects moisture at temperatures below 36°F. At that point, the boilers fire to send heat to the plate-and-frame heat exchanger isolating the outdoor zones from the rest of the system.
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A Honeywell RedLINK system was installed to provide remote access and eliminate thermostats from the living space. Wireless sensors are hidden throughout the rooms, tied back to modules in the mechanical room. People with access to the system can control it remotely via their phones.
The mechanical room is meticulously piped, shared by two ALTA condensing boilers, a 120-gallon indirect tank, and a humorous-yet-functional piece of Bozeman memorabilia – a stainless-steel beer keg urinal.
The homeowners were patient, knowing that prioritizing aesthetics over technology requires time. This project is an example of what’s happening in Bozeman, where people are spending serious money to upgrade old houses without sacrificing their original character.
Hydronic systems can accommodate renovations like this, offering quiet, comfortable, efficient, and invisible solutions. The team’s experience and attention to detail made this project a success, and it serves as a showcase for radiant heating, snowmelt, and mechanical artistry in Bozeman’s high-end custom home market.
It is a success.
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