The temperature is warming up (finally, right?), and it’s time for your A/C system to kick into high gear. But what if you have an older home? What are your A/C options? Here are some ways to keep your older house cool.
No Central Air?
Chances are, if you own an older home or know someone who does, you’re already aware that central air is not a given. It makes sense considering that central air wasn’t an option many decades ago. So what are your options today?
Install a Ductless Mini-Split System
If you don’t have ductwork, then a ductless mini-split system is a good way to get air flowing in each room. Speaking of ductwork, installing it would be optimal, but not all old houses have an attic to house it in!
Calculate Cooling Load
It isn’t just as simple as slapping a mini-split system up in each room. You need a trained professional to calculate the heat and cooling load of each room.
What is cooling load? It’s the amount of cool energy you have to add to the room to get the temperature you want. This is calculated in “British thermal units,” abbreviated BTUs, and all that really means is, “How much cooling energy does it take to lower the temperature of water by a degree?”
What you really need to know is that this amount is calculated based on the dimensions of your room or home, and that, on average, for every 400 square feet you are trying to cool, you will need a system that has a capacity of 10,000 BTUs per hour. So if a heating and cooling company is trying to sell you a system that seems either unnecessarily high-capacity or not powerful enough, that’s when you need to start investigating and shop around.
Ensure Your Home’s Historic Charm
Last but not least, older homes are loved for their beauty, uniqueness, and charm! So while we don’t want to be super-hot in the summer, we also don’t want the HVAC system to take away from the beauty or the historic look of the home.
One aspect you might be concerned about is refrigeration lines down the siding of your home. So you’ll want your pro to demonstrate how the finished product is going to look on the outside of your home, and ensuring it won’t be an eyesore!
Here at Weather Master Heating & Air Conditioning, we have a long and comprehensive checklist that we go over with the customer before quoting a price for cooling their older home.