Your Old House: Two Issues to Ponder When Enhancing Heating and Cooling in Historic Residences

Energy Saving Indoor Comfort Is Possible in a Unique Home

One of the San Gabriel Valley’s hallmarks is the number of beautiful older homes that dot the landscape, even as new construction goes up all around us. Whether it’s a canyon cabin in Sierra Madre, an older Craftsman home in Pasadena, or a mid-century modern masterpiece in Eagle Rock, the past is present in the unique designs and unusual residences so many Los Angeles folks call home. It’s all pretty wonderful, at least until July.

The long, hot summers here can be brutal. And if you don’t have central air conditioning, that quaint remodeled hunting lodge or historically significant Monterey-style residence can become a hot, sweaty nightmare more afternoons than not all the way into October. Yet who wants to destroy or alter what makes your house so special?

Luckily, you don’t have to. Awarded a historic buildings certification from the Southern California Gas Company, Air-Tro has participated and completed a training program that addresses the unique challenges of improving energy efficiency and HVAC for historical homes, without sacrificing their architectural and historic integrity.  We understand the ways in which these unusual spaces must undergo specific maintenance and repair, rather than structural modifications, to improve indoor comfort.

So what next? Based on our many consultations with historic architecture experts and the latest HVAC technology, here are two important factors to think about as you enhance the indoor comfort of your historic home.

Better Airflow: Repair and Restore Wherever Possible

Before moving ahead with any HVAC plan, it’s critically important for anyone who owns an older or unusual property to assess the current airflow situation in their home. Where are the hotspots in your home? The drafts? Repairing windows and doors to prevent air leakage can be key towards creating a more energy efficient, comfortable indoor space, year round. Think retrofitting and restoration, rather than total overhaul. You may not have to alter or destroy something done in a particular architectural or design style, but simply restore it to its original state (or close) to enhance its energy efficiency.

Ductless Mini Split Systems: Is One Right for You?

Unlike a central air conditioner that utilizes ductwork to move heat outside a house and cool the air coming inside, a ductless minisplit system uses less space, requires less complicated installation and saves even more energy than conventional equipment. Furthermore, it does not necessitate lowering ceilings to accommodate bulky ductwork, or drywall destruction or repair to install. Finally, ductless minisplits also remove up to 30% more humidity than typical central air conditioning, an omnipresent issue for historic and older residential properties. While not every home is right for this popular air conditioning technique, it may be just the right solution for your property.

Have questions about your historic home or residential property when it comes to HVAC? Get in touch with your Air-Tro professional today to discuss how we can keep your home’s integrity intact, while improving your indoor comfort.

Get the Los Angeles experts in residential HVAC. Call Air-Tro today at (626) 357-3535.