Central Air or Split for Brownstone?

We need advice on which system to install in our house. We have a 3 story brownstone in Bed-Stuy, and it has forced air heating.  Two different HVAC folks have advised us not to use the existing heating ducts for A/C because we run the risk of causing condensation (and mold/mildew) in our neighbor’s walls as the ducts are uninsulated. Thus, if we want central A/C, we should put in all new ducts etc.  Not cheap. Lots of dust in the installation process, etc. But it would cool the whole house, including the hallways and bathrooms. We also spoke to some folks about putting in a ductless split system (one recommended Mitsubishi, another Comfortaire), and not to go with central A/C.  We’re not in love with with the look of the units, but we can live with them. Also, the hallways and bathrooms would not be cooled. FInally – we’re told that the ductless split systems have poor resale value, compared to cetral A/C systems – although we’re not planning to move anytime soon. Advice greatly appreciated!

flyingfish

in Heating and Cooling 12 years and 9 months ago

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braelej | 11 years and 10 months ago

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Split ACs are more energy efficient, helping to conserve both energy usage and the money that would otherwise be spent on it. They are easy to install and use, long lasting, and offer benefits such as the ability to create different temperature control zones within the home. Check here for more, https://personalmoneynetwork.com/.

Arkady | 12 years and 9 months ago

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I have a 3-storey brownstone & installed central air about 20 years ago.  I have 2 condensers – one on the roof & one in the garden.  The unit on the roof has flexible duct in the crawlspace w/ vents in the ceiling of the top floor.  Except on very long stretches of hot, steamy weather, the top unit is adequate for the entire house.  The bigger problem about using heat ducts for a/c is that cool air is much more effective if it feeds from up high, not floor level.  If the cool air source is down low the hot air gets crammed up near the ceiling & the room tends to feel clammy.  On the bottom 2 floors I use some of the heating ducts (but w/ new vents up high) but also new ducting.  I have damper valves in the ducts that I switch summer/winter to redirect hot/cold air.  Where it was possible to tap into heat duct but at ceiling height, we did so.  In the kitchen, which is right above the basement, I ran new ducts & disguised them w/ sheetrock to look like design details.

brucef | 12 years and 9 months ago

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One other option that is not strictly fish nor fowl – Unico high velocity. The ducts can be pulled through walls depending on methods of construction. We have installed quite a few (I have one in my home in NJ) and works sometimes when full ducted is too disruptive.

kidbklyn | 12 years and 9 months ago

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Don’t use the old forced air ducts. They are not place properly for efficient distribution of AC. All the heavier cool air will pool near the floor. You’ll feel warmer from the waist up unless you circulate the cooled air with fans.

dillettanteinbedstuy | 12 years and 9 months ago

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ductless split systems are not always ductless, but can be less ductwork than traditonal systems and have the advantage of having heat pumps. Forced hot air isnt the most fun for residential and the more ductwork the less detail/more soffits generally speaking.

Lincolnplace | 12 years and 9 months ago

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We put in brand new central heat and air in a four-story brownstone, took out all the radiators, but had new ductwork put in.  It’s the only way to go.  We used both ridgid and flexible insulated ductwork. Using the old ductwork will definitely cause you a musty, moldy problem. A new system is a lot of expense and work (probably 50-60K) but definitely worth the comfort.  If you are keeping your boiler/radiator, I’d definitely recommend the split system.  It’s a little ugly, but the results are great.  We know quite a few folks who have installed them in BK.  I would think resale would be much higher with central air/heat.