How to beat the summer heat

Dear Contractors.com,

I purchased a 55-year-old home in WDC. Currently it has no central air conditioning. I am using ceiling fans and window AC units during the summer for cooling. Could you please advise on a solution to aid with cooling in the summer and heating in the winter that won't break the bank?

– L.S., Washington, D.C.

“Attic fans play a significant role in reducing heat gain in a home, as do double paned windows, but what is often overlooked is the insulation,” advises Michael Hartman, president of Thomas E Clark, Inc. Properly insulating your attic will make a major difference in your home’s heat loss in the winter and heat gain in the summer, at a fraction of the cost of replacing windows and re-insulating walls.

Ceiling fans and window air conditioners will help you beat the summer heat, but nothing works better than central air conditioning.

“With older homes that don’t have ductwork, many homeowners resist central air because they’re afraid of having big ducts running through the house, paying a contractor to ‘box them in’ with drywall, and generally changing the aesthetics of the home,” Hartman has observed. “But if you have a full attic, the largest ductwork will be installed in the attic along with the air handler, and ductwork can be run through second floor closets to cool the first floor.”

High velocity systems are far less intrusive as they use much smaller ductwork and flexible tubing to cool the home – and most require little or no carpentry/drywall work. For big, open rooms, a Ductless Mini-Split system may be the solution. A Mini-Split is like a window unit hanging on the wall, but a lot more efficient, nicer looking and quieter because the compressor is on the ground outside.

If you are contemplating central air, make sure the contractors do a Heat Gain Calculation (a.k.a. Load Calculation or Manual J). “This is crucial!” insists Hartman, whose company has been family-owned and operated since 1891. “Do not let anyone talk you out of it.”

Hartman also advises homeowners to ask the contractor or estimator if your electrical panel can accommodate central air conditioning. Often the circuits used for window units can be used for central air, but it is important to know for sure.

“And be sure to discuss details such as where the indoor and outdoor units will be placed, where the vents will be installed, what kind of thermostat you will get, where it will be installed and what is the warranty on equipment, parts and labor,” counsels Hartman. “You should accept nothing less than a five-year parts and labor warranty.”