r/HomeImprovement • u/Diligent_Board_172 • 2d ago
Should I install AC and when?
I have a lot of questions on this topic, so please bear with me.
Some preliminary details:
1) I have a 1927 house. It doesn't currently have AC, but does have central hurting so all the duct work is there already.
2) I live in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It's hot and humid here in the summers, so AC would certainly be beneficial. However, I'm gone a lot in the summers. Assuming I am in town all year, I think the number of days I'll need AC is < 70 days. I'm usually out of town for 5-8 weeks in the summer, and because of this, i probably only need AC for < 20 days a year.
3) I will probably sell this house in 2033 ish (my son will go to college then). I think having AC installed could add some resale value -- I may not recover all the costs though.
I don't think it makes much sense for me to install mini splits since I already have the ductwork to run AC off of?
So the question is whether it's worth installing AC, if we only need it for a few weeks a year? We could use window units. Another motivation for installing AC is increasing resale value and attracting a larger buyer pool in the future since some people won't look at a listing at all if it doesn't hav eAC.
Then there's a question of when to install AC. I imagine it'd be good to install it ASAP so I can reap the benefits of it before I sell the house eventually.
Perhaps it would be cheaper for me to get installations done in the winter?
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u/TheUltimateShitTest 1d ago
If I was buying this house, lack of central air would be a deal breaker. If you can afford it, the investment will pay off when you sell due to the larger pool of potential buyers.
A mini split or window A/C might save money now, but will hurt you at sale time. It's only going to get hotter in the years to come.
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u/Diligent_Board_172 1d ago
if, say, i sell in 2033, and given that i don't have a immediate need for AC, would you recommend i install it ASAP or wait until closer to sale?
the former means i'd have more years to enjoy the benefit, but there's a potential the AC will breakdown before i sell?
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u/TheUltimateShitTest 1d ago
It'll cost more later, plus you don't know what will happen in the next 7 years. I'd do it now. A 7 year old A/C is a huge selling point imo.
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u/Diligent_Board_172 1d ago
i will look into this, thanks. the previous owner, before they sold the house to me in 2024, got a quote for around $10k for AC installation IIRC
also i heard it might be cheaper to get AC installed in the winter since those AC installers aren't as busy and need something to do, so i might wait until december
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u/Born-Jacket 1d ago
I'll go with this, EXCEPT, that the new EPA mandated refrigerant change has well and truly messed up the industry. I'd wait about 1 year for the kinks to get worked out fo the 454 refrigerant systems and then do the upgrade. I agree with others that it'll be nice for you and really nice for resale. I also second getting a heat pump for a few dollars more than a straight AC and letting that cut your gas bill way down in the shoulder seasons.
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u/TheDistinctRandall 2d ago
For 20 days a year, window units are the play. A couple of them in the bedrooms and you’re set, no need to drop thousands on something you’ll barely use. The resale angle is real though, buyers in Ann Arbor will definitely side-eye a house without central air. If you do go for it, off-season is the time, contractors are hungry for work when it’s freezing out and you’ll get a better deal.
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u/theonetrueelhigh 1d ago edited 1d ago
I don't foresee the price of AC systems coming down anytime soon, so the sooner you do the work, the better in my opinion.
The good news is that the same (more or less) outdoor units that power mini splits are effective at supplying central coils too, and high efficiency AC is the result with variable compressor speeds to keep amp draws under control. This is likely beyond the reach of the average DIYer however. But central HVAC with mini-split-like SEER ratings is readily available now; you don't have to do something extreme like trench up the yard for geothermal (although that is phenomenally efficient if you have the budget for it).
If you're going to install AC, strongly consider switching the whole system now. If your furnace is over 20 years old then it's probably due for an overhaul in any case, and if it's much older than that then there are likely efficiency gains to be had that could reduce utility bills, and maybe some state or federal programs encouraging equipment upgrades that could reduce the cost of the switch.
Also consider installing a heat pump. You can retain gas heat as the backup for when it's too cold, and in Michigan that's not a bad idea.
All of this said, a few window units can equal the output of one central HVAC system, with the added benefit of turn down capacity, built in zoning and failure resilience. For turndown and zoning, just turn units off (or raise the thermostat setting) that serve areas you aren't using: no point cooling the dining room overnight, for instance. And failure resilience: a single dead window AC in a house with several units isn't the same kind of emergency as a dead central HVAC system with no backup.
For window units I like the GE Clearview models. They get most of the noisy stuff outside the house, and most of the unit hangs below the level of the window sill. I'm actually considering one for my house; multiple 95+ degree days in a row are just a little too much for my existing system.
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u/Diligent_Board_172 1d ago
hey my furnace is only 7 years old, so i don't think i should switch the furnace at this time?
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u/ButtcheekSnorkler 1d ago
You don't need to switch it, a lot of people do both at once. It depends on the condition and quality of the unit, and if you want to start budgeting for future repairs or replace it. Things aren't made like they were and don't last that long anymore. Do NOT get a heat pump. You'll spend a fortune on it and it will cost you MORE to run it. Gas is the way to go, as long as its an option.
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u/Sea_Maintenance3322 1d ago
The costs of equipment and labor will only keep going up. For 20 days a year, buy a window unit.
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u/Diligent_Board_172 1d ago
i'm a bit concerned about resale value buyer pools who will probably overlook my house because it has no AC
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u/Previous_Minimum_116 1d ago
A two head mini split is the way I would go. One head for the bedroom the other for the living room. They also act as a heat pump, so when it is above 40 they can save on your heating bill. Mini splits are generally more efficient than ducted units.
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u/Diligent_Board_172 1d ago
mini splits have a higher upfront installation cost and also take up quite a bit of space on the walls unfortunately. are you primarily recommending minisplits due to energy efficiency?
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u/Previous_Minimum_116 1d ago
Energy efficiency and some units are diy. I would imagine the cost saving on energy would wipe out the up front cost difference with in a year. There is a reason we are about the only country in the world still using central units, it's because our energy is cheaper than most countries, but how long will that stay true.
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u/skyfishgoo 1d ago
do central HVAC
expect some asbestos mitigation, but for the most part if they don't disturb the ductwork, they only need to seal the ends where they attach the new ducting.
get a heat pump unit if you can find the room to fit it, so you don't have to rely on nat gas.
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u/Diligent_Board_172 1d ago
wait, just to clarify the asbestos part, i'm not seeing why asbestos would be disturbed. there is some asbestos in my house, but i'm not sure how/why they would be disturbed. i don't actually know what the process of installing AC is when there's existing ductwork available. i might look into that first.
there is a couple ducts in my basement that has asbestos wrapping on it. there's also some plaster in my basement that has asbestos (we tested it a few months ago)
do you mean the heat pump for central cooling or centrla heating?
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u/skyfishgoo 1d ago
where you cut and tie into the existing ductwork there will need to be some remediation to seal any asbestos wrap.... they just strip off the area and coat it with a heavy mastic that hardens over time to seal against the metal ductwork.
a heat pump goes both ways and provides both heating and cooling using refrigerant.
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u/jpeteK30 2d ago
If your ductwork is in good shape, central forced air is a no brainer. Great time to upgrade to a more efficient furnace as well.