Installing Central Air in an Older Home: How to Tackle Common Challenges

Experienced HVAC contractors understand that installing central air in an older home presents unique challenges. Homeowners often dream of the comfort and efficiency that central air conditioning provides, but many older homes weren’t built with modern HVAC systems in mind. This means we need to navigate various obstacles to ensure a successful and seamless installation with the help of expert HVAC contractors. Let’s explore the primary challenges experts face when installing central air in older homes and how they address these issues to provide you with the best possible cooling solutions. Also Read: Key Factors Affecting The Cost Of Central Air Conditioner Installation

Assessing The Existing Structure

The first step in any central air installation project in an older home is a thorough assessment of the existing structure. Older homes often come with architectural quirks and outdated infrastructure that can complicate the installation process. Limited Space For Ductwork: One of the most significant challenges is the limited space for ductwork. Many older homes were designed without central air conditioning in mind, resulting in tight spaces that make it difficult to install the necessary ducts. To overcome this, they often have to get creative with the duct placement, sometimes opting for high-velocity mini-duct systems that require less space. Electrical System Upgrades: Another common issue is the outdated electrical system. Older homes may not have the capacity to handle the power demands of a modern central air conditioning unit. This often necessitates an upgrade to the electrical system, which can involve significant rewiring. HVAC contractors work closely with licensed electricians to ensure that the home’s electrical system can support the new air conditioning system.

Preserving Historical Integrity

For many homeowners, preserving the historical integrity of their older homes is a top priority. This means that any installation work must be done with great care to avoid damaging the home’s unique architectural features. Discreet Ductwork Installation: Companies often employ methods to hide ductwork within walls, floors, or ceilings to maintain the aesthetic appeal of the home. High-velocity mini-duct systems are particularly useful in this regard, as their smaller size makes them less intrusive. Choosing The Right Unit: Selecting the right air conditioning unit is crucial. In some cases, a traditional central air system may not be the best fit. Instead, they might recommend a ductless mini-split system, which provides cooling without the need for extensive ductwork. These systems are highly efficient and can be installed with minimal disruption to the home’s structure.

Addressing Insulation Issues

Many older homes were built before modern insulation standards were established, which can lead to significant energy loss and reduced efficiency for new air conditioning systems. Upgrading Insulation: Before installing a new central air system, it’s essential to evaluate and upgrade the home’s insulation. Proper insulation helps keep the cool air inside during the summer and the warm air inside during the winter, reducing energy consumption and improving overall comfort. This might involve adding insulation to attics, walls, and crawl spaces. Sealing Air Leaks: Alongside insulation, sealing air leaks is crucial. Older homes often have gaps and cracks around windows, doors, and other areas that allow air to escape. Sealing these leaks with caulk or weatherstripping can significantly improve the efficiency of the new HVAC system.

Navigating Building Codes And Permits

Installing central air conditioning in an older home also requires navigating local building codes and obtaining the necessary permits. This process can be complicated and time-consuming, especially if the home is located in a historic district with additional regulations. Understanding Local Regulations: HVAC contractors are well-versed in local building codes and regulations, ensuring that all work is completed to code. This includes understanding any specific requirements for older homes or historic properties. Obtaining Permits: We handle the permit application process on behalf of our clients, ensuring that all necessary paperwork is filed correctly and promptly. This helps avoid delays and ensures that the installation project proceeds smoothly.

Ensuring Proper Ventilation

Proper ventilation is critical for the health and safety of any home, but it’s especially important in older homes where ventilation systems may be outdated or inadequate. Improving Airflow: Our team assesses the existing ventilation system and makes necessary improvements to ensure adequate airflow. This might involve adding new vents, installing exhaust fans, or upgrading existing ductwork to improve air circulation. Addressing Moisture Issues: Older homes are often more prone to moisture problems, which can lead to mould and mildew growth. Ensuring proper ventilation helps mitigate these issues by reducing excess humidity and promoting better air quality.

