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How to Convert a Home to Central AC

Air conditioning seems ubiquitous for many people today. However, it is only in the last few decades that the majority of residential buildings included central air conditioner. Many older homes today only offer window unit air conditioning. Government studies prove window units are not as efficient at cooling a home as central units. Retrofitting older homes with central air conditioning is a fairly common home improvement project, especially when the homes acquire new owners.

Instructions

    • 1

      Interview HVAC contractors and obtain estimates. Contractors familiar with installing air conditioning into existing homes are better equipped to handle the job.

    • 2

      Determine if ductwork is already in place. Houses with forced air heating systems (those with furnaces) have ductwork; houses with radiators usually do not. Adding ductwork will usually double the cost of adding central air conditioning.

    • 3

      Evaluate your home. The region where you live, the width of the walls, the square footage, amount of installation and the design of your home all help determine the size of the air conditioner needed. A licensed HVAC installer can perform a J-Load calculation, which measures the amount of heat your home allows in during the summer, to determine the best air conditioner for your needs.

    • 4

      Inspect existing ductwork and furnace systems. Sealing ductwork, installing a larger furnace blower and replacing air registers are common needs when retrofitting central air into an existing home.

    • 5

      Check the existing electric system. A licensed electrician will test the load your system can bear. The fuse boxes located in some older homes do not support central air conditioning and will need replacing.

    • 6

      Determine the best placement for an outdoor condenser and indoor thermostat. Put the condenser out of the way of direct sunlight and the overhanging cover of trees. The indoor thermostat will replace the current furnace-only thermostat and will be in the same location.

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Air Conditioners
  1. How to Reuse or Replace an Old Central Air Conditioner
  2. How to Make a Cover for a Central Air Conditioning Unit
  3. Central Air Conditioning Sizes
  4. How to Install Central Air Conditioning in an Old Home
  5. How to Self Install a Central Air Conditioning
  6. Home Central Air Conditioner Sizes
  7. Central Air Conditioning Cooling Capacity
  8. How to Convert From Swamp Cooling to Air Conditioning
  9. How to Convert Evaporative Cooling System to Central Air
  10. How Do I Stop My Home Air Conditioning Vents From Leaking?
  11. How Much to Install Central Air Conditioning?
  12. How to Install Home Air Conditioning Systems

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