Heating and Cooling Older Homes Without Ducts
Many older homes in Sonoma County were built with wall heaters, floor furnaces or no central system at all. Adding comfort doesn't have to mean opening walls for ducts.
Request an HVAC technicianDuctless mini-splits
Wall-mounted heads connected to an outdoor unit heat and cool individual rooms without ducts.
Replacing wall heaters
Old gas wall heaters and floor furnaces can be replaced with efficient heat pumps that also cool.
Small-duct systems
Some systems use small, flexible ducts that fit through closets and floors with less disruption.
Heritage details
Line sets can be routed along the outside or through closets to keep trim and plaster intact.
Electrical needs
Older homes may need electrical upgrades for new equipment. Plan for it.
Zoning
Each head has its own controls, so rarely used rooms don't need to be heated or cooled.
ADUs and garages
Accessory units and converted garages are often easiest to serve with their own ductless system.
Upkeep
Clean indoor filters regularly and book yearly checks.
More help
See ductless mini-splits.
Noise
Indoor heads run quietly, so they suit bedrooms and home offices where an old wall heater or window unit was noisy.
Planning the layout
Count the rooms you want to heat and cool, note their sizes and windows and decide which rooms matter most. A contractor can then suggest how many heads you need.
Mixing systems
Some homes keep an existing furnace for the main floor and add ductless heads for upstairs rooms or an addition. That can cost less than replacing everything.
Safety of old heaters
Old gas wall heaters and floor furnaces need venting and safety checks if you keep them. If one is beyond repair, replacing it removes an open flame from the living space.
More heating and cooling guides
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