Tailoring Solutions To Each Home

No two older homes are the same, which means that each central air installation project requires a tailored approach. HVAC contractors take the time to understand the specific needs and challenges of each home, developing customized solutions that provide optimal comfort and efficiency. Detailed Consultation: Experts begin with a detailed consultation to assess the home’s unique characteristics and discuss the homeowner’s preferences and concerns. This allows them to develop a comprehensive plan that addresses all potential challenges. Flexible Installation Options: Depending on the home’s layout and the homeowner’s needs, we may recommend different installation options, such as a split-system air conditioner or a zoned cooling system. These options provide flexibility and can often be more suitable for older homes.

Regular Maintenance And Support

Once the central air system is installed, regular maintenance is essential to ensure its long-term performance and efficiency. Older homes can be more susceptible to wear and tear, making routine maintenance even more important. Scheduled Maintenance Plans: HVAC companies offer scheduled maintenance plans to keep the new central air system running smoothly. Regular inspections, filter changes, and system cleanings help prevent issues and extend the life of the system. Ongoing Support: HVAC contractor’s commitment to their clients doesn’t end with the installation. They provide ongoing support and are always available to address any concerns or perform necessary repairs.

About Pro West Heating And Air Conditioning

At Pro West Heating and Air Conditioning, we specialize in providing top-notch HVAC solutions tailored to the unique needs of our clients. With years of experience in the industry, our team of skilled HVAC contractors is dedicated to delivering exceptional service and high-quality installations. Whether you’re dealing with the challenges of installing central air in an older home or looking to upgrade your current system, we have the expertise and knowledge to ensure your home remains comfortable year-round. Contact us today for more information.

Your home’s air ducts function similarly to your lungs. Air ducts distribute warm and cooled air to each room in your home or place of work. They require routine maintenance much like any other part of the HVAC system to sustain optimal performance.

As leading HVAC contractors in Vancouver, we always tell our clients that they should get their air ducts cleaned every three to five years. That maintenance suggestion can be stretched to 6 to 8 years with certain approaches.

To protect the health of your family, it may be necessary to clean your air ducts more often if there has been a buildup of mould and other pollutants. If you’re wondering how often you should clean your air ducts, keep reading this blog post.

Why Air Duct Cleaning Is Necessary

Your family receives fresh air at a certain temperature via the maze-like ducting system concealed within your home. The very first step in sustaining good indoor air quality is to clean and maintain your HVAC system and air ducts.

Your air ducts could get clogged with dust, pollutants, and debris over time. This pollutes the air in your house in addition to lowering the effectiveness of your heating and cooling systems (costing you money). The significance of maintaining and cleaning your air ducts is often overlooked since they are hidden from view.

Also Read: How Often Should I Get My Air Conditioner Serviced?

The Frequency Of Air Duct Cleaning Is Important

Since it depends on several variables and (sometimes) who you ask, there is no one correct response to this question, although generally:

• When you find significant levels of dust, dirt, or mould in your HVAC system, the experts advise thorough air duct cleaning.
• Cleanings should be done more frequently, typically every two years, for households with pets. People who have animal allergies could be severely impacted by pet hair, fur, or dander, and repeated contact might eventually cause allergies to develop.
• If someone in your home has respiratory issues or allergies, you should get your air ducts cleaned.
• If there is moisture or humidity present, mould spores can quickly multiply in your ducting. You should get your ducts cleaned as soon as possible if you see any signs of mould in your vents.

What Should I Look For When Cleaning My Air Ducts?

Let’s find out how you can tell if your air ducts need cleaning.

Dirty Filter Or Duct Wall

You should change your HVAC filters every 3 months to keep contaminants out of the system. While doing so, inspect the filter and run a flashlight down the ductwork. It’s essential to call the professionals if the filter has significantly caught particles or if you can visibly see build-up on the duct wall.

A Stinky Smell Or Visible Mould

Your air ducts are one of the many moist, unreachable areas where mould loves to thrive. If you see visible mould, feel a musky smell in the air, or have symptoms ranging from nasal irritation to coughing, the contaminated ducting should be cleaned. A reliable service provider can remove the mould by disinfecting the area to stop any further development and contribute to its future prevention.

