Older homes have their charm. If you purchased a Victorian one, you get to look at all of the architectural marvels and craftsmanship. If you bought your home a few decades ago and you still live there, you likely have plenty of memories – either of your kids growing up there, or from different stages in your life. If you recently purchased an older home with window units, you may be wondering how to move forward with updates. Regardless of the circumstances, one thing remains true across the board – if your home is located in Florida, you need a good air conditioner.
Central Air Conditioning for Older Homes
If your older home doesn’t have a central air conditioning system, you’ll need to schedule an appointment with a technician to visit your home to conduct a heat/gain calculation. This means that the HVAC professional will assess the size of your home, ceiling height, construction materials, insulation, how much heat comes in from windows, as well as how many people live in your home. Based on these factors, they’ll determine the AC size you need to cool your home efficiently.
If your home has an old central air conditioning system, the HVAC technician will also verify whether the existing air ducts will be adequate to install a new system. Generally speaking, if your home was built prior to the 1960s, you’ll need new air ducts. In the alternative, you could install a ductless AC.
What are ductless air conditioners?
Ductless AC systems are also known as mini-split air conditioners. They are a good alternative for people who don’t want to alter the structure of a historical home, or who don’t want the trouble — or don’t have the budget — to install or update their duct system.
Installing mini-split air conditioners also has a few advantages. Since you have to install one in every room, you don’t have to keep the entire house at one temperature – eliminating thermostat wars with family members. You can also control them through remote controls. In addition, if you have several ductless air conditioners running at the same time, the condenser will automatically adjust to provide energy efficiency. In the long run, this could save you money on your monthly energy bills.
They are relatively easy to install, and only require several holes in the wall in the rooms where you’re installing them to hook up the conduits to the compressor unit. Also, they are more energy-efficient than traditional HVAC systems. According to the Department of Energy, about 30% of energy consumption is wasted through air ducts. So, if you have an older home and were concerned about the viability of installing an air conditioner, now you know you have a solid option.
AC Service in Brevard County
At Colman, we can help you with routine maintenance checks as well as troubleshooting air conditioning issues. We also have a 24/7 AC emergency line. Call us if you need assistance ASAP, or to schedule routine HVAC maintenance.
24-HR Emergency Service: (321) 269-4565
