Saturday, March 30, 2013

Forced Air HVAC Systems and Older Homes


Although a forced air HVAC system has long been a staple of modern construction practices, a significant number of older homes are without a forced air HVAC system. In some cases, older homes lack forced air as a matter of negligence. In inner cities, once grand homes have sometimes been chopped up into gritty apartments after an area of town went from riches to rags. But in other cases, well cared for older homes lack forced air systems because their owners are dedicated to preserving their homes' historical splendor. If you own an older home that lacks forced air and you prefer to keep it that way rather than tarnish its historical integrity, your position is understandable. But it's also worth considering the benefits that can come with retrofitting an older home with a new HVAC system, and can come without compromising your home's original aesthetic.

The Aesthetic and the Ugly

Even in new homes, HVAC elements are often implemented in such a way that they look like a necessary evil of modern living. Dull air vents peer up from floors and out from walls, basement ceilings have clinical ductwork that runs their expanse and antiseptic air vents cling to walls. So, why should you introduce these elements into a beautiful home that was built in a time when home builders cared more about quality than quantity? You shouldn't, and you don't have to; at least, not when you consult with a heating and cooling company that has experience retrofitting older homes with forced air systems. Far from having to implement unsightly air grates, ductwork and thermostats, the right HVAC company also provide you with aesthetic solutions the preserve the look of your home. For example, air vents can be placed in inconspicuous locations, thermostats can be placed in closets and you can also opt for ductless air delivery.

Cost Effectiveness

While you might be showing your home love by not submitting it to modern heating and cooling installations, it won't return that love in the summer when you have to cool it with window units. Instead, you'll be paying electric bills that are far higher than you would if you implemented forced air components. Despite the historical beauty of older homes, most of them were designed at time when concerns about energy efficiency were in the far off future, meaning that their windows and doors were designed to let in light and keep out the roughest aspects of the elements, and that's it. Therefore, installing an highly energy efficient central air conditioning system can allow you to keep your beautiful doors and windows and still not pay excessive electric bills. In addition, implementing a forced air system that respects your home's aesthetics can actually improve its aesthetics, as it allows you to do away with unsightly window units.

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