Pest Infestation

The air that is circulated throughout the house might become contaminated by the trash and stink left behind by creepy crawlers who build a home in your ducts. If you detect rodents in or around your ductwork or notice a decrease in your systems efficiency, a thorough cleaning can eliminate pests and keep them from bothering you any longer.

Symptoms Of An Excessive Cold Or Allergy

People who have clean ducts say they are generally healthier. However, if your ducts are indeed unhygienic, they might circulate contaminated air that makes members of your house susceptible to allergies and cold-like symptoms. If there is a build up in the air ducts, dust mites that feed on human waste can live there and trigger allergic and asthmatic symptoms.

About Pro West Heating And Air Conditioning

Pro West is your one-stop shop for all of your heating and cooling needs, including air conditioning, heating, and humidification. Our area of specialization is air conditioning system installation, repair, and maintenance.

Has your HVAC system been acting weird lately? Contact us now to get the best HVAC services.

Do you know what the most dreadful experience is for any homeowner? Finding a dead rat, mouse, or any other rodent rotting in one of the corners of their cherished house. Surely, this scene is not something pleasant to witness. The foul smell that spreads throughout the house when the carcass begins to decay followed by the horror of tracking the source and getting rid of the body is no less than one of Tom Cruise’s famous ‘Mission Impossibles’.

However, the situation becomes a hundred times worse when you realize that the animal is resting in peace in your HVAC ductwork.

In such a situation, you as a homeowner need to ask yourself three important questions:

• Where is the dead body?
• How do you get rid of it?
• What should you do to prevent a similar encounter in the future?

As reputed HVAC contractors in BC, we are here to lend you a reliable helping hand. One thing is clear from the above discussion. As disgusting, annoying, and horrendous (plus any other word that comes to mind) as the task sounds, there is no other way but to find the corpse and get rid of it. Well, the good news is, you will not have to work half as hard as Ethan Hunt if you have us by your side.

Accordingly, we recommend that you immediately request an inspection from a proficient HVAC contractor if you suspect a rodent invasion in your ductwork. But if you are brave enough to take matters into your own hands, then this blog presents to you the steps you should take when there is an animal lying lifeless in your HVAC ductwork.

Steps To Accomplish The ‘Mission Impossible’

It is time to play the role of Ethan Hunt. As a starting point, reconsider the three questions we mentioned earlier. You will realize that the discussion that follows is systematically divided according to these questions:

1. Track The Clues

Honestly speaking, a foul smell may not always indicate a dead animal in your ductwork. Thus, the first step you must take is to find the cause of the smell. You need to follow the scent and find out whether it is really a dead animal. And if it is, where exactly it is. You shouldn’t just rush and open your HVAC ductwork. First, rule out all the other possible areas such as kitchen cabinets, behind the fridge, etc.

During this process, the scent will be your biggest clue. If the smell intensifies when you approach your ductwork, know that the latter is the hot spot.

2. Gather Your Tools

Once you are sure that the smell source is most likely in the ductwork, remove the vent cover and spot the dead body with the help of a torch. At this point, it is imperative to understand that experimentation in the case of something as expensive as an HVAC system is not a very wise decision.

Therefore, if you can easily spot the animal, proceed to gather the necessary tools to get rid of it. But if you can’t see it, leave the matter to a professional.

Some essential items you might require in the former case include:

• Gloves
• Towels
• Garbage bags
• Disinfectants
• Something to drag the animal if is far from reach

3. Get Rid Of The Corpse

This step is perhaps the most awful one. Now that you have located the carcass, you need to get it out of the ductwork. For this, you need to wear rubber gloves and use a towel to pick it up and place it in the garbage bag. If the animal is not within your reach, use something long such as a bent hanger to bring it closer.

Afterward, follow the right animal disposal policies in your area of residence to discard the animal. Then, use a disinfectant to thoroughly clean the area where the carcass was discovered to completely get rid of the remaining foul smell.

4. Seek Out The Invasion Route

The previous step marks the end of the main and the hardest part of the mission. However, it is not yet time to rest. You need to find out how the animal managed to creep into your ductwork unnoticed. Find the loopholes and get them fixed as soon as possible to avoid going through the same horror again.

