Here in Henderson, we have some of the most beautiful historic homes in all of Kentucky. Ohio and Indiana also have beautiful historic homes in the tri-state area, with homes that are full of history. Cooling a home built before the 1970s, though, is often a challenge. Installing ductwork and reaching modern energy efficiency standards isn’t always an option for an older home.
The good news is that there are options for cooling a historic home. Let’s take a look at six of those options.
1. Install Ceiling Fans
You can remain cool in a room that has a ceiling fan. That means you’ll have to install a fan in different rooms. Indeed, a ceiling fan doesn’t reduce the temperature like an air conditioner does, but it can make the room feel a few degrees cooler. A room that’s a few degrees cooler on a hot Kentucky day is better than a room with no cooling at all. Set the fan to spin counterclockwise, and it will create a downward breeze that cools your skin.
2. Go Ductless With a Mini-Split System
Homes built before the 1960s weren’t usually built with ductwork. Perhaps some were, but ductwork wasn’t all that common before the 1970s. Even then, some homes were still built without ductwork. If you have a historic home, you might want to keep it as original as possible and not worry about installing ductwork. In that case, a ductless mini-split system is worth considering.
As the name suggests, a ductless system doesn’t need ductwork. The cooling system consists of an indoor air-handling unit and an outdoor compressor. Instead of using ductwork, the indoor unit connects to the outdoor unit through refrigerant lines. You’ll have to install an indoor unit in each room you want to cool, but they all connect to the outdoor unit in the same manner. If your home is small, you can have one unit that will cool an entire floor.
3. Consider Zone Control
Older homes often have unique layouts, high ceilings, and areas that heat or cool unevenly. A zoning system allows customized temperature control in different parts of the house, eliminating hot and cold spots.
Because historic homes weren’t built with modern ductwork in mind, traditional cooling methods can lead to wasted energy. With zone control, you can direct airflow only where it’s needed, reducing strain on your system and lowering energy costs. It also minimizes the need for extensive modifications to the home’s structure. By upgrading to zone control, you get better temperature management, improved energy efficiency, and enhanced comfort—all without compromising the character of your historic home.
4. Central Air Conditioning
Although you have several other options, you might want to face the challenge of installing central air conditioning in your historic home. If you have the space and the finances, then you can give your historic home a modern cooling system. You’ll need ductwork and an area for the indoor unit, which might require more space than you’re willing to give. But if you’re willing to make the sacrifice, you’ll likely appreciate having cooling that works for the entire home.
6. High-Velocity System
Perhaps you’re willing to install a modern cooling system but realize there’s not much space in your historic home. You might want to consider a high-velocity HVAC system, which requires less space than a traditional HVAC system. This system uses mini-ducts, which need less space than traditional ductwork. The system also uses smaller vents, which are less noticeable and make it easier to maintain the style of a historic home. And even better, you get heating in addition to cooling.
Reliable Cooling for Your Historic Home
Your historic Henderson home is worth preserving, but you also want a comfortable place to live. You can trust the professional HVAC technicians from OnTIME Service to provide expert cooling services for your historic home. Contact us today so we can discuss the best cooling options for your situation.
