Tired of the semi-annual back breaking trip up and down the stairs carrying the old and dirty window AC units? It’s almost that time again – the time of year when the sun stays out longer and the temperatures start to rise. Time to block off all the windows in your 1800’s farmhouse with heavy, ugly, and inefficient window air conditioners.

Or, you could stop the madness and install a new, efficient central air solution. Yes, even your historic home can now have central cooling without adding ugly, expensive ductwork. Many homes around Harrisburg PA, Lancaster PA, Reading PA, and the Lehigh Valley, PA are beautiful, historical houses. We know and understand the charm these homes can have. However, the modern convince of air condition is usually lacking because the homes simply were not built with ductwork.

How can we help?

At UGI Heating, Cooling, & Plumbing, we can help you decided what is the best solution for cooling you home. One solution is ductless mini-split systems, like the Mitsubishi Intertek, that will allow you to cool your home without having to retrofit any costly, ugly ductwork. And these ductless mini-split systems can also be used for heating your home – more on that below.

How does the ductless system work?

Ductless mini-split systems can range from a one-room solution (think sunroom or a hard to heat/cool home addition), to multi-room and multi-floor solutions. This option is much more flexible than a traditional HVAC system, allowing you to heat or cool only certain areas at a time – a truly multi-zoned comfort system. Ductless central air conditioning and heat is generally easier to install and saves on interior space in the home that is not needed for ductwork. For these reasons, Europe and Asia have been using ductless mini-split systems for decades. Just think of all the centuries-old house in Europe. To avoid losing not only space but also the historic charm of these homes, a ductless mini-split solution is really the only solution. It’s a tried and true solution that is only recently catching on in the United States.

The fairly simple installation usually involves drilling a very small three-inch hole from the exterior to the interior of the home. The indoor head unit can be wall-mounted, floor-mounted, or even recessed for drop ceiling applications.

Heating with Ductless Systems
Owners of older homes are also likely to have an older, inefficient heating system – very often times fueled by dirty, expensive oil tanks. For these folks, the ductless system can also provide relief in the winter months. Just turn it on for instantly warm air – no more waiting for radiators to warm up. Many homeowners prefer to keep their current heating system set to warm the entire house to about 60 to 65 degrees, and then they just turn on the heat function from their ductless mini-split heat pumps (the same unit that does the AC) in the rooms that they are occupying. It’s a great way to keep comfortable while saving money.

You can also choose to heat your whole home or building with the mini-splits. These are options that our estimators would discuss with you during a free-in-home estimate.

Energy Efficiency

Have we mentioned that these systems are among the most efficient HVAC systems available? EnergyStar estimates that these systems can save 30% on your home’s heating and cooling cost. The cost of a ductless mini-split system may seem higher than a traditional central air system, but the cost may actually run about 25% less than purchasing a traditional system and adding the cost of retrofitting ductwork into your home.

Mitsubishi ductless solutions enable you to update your home comfort system, while preserving the historic charm and appeal of the building and maintaining the beauty and comfort of your home.

Even The National Park Service (NPS) and Secretary of the Interior Standards and Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings have recognized ductless systems for their ability to help maintain this historic character!

When it comes to installing cooling systems in renovated spaces or additions, or updating the HVAC system of an older home or structure – ductless is an affordable, non-invasive, energy-saving choice.

Temperatures will be rising soon – is your home ready to provide cool and comfort for you and your family?

UGI Heating, Cooling, & Plumbing can help. Our highly qualified technicians can provide for solutions for all of your cooling system needs.

Schedule an Appointment for a free, in-home consultation to see if the ductless system is the right solution for your needs.

Check our Current Offers page for special offers and financing specials.

UGI Heating, Cooling & Plumbing has been serving customers throughout South & Central Pennsylvania for over a century. With offices based in the Lehigh Valley, PA, Reading, PA, Harrisburg, PA and Lancaster, PA, we always have technicians, installers and estimators ready to assist with all of your comfort needs. We live here, we work here. We’re your neighbors, and will always treat you as such.