September 11, 2019

Many older homes in Las Vegas withal have heating and cooling systems like window air conditioners and boilers and radiators. While many of these old systems have faithfully endured, they have long-surpassed their life expectancy and are nether strain. It's easier than yous recall to install ductwork in your older home.

And it'southward worth because an upgrade to a new central air conditioning system. Engineering science has improved over the years. Mod HVAC systems are less noisy, more energy-efficient and offer more than convenience with products like smart thermostats.

Adding central air workout and ductwork is a big investment to make in your home. You lot may be hesitant to replace your old system because of the cost involved or concerns over how information technology will touch an older home. Yet, when done properly, retrofitting an older abode with a central air system pays dividends in improved comfort levels. It volition improve your air flow. And they're more energy-efficient. So they will help to cut costs on your electric bill.

Here are the steps involved in adding a central ac organization plus ductwork to an older domicile.

Stride 1: Choose The Right Contractor To Install The Ductwork

You lot should always choose an HVAC contractor advisedly. Cull a professional with the appropriate HVAC equipment to get the job done smoothly. More so, if you don't want an HVAC installation to damage or change the character of an older dwelling house. Unfortunately, there are a lot of HVAC contractors in Las Vegas who are poorly qualified. Some are unscrupulous and volition cut corners to increment their profit on a job. That's why it's important to practise some research before hiring a contractor.

Contractors in Nevada must be state-licensed. Always choose a licensed contractor that can testify they employ trained HVAC technicians. Next, cheque that they offer a warranty on equipment and parts and a guarantee on labor. This covers whatever potential problems that may arise afterwards the installation.

Lastly, hire a contractor that knows what city building permits to utilize for if major alterations are required to replace old window ACs, boilers, and radiators with a centralized heating and cooling system. HVAC contractors must comply with city edifice regulations, especially if any electrical work is existence done.

Step 2: Abode Evaluation and Load Calculation

Once you've selected the contractor, they will do a home evaluation. The contractor will examine the house'southward structure to decide the specifics of the job.

The contractor volition also assess the home's insulation. Older homes were not congenital as "tightly" as new homes, resulting in drafty window frames and doors. If the home'due south insulation is poor, the cool or warm air generated from your HVAC arrangement will escape to the outside and exterior air volition besides be able to flow in. This results in temperature fluctuations that the HVAC arrangement volition constantly try to compensate for. To prevent this, your contractor may recommend sealing all air leaks before installing the HVAC system. Y'all likewise need regular duct cleaning subsequently installation, too.

A professional contractor volition then acquit a load adding, as well called a Manual J. adding. This is the industry standard to define the heating and cooling needs of the building then that the contractor tin install the right size HVAC unit. Units that are too big or likewise small won't rut and absurd the house properly. A load adding takes into business relationship the abode's square footage, how high the ceilings are, the number of windows, and how much lord's day the firm gets. The technician tin besides tell where flexible duct would work better than sheet metallic ducts. This is an important footstep. So make sure that the contractor installs the correct size for the best efficiency. Yous desire a unit that tin cover your heating and air conditioning needs.

Step 3: Installing New Ductwork

Some older homes do not have a organisation of ducts to evangelize conditioned air. This means an HVAC contractor will have to install new ductwork. Homes with existing ducts that are old and leaky will also benefit from ductwork replacement.

The biggest claiming in installing new ductwork is oftentimes space. Older homes were non designed to house bulky central air systems. Traditional split arrangement HVAC systems consist of an outdoor condenser unit, an indoor evaporator unit, and duct system that delivers air through the house. In virtually cases, the technician will put the indoor unit of measurement in the attic or basement. And then the ductwork runs from the unit to the rest of the business firm.

If your house has enough infinite, information technology volition exist fairly easy for your contractor to install an Air-conditioning unit and add together the ductwork. Just gear up for the disruptions, though. Installing a new duct system is labor-intensive and usually adds an extra ii-three days to the job. If you have a ii-story home, the installation will take longer.

Step 4: Upgrading the Electric System

Depending on how old the home'south electrical organization is, information technology may be necessary to redo the wiring when replacing a heating and cooling system. If the electric wiring from a mid-century dwelling house has not been upgraded, it will not be able to handle the higher load that a new HVAC organisation will place on it.

Your HVAC contractor should check the electrical system before starting work on installing a new HVAC system. This is an extra step in the process that pushes up the cost and extends the elapsing of the project. However, in some cases, it is unavoidable when switching over from an old heating and cooling system to a modern one, and hither's why.

