Make Smart Home Choices: HVAC Options for Old Houses

Old houses have considerable appeal for some homeowners. Maybe the price is right and you’re looking for a fixer upper, or else you’ve just fallen in love with the charm of a vintage home. Whatever the inspiration for your old home investment, you’ll need a reliable, efficient HVAC system to stay comfortable in Florida weather year-round. Here are some of the HVAC options for old houses.

Existing Ductwork

Perhaps the old house had an HVAC system, but the compressor died and just sits there useless, or was scavenged for copper. You will have to make some assessments as to whether it’s worth replacing. If the old house has old ductwork, it’s worth getting it assessed by your HVAC consultant. It may need to be replaced if it’s worn out, designed poorly, or has insufficient capacity to accommodate the volume of air produced by a new HVAC system.

No Ductwork

Perhaps your old house was built before ductwork was common. It could present some challenges to installing ductwork. If there’s no room in the attic or basement, some contractors may suggest installing ducts in a dropped ceiling, a chase, a type of soffit, or in open-web floor trusses. Have your specific home’s needs addressed by a professional HVAC contractor.

High-Velocity HVAC System

These systems use mini-ducts, which at 3 inches in diameter offer greater versatility in installations. You can run them through walls and over ceilings. They require small vents, so offer minimal disruption to the interior design.

Ductless Mini Splits

Ductless mini splits are a type of heat pump that, as the name suggests, do not need ducts to distribute conditioned air. They consist of an outdoor condenser connected to an indoor air handler. Some models can accommodate as many as four air handlers, which can be situated in strategic zones throughout the home.

Mini splits offer a clean, efficient mode of heating and cooling a home. The air handlers are compact and can be mounted in ways that make them unobtrusive.

Heat pump technology is considered a good choice for warmer climates such as ours.

For more on HVAC options for old houses, contact NisAir Air Conditioning and Heating.