Older homes can be beautiful. They have a historic charm and character that you can’t find in newer builds. Unfortunately, they also come with a lot of ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï difficulties.
Old houses are notoriously challenging to heat and cool as they were not built with the same heating and cooling standards as today. In fact, if your home is 50 years old or older, chances are you’re paying at least 25 percent more in energy costs than a comparably sized new home.
But there are impactful steps that homeowners can take to maximize the functionality of their ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï systems in older homes.
1) Consider a Ductless Mini-Split
Retrofitting a forced-air system into an old home is a huge job that requires installers to cut large holes in your walls and ceilings to run the ducts. This is a large-scale renovation that requires ducts to be installed in each room and walls and can end up taking up closet and other space in your home.
Instead, consider a ductless mini-split. These ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï systems a much easier to install as they do not require ducts. A mini-split system has an outdoor “compressor” and an indoor “evaporator.” Installing a mini-split system usually only requires a small hole to link the cable, tubing, and drain line between the two units. These units also have individual zoning, meaning each indoor unit can have its own thermostat.
The only con is that although conveniently placed in each room for comfort, the mini-split system is not the most attractive. A unit is installed on the upper-wall of a room, making for a slight eye-sore in some cases.
That said, for homeowners in older Westchester communities where preserving architectural character is a priority, a less visible unit placement is a far more acceptable trade-off than opening up walls and ceilings. In historic villages like Irvington, NY, where original moldings, plaster walls, and period-accurate finishes define the value of a home, avoiding invasive ductwork often isn’t just a preference. It’s a practical requirement.
2) Get Insulated
Well-insulated homes allow for proper heating and protect against outdoor temperature fluctuations. Old homes, though, are very rarely well-insulated. No matter how efficient your home ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï system is, poor insulation can leave your home feeling drafty and lead to high energy bills.
Fill your attic with to prevent the heat your furnace produces from disappearing up through the roof. If the around your doors and windows is badly worn when winter rolls around, replace it to eliminate drafts. You may also want to consider investing in professional insulation to save you money in the long run.
3) Keep up with routine maintenance
Preventative maintenance is key to a healthy ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï system, and a comfortable, happy indoor environment. This is particularly important for older homes that may have older ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï systems. Regular servicing can spot big problems while they are still small – it’s easier to repair a small water leak in a unit than a flood on the floor of your home or office from a plugged condensate line or cracked overflow pan. An ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï unit running at peak efficiency can also save you hundreds each year in gas and electricity bills.
Pro tip: keep a log of when your ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï unit was last serviced, and include notes on what work was performed. Being familiar with your unit’s history can better prepare you to identify future problems and assist your service technician in quickly diagnosing likely areas of trouble.
For older homes specifically, maintenance intervals should be shorter than the standard recommendation. A system working harder to compensate for poor insulation, leaky ductwork, or an undersized original installation accumulates wear faster than one in a well-sealed modern build. If your home predates 1980 and hasn’t had an ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï inspection in the last two years, that’s the logical starting point.
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ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï has been serving Westchester County homeowners since 1981, including the older homes and historic residences that define communities like Irvington, Hastings-on-Hudson, and Tarrytown. If your home is showing signs of ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï strain, from uneven temperatures to rising energy bills, our licensed and insured technicians can assess your system and walk you through the options that make sense for your home’s age and layout. Call us at (914) 359-3479 or request a free quote online.