5. Request An Inspection from The Most Reliable HVAC Contractors In BC

Ethan Hunt would have a hard time accomplishing any mission without Luther Stickell. In your case, your supporting character would be a reliable and professional HVAC contractor. We recommend that you request periodic HVAC inspections to prevent the above and other HVAC problems. If a loophole is discovered in time, it can be fixed before a rodent finds it.

Pro West Heating & Air boasts the widest range of HVAC and related services in BC. From simple HVAC repairs to heat pump maintenance, everything is at our fingertips. Contact us now to learn more.

Winter is a great time to remain cozy in your room and spend most of your time snugly in a blanket, watching Netflix and munching on your favorite snacks. With this, you turn on your heater and shut all doors and windows to keep yourself warm. However, improper ventilation and poor indoor air quality can badly affect your health. Properly maintaining your heating system is necessary for such scenarios. An improperly maintained heating system can provide you the required heat, but will greatly affect the air quality of your house.

All this warming up indoors is good, but it can take a toll on your indoor air quality. You might be spending more hours inside, so imagine how much impact it will have on your health. Winter can further exacerbate problems for people who are sensitive to indoor allergens or have respiratory problems. Therefore, keeping your indoor air quality at a healthy level becomes necessary.

Statistics also show that we spend 90% of our time indoors. So, you must take steps to make sure that you are spending your time in a healthy place. This blog post highlights some ways by which you can improve your indoor air quality.

Get Your Furnace Checked

Most of the air you receive during the winter comes from your furnace. If your furnace is not in proper working condition and its filters are not clean, it will definitely impact your indoor air quality.

Therefore, it is necessary to get your furnace checked by a professional HVAC contractor who can assist you with the problems and make your furnace ready for use. This will alleviate most of your problems. A properly maintained HVAC system prevents dust and debris from entering the environment, hence, you will not breathe them in.

Invest In Air Purifiers

Many people are sensitive to dust and pollen. Their allergies are often triggered in such winter conditions when the weather becomes dry, and humidity levels in the air are low. Indoor allergens can worsen the issue.

In addition to this, if you have pets, the percentage of allergens in the air is even higher. Therefore, it is necessary to look for other ways and invest in a quality air purifier.

Air purifiers are smart devices. Most of them are ionic purifiers that can help capture some of the irritants that may trigger your symptoms. These purifiers help to cut down some of the allergens but not completely. So, it can give you some relief from your allergies.

Invest In Humidifiers

Irritation in skin, nose, lips, throats, and ears is common in the winter season. This is because of the dryness in the air, which is usually a result of constant heating. Dry air can cause skin and eye irritations. Therefore, you must invest in a quality humidifier to reduce such effects.

Humidifiers help to maintain an ideal level of humidity in the air minimizing the symptoms of allergies. They also help in maintaining your immune system which also improves your sleep cycle.

When your indoor air quality is comfortable, you won’t cough or spend sleepless nights. So, if you want to improve your indoor air quality, install a humidifier in your home. Ideally, humidity levels should remain around 40% to 50% all year long.

Keep Your Room Well Ventilated

Ventilation is just as important in winter as keeping your room warm. If you are turning on your heaters, make sure to check for proper ventilation as well. Pollutants like CO2 and VOC are harmful to your health.

Ventilation is also a solution for dangerous pollutants like VOCs and CO2. Effective ventilation helps to get rid of such pollutants by replacing old stale air with fresh air. Poor ventilation can result in health issues and cognitive impairments. Therefore, make sure to maintain an effective ventilation system for better indoor air quality.

About Pro West Heating & Air Conditioning

If you want to repair your HVAC or other similar appliances, Pro West Heating & Air Conditioning is the perfect choice for you. At Pro West, we offer expert services in repairing, installing, and maintaining air conditioning, heating, hydronic, and humidifier systems to our residential and commercial customers in Vancouver and the lower mainland region. Check out our services here, or Contact us today for more information about our services.