AC Systems Ideal For Older Homes

Air conditioning is somewhat of a newer invention. And even after it was invented, it took a few more decades for it to become popular. As such, if you live in an older home, there is a good chance that the home was not designed with air conditioning in mind. Does that mean you can't have air conditioning? Not at all! A standard, ducted forced air system may not work very well, but there are several other types of AC systems that should.

Variable Refrigerant Flow Systems

Most AC systems work by cooling down the air and then circulating that air through the home. But variable refrigerant flow systems, or VRF systems, are different. They circulate actual refrigerant throughout the home. There's one central unit, plus several smaller units placed throughout the home. These units are connected by refrigerant lines, which are quite thin. The refrigerant flows through the lines, and when it reaches the units, it cools the air within them. That air is then blown out into the home directly from the unit. These systems work well in smaller homes, but they can be complex and expensive to install in larger homes. Luckily, a lot of older homes are on the smaller side.

Ductless Mini Splits

Ductless mini split air conditioners are probably the most common, widely available solution for old homes. These systems have one big outdoor unit. They also have several indoor units, which are mounted to the walls. Usually, the units are mounted far up on the wall where they are out of the way. You can control each ductless unit separately, meaning you can keep different zones of your house at different temperatures. The only real drawback of these units is that the wall units are highly visible and take up a lot of space.

High-Velocity Systems

High-velocity systems are the most similar to standard, ducted AC units. There is an outdoor evaporator coil, an indoor compressor, and a series of vents that blow out cold air. However, the tubes connecting these vents to the AC unit are very thin. They're not big, cumbersome ducts. The air blows very quickly through these tubes. They can be run behind walls without doing any major construction or demolition. High-velocity systems can be pretty expensive, but they are efficient and do a great job of cooling homes.

AC systems for older homes come in many forms. Consider the options above, and talk to your HVAC systems contractor to learn more.