Ductless For Your Historic Home

Historic and older homes can be tricky to update. The biggest challenges are primarily due to design and space.

Older homes are not designed for today’s equipment.

In newer homes, builders take into account the space required for ducted systems, so the homeowner doesn’t have to worry about designing around an unsightly HVAC system. If you were to install that same system in your historic home, you would lose significant ceiling and wall space. Another issue historic homeowners may face, is that their electrical system is not adequate enough to operate the newer HVAC system.

A ductless system may be your best option.

With a ductless system, the main condenser unit is based outdoors, and then individual zones inside your home have their own air handler. This is also referred to as a mini-split system. Mini-splits are preferred because you have more control over the temperature in various rooms, instead of having a universal temperature for the whole house. The air handlers are also small and can be placed out of the way on ceilings and walls.
With a ductless system, you don’t have to worry about sacrificing the integrity of your home’s historic design for modern comforts.

Benefits Of A Ductless Heat Pump

Ductless heat pumps, or mini-splits, are a great option for homes that don’t have existing ductwork. A mini-split involves two major components, an outdoor compressor or condenser, and multiple air handler units indoors. A branch box is used to “split” numerous indoor units across one outdoor unit.

What are the benefits of using a mini-split?

• Better heating of individual rooms- mini-splits allow homeowners to customize which rooms use more heat and when (as opposed to traditional units which only offer one uniform temperature for the whole home).
• Flexible placement options-indoor units can be mounted on drop ceilings, walls or ceilings virtually anywhere.
• Improved energy efficiency- in a ducted system, heat can dissipate while in the ducts. Mini-splits are ductless so the energy loss is no longer an issue.
• Mini-splits can save you money over time, due to more efficient heating and customizable room temperatures.

So is the mini-split right for you? That depends. If you already have ductwork, the cheaper option is to stick with a traditional heat pump. If you’re unsure what would be the best option for you, contact a professional and get a second opinion.  

Why You Should Convert With Oil

In general, homeowners that choose to convert from oil to natural gas do so to either save money or be more efficient. The process of converting usually takes about six to eight weeks from the time you request the service, to completion of installation, so plan ahead.

What are the benefits of converting?

• Increased efficiency, reduced utility prices and higher property resale.
• On average, homeowners who make the conversion save about $1,000 or more per year.
• With natural gas, you are billed for what you use, after you use it. With oil, you pay in advance to fill a tank.
• Gas eliminates the need to schedule times for oil refills and excess maintenance.
• Gas is delivered directly to your home from a pipeline (on demand), eliminating the risk of running out of oil.
• Natural gas equipment is easier to maintain.
• Gas can be used to run other appliances (stoves, dryers, fireplaces, hot water heating), not just heating.
• Gas is cleaner than any other fossil fuel, and is better for the environment (releasing up to 30% fewer emissions).
• Gas is regulated; oil prices are based on supply and demand.

What are the steps to convert?

The process of converting basically includes:

• Determining if gas is available to your home
• Scheduling installation of a service line into your home
• Working with a heating and cooling company to convert or replace any heating equipment. You can also choose to convert other appliances to gas at the same time.

To determine if natural gas is available to your home, or to learn more about the process or costs of converting, visit www.ugi.com.

Is Dry Air Causing Your Home to Suffer?

Just like your body, your home can tell when it’s getting too much, or not enough moisture. For your body, the lack of moisture in your home can cause nasal congestion, dry and cracked skin, and a scratchy throat. If your home is suffering from lack of moisture, it will offer a few different symptoms.

• Spits or cracks in hardwoods or walls
• Gaps in wood doors (doors no longer shut tightly)
• Chair legs and arms are loose or wobble
• Cracks in furniture and leather
• Windows that let more air through or don’t seal tightly

Humidifiers are a simple solution to most of these problems. Adding moisture to the air in the cooler months will help both your physical health, and the health of your home. To learn more about humidifier and the best option for returning moisture to your home, schedule an appointment with a one of our expert technicians and make sure your home is hydrated this winter.

Why Add A Whole House Humidifier?

How does it work?
A whole house humidifier is directly installed into your existing HVAC system. It gives you the ability to control the humidity levels throughout your entire home.

How is it different?
Whole house humidifiers differ from portable humidifiers, in that they are constantly monitoring the humidity levels of your home, adding or removing moisture as needed. Portable systems can be a lot of work, as their tanks need to be constantly refilled with water. This can be exceptionally difficult for anyone with physical disabilities or the elderly.

Why is it beneficial?
This not only adds to the comfort level of your home), but it also contributes to the added durability of your home. Dry air can aggravate asthma and allergy symptoms (including dry noses, nose bleeds, sore throats, and dry or itchy skin). In your home, dry air can damage your hard wood floors, paint, plaster, artwork or even electronics.

Is Geothermal For You?

Geothermal systems are more efficient (up to 400%) because unlike other systems, they aren’t wasting energy or burning fuel to generate heat. Instead, they simply transfer heat to and from the earth.

How Does it Work?

A geothermal unit consists of an indoor unit and a buried earth loop. In the winter, water circulates through the loop, absorbing the heat from the earth and carries it to the home to the indoor unit. The indoor unit then compresses the heat to a higher temperature and distributes it through the house. Reversely, in the summer, the system pulls heat from the building and carries it through the loop and transfers into the earth.
Geothermal systems are preferred by homeowners who don’t want to be buying and wasting fuel, which constantly needs replaced. Geothermal systems are powered by the constantly available temperature of the earth, so as long as the earth exists, so does your power source. They are also much quieter than a traditional system, and require less components (maintenance is suggested twice a year, to check for leaks).