There is something special about living in an old home. For one thing, the house’s structure itself looks classic and elegant. It holds a lot of memories and evokes a sense of nostalgia. Families who are living in old homes consider them to be treasures.
However, old homes need to be fixed or renovated from time to time, without removing the integrity of their original features. They need to be upgraded for aesthetic and functional reasons. This is to ensure that old homes maintain their aesthetic beauty, they don’t pose potential hazards, and they remain in good working order for as long as possible.
When renovating or upgrading an old home, one major concern is how to install a central air conditioning system in it. This is because most old homes have plaster walls, which complicates matters. That said, it’s possible to install a central AC system in an old home; you just have to go about it carefully.
In the next section, we’ll go over the process of installing a central air conditioning system in an old home and determine how much it might cost to do so.
Putting Central Air in your Old House
The main question is: can you actually put central air in an old house? The answer is yes, but there are a few things you need to consider. First, you should check whether your house has ducts or not. If it doesn’t, the next thing you should think about is whether you want to have ducts installed or not. Why? Because pre-existing heating ducts at your old home can be repurposed and used as air conditioning ducts with minimal cost and effort. But if your old home doesn’t have any ductwork, you can have ducts installed or opt for a zone-based ductless cooling system.
● Adding Ducts: Adding ducts can be quite a tedious process. As mentioned, many old homes have plaster walls, so this can complicate the installation process and require major cleaning after. Ducts can be added to your old home by installing the vents for the system in closets or ceilings, and running ducts accordingly.
● Can’t Add Ducts: Now, if you can’t or don’t want to add ducts, you can opt for a ductless cooling system instead. This system is said to be more efficient since it will divide your home into separate zones, each with its own cooling unit. However, there are some drawbacks to this. First, it can be quite expensive to install a ductless cooling system. Second, it can compromise the aesthetic beauty of your old home since the cooling units will be installed on exterior-facing walls.
Installation Cost of Central Air
Now, the question is: how much does it cost to install a central air conditioning system in an old home? Based on research, the standard market price ranges between $3,000 to $15,000. However, the actual cost depends on when you want the system installed, the area you live in, and the complexity of the installation.
● Time or season of installation – In most cases, air conditioning installation is done in summer. Everyone wants to be cool and dry when this season begins. However, having a central AC system installed in your old home at this time may cost a lot. Obviously, it will be cheaper to install such a system in winter. Having a central AC system installed in your old home in winder can bring down the price by as much as 20 percent.
● Size of the cooling unit – Next to consider is the size of the cooling unit. Of course, the larger your old home is, the larger the cooling unit you’ll need, and the more expensive the whole process will be. Other factors in relation to the size of the cooling unit include the number of windows in your old home, its position in relation to the sun, and how well insulated it is.
● Labor and material costs – Finally, the labor and materials needed will contribute to the overall cost of an air conditioning installation. Of course, your installation will be cheaper if you don’t hire many people to install your central AC system or if you don’t buy plenty of materials. The cost will also be affected by whether you’re repurposing old ductwork or installing new ducts. You may also need to take into consideration any challenges your team will encounter along the way due to your old home’s layout or any other problems.