Exploring Options For Adding HVAC To An Old Home
Posted on: 8 November 2017
Share
Are you planning to retrofit an old house with a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system (HVAC)? Adding an HVAC system to an existing house is an expensive thing and you should do it right the first time. You should start by evaluating the viable options, such as these three:
Install the Duct Work
The duct work is the channel structure through which air circulates throughout the house. There are return air ducts that channel stale air back for conditioning as well as supply air ducts that supply the various rooms with conditioned or heated air.
If your house doesn't have air ducts and you need to install them, prepare to spend thousands of dollars on the installation. The cost of installation ranges from $5,000 to $9,000 for an average house. A house with a complex layout is a fitting example of a challenging house. The main advantage of this system is that it is suitable for cooling the entire house. Unfortunately, it is both noisy and expensive.
Install a Ductless HVAC
If you don't want to go through the hustle of installing duct work, then you can install a ductless HVAC. A ductless system is also suitable if your house's walls are too thin to accommodate duct work. Such a system comprises of an outdoor compressor unit and an indoor wall unit; each room that needs cooling has to have its own indoor unit. The cost of installation generally ranges from $2,900 to $3,900.
Ductless systems tend to be more efficient than those that rely on ducts. Unfortunately, ductless systems are not very suitable for large rooms; the indoor units can't push air too far into the room.
Install a High-Velocity System
The above are not the only options for you if you want to install an HVAC to your home; another viable option is to install a high-velocity system. A high-velocity HVAC system also uses duct work, but the ducts are smaller and more flexible than the conventional ducts. This means the duct work can be installed in smaller spaces where conventional systems cannot fit. The air is then forced through the ducts, and this is what gives the system its name.
Installing a high-velocity system enables you to enjoy the advantages of a duct system without installing the actual conventional duct systems. Unfortunately, these systems tend to be very expensive.
The type and construction of your house may determine the cost and suitability of installing each of these options. Talk to an HVAC technician like those at Alabama Climate Control to help you evaluate the house and determine which option is best for you.