HVAC Considerations for Historic Homes in Middle Tennessee

The historical homes in Middle Tennessee are as beautiful and varied as the landscape that surrounds them. The most popular home styles from the 18th to 19th centuries include folk Victorian, Greek revival, colonial revival, and Federal. You can see these styles lining the streets of Middle Tennessee, owned and cared for by people who love historic homes.

If you are one such homeowner, you likely have unique situations regarding heating and cooling your historic home. These homes require careful attention when installing these modern HVAC solutions, such as maintaining the home’s integrity and energy efficiency.

Parker’s Heating & Cooling specializes in HVAC for historic homes, so we’ve put together this guide to assist owners with HVAC installation decisions.

HVAC Challenges for Historic Homes

Built before modern heating and cooling solutions, historic homes in Middle Tennessee face different challenges than newer homes. With hot, humid temperatures in Tennessee, homeowners need a way to stay cool, while winter temperatures and snow require a robust heating system. Let’s look at some of the unique HVAC challenges historic homes face.

Preserving Architectural Integrity

One common myth about installing AC in a historic home is that extensive ductwork will ruin the home’s architectural integrity. But that isn’t true. While central AC requires a lot of ductwork, smaller cooling options require little to no ductwork. Heat pumps and ductless mini-splits are great options for historic homes, as they do not require weeks of construction to install.

If you want central AC, there are some ways to help hide the ductwork and parts within the home; however, this will become more costly and require a lot more work to install.

Energy-Efficient Systems To Maintain Character

Another challenge for historic homes is finding a heating and cooling solution that is energy-efficient. Older homes tend to be drafty, and old windows are not as insulating as they should be. In these situations, mini-splits are a great option. If you already have ceiling fans or would consider installing some, those can help push the air throughout the house, improving energy efficiency.

Insulation in Older Homes

Homes built in the 18th and 19th centuries were not built with room in the walls for blown-in insulation. However, there are ways to install installation in historic homes that will not hurt your home’s integrity.

Some options include:

• Installing a vapor barrier
• Insulating the attic and roof by sealing all gaps
• Adding batt insulation to floor joists in crawl spaces or basements
• Applying a vapor barrier to the exterior of the home
• Installing siding over the insulation

These tricks can help improve your home’s energy efficiency and reduce the damage to your home with typical blown-in insulation installation.

Mitigating Moisture

No matter your home’s age, moisture can wreak havoc. Leaks and accumulated moisture from the attic to the basement can cause mold growth, weaken the structure, and damage the home’s materials. In addition to some of the insulation tricks we discussed, there are other ways to help mitigate moisture in your historic home:

• Consider using a dehumidifier in the summer
• Install aesthetically pleasing ventilation
• Keep your gutters clean and in good repair
• Use an AC system to keep the interior air cooler

Trust the Professionals at Parker’s Heating & Cooling

Since 1992, Parker’s Heating & Cooling has helped homeowners in Middle Tennessee find HVAC solutions for their historic homes. Our commitment to quality workmanship makes us one of the most trusted HVAC companies in the area. We frequently work with local building codes and historical structures, and we can utilize appropriate HVAC equipment and installation techniques for historic homes. Our goal is to maintain your home’s energy efficiency through our HVAC installation techniques so you can reduce your home’s energy bills.

Call Parker’s Heating & Cooling today for historic home HVAC solutions in Tennessee.