Transformations

Something new on the horizon

My rickety little house is getting an upgrade. That's an understatement. When my house was built, it had no air conditioning. Hot? Open a window or go outside. Cold? Build a fire in one of three fireplaces.

In the 70’s air-conditioning was installed in the home. In fact, the air-conditioning might be what nearly killed her. Between the bad ductwork that caused moisture damage and the indiscriminate holes knocked in the foundation, it was definitely the beginning of many problems. Well, worry no more little house. You are the new recipient of something completely different. Behold, your mini-split HVAC unit.

Last night I realized I had no idea what a mini split was, so I did some research.

Mini-split systems have two main components -- an outdoor compressor/condenser and an indoor air-handling unit(s) (evaporator).

httpsttps://www.fujitsugeneral.com/us/residential/what-is-a-mini-split.html

I guess it was like when you try to explain “swamp coolers” to a southerner. I just didn't get it. Turns out they are pretty cool. They don't need as much ducting as regular units and you can control the temperature of individual rooms. That is perfect for us, since there is very little clearance under the house or in the ceiling. I also like that most of it is tucked away in the attic to keep in protected from the weather.

I'm feeling pretty good about removing the dormers that were on the back of the house. Not only did we lose the embarrassing conversation piece of having a window that only looked out at a giant chimney, we also gained a bit of attic space to house an HVAC. Originally, the upstairs part of our house was uninhabitable in the summer (despite having 3 “bedrooms” up there). This new system is a game changer. I think it will be quite comfortable.

We are also getting a tankless water heater, which I also don't understand, but that is another day.

Stay tuned for more updates.