Orange: Old Towne homes and HVAC retrofit tradeoffs
Old Towne Orange has some of the most beautiful housing stock in Orange County. It also has the most challenging HVAC retrofit situations we see. If you own a Craftsman or California bungalow in this part of the city, there are some real trade-offs to understand.
The fundamental problem
Most pre-1940 homes in Old Towne were built with no provision for central air conditioning. Walls are typically 2x4 framing with shiplap or plaster. There’s often no attic space worth the name above the ceilings. The basement, if there is one, is usually small.
Where do the ducts go? Three options, all with downsides:
- Through soffits and dropped ceilings (changes the look of the rooms)
- Up through closets to a small attic plenum (limits storage)
- Skip ducts entirely and go ductless
The ductless approach has become a lot more practical in the last 10 years. Modern mini-splits look much better than the old wall units, run quieter, and don’t require any duct work.
When ductless makes sense in Old Towne
If your historic Orange home doesn’t have any central AC and you’re considering adding it, ductless usually wins on cost, mess, and preservation of the original woodwork. Three to five indoor heads handle a typical 2-bedroom bungalow.
If you already have a central system and parts of the house aren’t getting cool, a hybrid approach works — keep the central, add a mini-split head to the problem room. More on ductless mini-splits and how they fit older homes.