Will a Central HVAC Unit Work Well in an Older House?

Is a central HVAC system a good match for an older house? Central heating did not generally appear in new-home construction until the 1950s, and central air conditioning wasn’t common until the mid-1960s. Homes older than that may be lacking a central HVAC system and relying on individual heaters and/or window AC units. To enhance convenience and efficiency in an older home, adding a central HVAC system may provide comprehensive heated and cooled air circulation to all living spaces.

However, several factors must be considered:

• Installing full-size ductwork to accommodate a central system in a structure where it has never been installed before can be a significant remodeling project.
• Existing furnace ductwork is usually not large enough nor ideally routed to be utilized with air conditioning.
• An older home’s standard 110-volt electrical system may need to be upgraded to a 230-volt system to accommodate components such as the central AC compressor.

Is a central HVAC system doable and/or are there other suitable alternatives? Here are some options to consider:

• Mini-ducts. These flexible, round, smaller-diameter ducts can be more easily adapted to provide central air to an existing structure than standard, full-size rectangular ductwork. Mini-ducts can be threaded through ceiling spaces and wall cavities without the major remodeling typically necessary with standard ducts. To compensate for reduced airflow through the smaller ducts, a higher-velocity air handler will be required.
• Ductless mini-split heat pumps. These units utilize low-profile, wall-mounted air handlers to provide both cooled and heated air to individual rooms or small spaces. The units are connected to a downsized outdoor heat pump that supplies cool air in summer and heat in winter. Only a narrow, three-inch opening in an exterior wall is required to install the conduit that circulates refrigerant between the indoor air handler and the outdoor unit. A single outdoor unit can accommodate multiple indoor air handlers, and temperatures in individual spaces is controlled by separate dedicated thermostats.

For more about the pros and cons of installing central AC in an older home, contact the professionals at Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning.