Need ductwork/HVAC advice

[NorasMom]

Does anyone have experience with an old house (100+ years) and adding ductwork after the fact? I have a small house, and the second floor is built under the eaves with 2 small dormers. Whatever they installed many years ago provides little to no heating or cooling upstairs, although the main floor is fine.

It wasn't a problem before, because I avoid going upstairs when it's hot, but my boy had to move in and will be here for a while. Fans aren't helping, and I wouldn't trust the wiring for a window unit. The staircase folds back on itself with an enclosed landing, so there's no easy way to get air flowing that way. It would also be nice if I didn't have to worry about overnight Christmas guests freezing to death in the spare bed.

Does anyone have any suggestions? The only thing I can think of is to run some duct up a couple of corners in the kitchen or living room and hope no one notices.

[CV97]

You may just have to run some duct upstairs. In my bathroom, there is a rectangular duct that goes upstairs. It's covered in drywall and painted to match the walls. No one has ever asked why it is there.

I think it's a given with old houses that things are just out of place sometimes. My old house has seen a lot of changes over the years: conversions for electricity and indoor plumbing, remodels, additions, central heating/cooling. A covered duct in the corner is the last thing anyone notices!

[Kenu]

My buddy has electric heat in his house as no access to gas. He installed a wall mounted unit in living room that cool’s and heats. It’s plumed to outside ac condenser and didn’t have to install air vents. It heats and cool’s living room, kitchen and down hallway. Works really well. 👍🏼😉

[Jesmcd2 CommunityAmbassador]

I have one of those attic's NorasMom ☺️ problem with mine is? I will never ever ever go up there!🤣😂🤣 Nope, just not going to happen! 🙁 I have a basement like that too! 😂🤣 Sorry I can't help you 🤗🌠💕🦈

[tompumo]

You're on the wrong website. Try a Home Maintenance website.

[NorasMom in reply to tompumo]

Actually, Tompumo, I think that you're on the wrong website. On this one, we share our concerns regardless of what they are. If you aren't interested in someone's post, then just don't read it.

[tompumo in reply to NorasMom]

No, I'm not on the wrong website. I thought this site was for MS and related health issues. House repair is another topic.

[hairbrain4]

With old houses, you can open up a can of worms that you might not be prepared to do. I would first call in an electritian to have them check the wiring. It may be as simple as adding another breaker (if that's what you have) & running wire up to the room for a window unit or it can mean a lot more work. Regardless of what you decide to do wiring will be an issue. You can only add so many amps to existing wiring regardless of where or which room you are adding it to. My husband used to be a contractor before he became a hairdresser/instructor. I used to work with him a lot on his jobs. I was glad when he changed professions! Now he does my hair too along with fixing everything around the house.😂

[NorasMom]

The wiring's fine, sort of, but thank you! From what we've pieced together, the first floor was rewired not too many years ago but we found some of the old knob-and-tube stuff upstairs. I'm still kicking around the idea of trying additional ducts, but if we go for a window unit upstairs, it'll definitely need all new wiring. The previous owners were in their 80's and just hadn't used the second floor for many years.

[jorrell]

I would recommend a split system where one half sits on the ground and the other goes upstairs in the room(s) you want to heat or cool. These systems do no use power from upstairs, the upstairs is powered by the unit on the ground. It should be cheaper than ducting and wiring! We use one of these on the top floor of our garage. These are heatpump units so they use less power than an AC system.

[NorasMom in reply to jorrell]

I've thought about that, too, but I'm having trouble finding any that are small enough for the little wall space we have available. I haven't ruled anything out yet!

[Tazmanian]

Look into a split unit, no duct