If you are thinking about installing air conditioning in your older home, your options aren’t just limited to noisy window or wall air conditioning units or portable systems that won’t cool the whole house. And it’s not necessary to tear apart walls to install new duct work for a central air conditioning system, either. One option is a high-velocity air conditioning system that uses two-inch, insulated air-supply tubing to deliver chilled air. Another option is a mini-split air conditioning system, sometimes called a ductless air conditioning system, which connects to the outdoor compressor by means of a slender refrigerant and power line. Because nearly 30 percent of a conventional central AC unit’s energy escapes through ducts, these units may also be more energy efficient and, therefore, less expensive to run. The increased cost of installing duct work in an older home offsets the more expensive purchase price of mini-split and high velocity air conditioning systems.

This article explores both options, along with other considerations for installing an air conditioning unit in an older home. High Velocity Air Conditioning System High Velocity air conditioning uses aspiration, or a strong burst of air, to circulate cooled air through a warm room. A system with a high aspiration ratio offers more cooling capabilities with lower power costs. The insulated tubing that carries air through the house fits into small spaces between wall joists and under the floor, meaning homeowners won’t have to mar large areas of existing plaster ceilings, wood floors, or even sheet rock and paneling. how much does it cost to run a ac unitIn a house with a lot of bends and corners, the tubing is much easier to install than heavy metal duct work. home ac repair questionsAn HV air conditioner only requires one return vent, again minimizing the amount of cutting required. how to turn an ac unit on

This helps preserve the look of an older home while also keeping installation costs down. Mini Split Air Conditioning System A true “ductless” system, a mini split unit is composed of multiple evaporator coil units with their own blower fans in separate boxes. The coils connect to the outside condenser unit by means of a thin conduit. A mini split air conditioning system provides the installer with multiple mounting options, too. The mini units can be: No venting is required for these units. Since each unit features its own thermostat, a mini split air conditioning system is perfect for houses where many rooms remain unoccupied during the day. A mini split system also offers “room to grow.” An installer can supply as many evaporator coil/fan boxes as a homeowner needs and easily add more as time goes on. Installing an air conditioning system in an old home means a lot more than just selecting the right unit. Many older houses have only 110 volt, 60 amp electrical capabilities.

Central AC units, even ductless systems, require a dedicated 230 volt circuit, often with 20 to 50 amps of power. Speak to an electrician prior to calling in an HVAC contractor to make sure your home meets the energy requirements for installing a new air conditioning system.The air conditioning unit in your house is one of those things that you may only notice when it stops working. In order to keep from reaching this sort of impasse, or at least making it less likely to happen, you need to perform regular maintenance to make sure the internal parts are clean and in good working condition. The most basic maintenance you can perform is cleaning or replacing your air filter, and here we will cover several ways to do this, depending on the layout of your cooling system. With proper maintenance of your air filter, you will be able to save yourself a considerable amount of money and time spent sweltering in your uncooled home because you need to call in a repair service to fix it. (For window units, skip the following three steps and see the end of the article.)

1. Find out where the air filter is in your residence and remove it. Some may be located behind the main vent that lets out cool air into your house, in which case you may need to pull back a set of fasteners to remove the filter from its housing. This vent is usually located by the thermostat. In other cases, the filter may be located in a slot in your furnace. Before removing the filter, make sure to turn the unit off for safety's sake. Furnace units that use larger media filters will have them behind a filter cap, a metal or plastic housing that can snap off by hand. Once you have found the filter, making sure no air is going to pass through the system while you work, remove it. 2. Identify your filter type. For all but the window unit, you will need to determine the type of filter and its dimensions before you buy a replacement. A fiberglass filter resembles a window screen with a larger frame. This is an older type of filter and needs to be replaced at least once a month.

A pleated filter is rectangular and about an inch wide. It should be replaced at least every 90 days, but HVAC experts recommend 45 days. A media filter resembles a pleated filter, but is about four times as wide. It should be replaced every 6 to 8 months, but in some cases can last up to a year. 3. Install the filter. Once you have the correct unit for your air conditioner, slide it into place. There should be an arrow telling you which side to put it in first, and it is important that you follow this as the filters are designed to work this way. Put the filter cap back on or refasten the grate. It is now safe to have air flowing again. For window units, the filter will be found directly behind the place where the cool air comes out. Window air filters only need to be replaced about once a year, but they should be cleaned monthly, depending on how often you use the air conditioner. Turn off the unit and locate the filter. Take it outside and gently but firmly knock it against a flat surface, which should release a good deal of collected dust.