Homeowners

If you want to install central air conditioning in an older home that has never had it, you will likely face a number of considerations. Older homes sometimes do not have a convenient space to install ductwork for a traditional central air conditioning system.

Lowering ceilings or building out walls to hide supply and return ducts is expensive, and can affect the aesthetics of indoor spaces. Sometimes the attic or basement can hold the ductwork, but the ceiling may be made of plaster and difficult to repair.

All retrofitted air-conditioning systems will require some degree of cutting and patching of walls, floors and ceilings. And while the new high-tech systems cost more than a regular duct system in new homes, they save money in older homes because of the reduced need for carpentry work.

For an older home, read how these three options determine what system will best meet your needs:

• Conventional Systems
• Small Duct, High-Velocity Air Conditioning Systems
• Ductless Systems