The wiring in older homes can only cope with 60-100 amps of power. Today, with so many modern appliances and electronic devices like laptops, smartphones, and tablets all plugged into electric outlets, 60 amps is no longer sufficient. Add to that a new high-efficiency HVAC system and you won't finish having tripped circuits breakers and electrical shorts. Overloading the electric circuit is chancy. If your home still has aluminum wiring, this presents even more of a danger. Aluminum wiring easily overheats and can spark a fire. Information technology's time to supervene upon information technology with copper wire that tin meliorate withstand oestrus.

Step 5: Weighing Up The Cost of Installing Central Air-conditioning

Cost is ane of the biggest factors homeowners take into consideration when installing a cardinal air conditioner in an older dwelling house. If your home already has ductwork, installation is easier and will cost less. If your home needs this done, the cost can double.

With the ductwork in place, installing a new AC system in an sometime house volition cost less. However, the cost can be higher depending on the make, size of the unit, and the SEER rating. The SEER rating tells you how energy efficient the arrangement is. The higher the rating, the higher-priced the unit volition exist. Withal, you will reap the boosted cost over time with the money you save on lower energy bills. If you lot want additional systems fitted, similar a humidifier or air purifier, the cost goes up even more.

Accept your time when selecting the type of unit you want. While toll is a big consideration, at present is the all-time time to consider other factors such every bit energy efficiency, boosted systems that tin improve your domicile's indoor air quality, and products that offer convenience, such every bit a smart thermostat. Choosing a skilful quality HVAC unit is worth the boosted cost if it offers a proficient return on investment in terms of overall condolement and cleaner air. You just need to go the air ducts cleaned regularly to maintain them.

Other Things To Consider When Adding Ductwork to an Older Domicile

Updating your older home with a mod key air workout system ways better condolement and tin can heighten the value of your Las Vegas home. However, at that place are ii more things to consider before tackling a renovation like this.

Retaining an Older Domicile'southward Character

If you lot similar the original features of an older home in Las Vegas, y'all may have concerns nigh the damage installation work can practise to certain features of the domicile. High ceilings, crown moldings, pillars, wood trims, and hardwood floors are features of the domicile yous desire to retain. Well-preserved homes often fetch tiptop dollar in the property market.

Installing ductwork often means lowering the ceilings or creating boxed corners to hibernate ducts. The culling is to install the heating and cooling system under the floor. And then you will cut holes in the floor for the vents.

Discuss your concerns with the HVAC contractor who can propose you on the best way to install a central air conditioner without detracting from the dwelling'south character. In a single-story home with an attic, the ducts laid in the attic tin can easily connect with the registers in each room. In two-story homes, the best style to feed ductwork from the attic to the lower level is to run ducts through the closets on the second floor. You may lose some closet space simply it is the least intrusive mode to add ductwork to a abode.

What To Do If Your Home Has No Space For a Separate System Unit

Split system units are an constructive way to rut and cool a house, particularly larger homes. If, however, there is no basement or attic space to install the indoor unit of measurement, you could install a packaged HVAC system on the roof. Rooftop installations are common in Las Vegas. They price a bit more but it's easy to install. But put, they require less work, you lot tin install them quickly.

If you don't want to spend extra money on a rooftop installation, then you can opt for a different type of HVAC organisation, similar a ductless mini-split up system. They are easier to install than a traditional ducted organization. Ductless systems, equally the name suggests, practise not apply ducts to deliver air. This makes them the ideal option for older homes. Your abode won't need any major modifications to arrange for ductwork.

Another benefit of a ductless organisation is zoning. With a ductless organisation, you volition install air handlers in different areas of the home. So you tin can individually control each one. This ways that different members of the household tin can estrus or cool the rooms they are using according to their temperature preference.

Another space-saving option is a estrus pump separate organization. They are similar to the traditional split system with an outdoor unit and indoor air handler. A estrus pump uses a unmarried unit of measurement to rut and cool a dwelling house, eliminating the need to find space for a furnace.

Ready to Upgrade Your Home'due south HVAC System?

Upgrading the heating and cooling arrangement of an older home may seem daunting. Granted, the process is a fiddling more than complicated than homes that already have the basic in identify for a new central air unit. However, the right contractor will become the chore done smoothly. All with minimal disruption or damage to your home.

Don't go through another summer with an quondam clunky air conditioner. For all residential HVAC replacements to new or old homes in Las Vegas, phone call The Cooling Visitor at (702) 567-0707.

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