Old, Small Multifamily HVAC

[Account Closed]

Good morning! I'm going to be closing on an old multifamily property at the end of the month, and I'm considering my HVAC options. The property currently has a boiler servicing three units with radiators, which is in good condition. The problem is that the property gets really hot in the summer, and it only has an attic fan. I want to add AC to this property and leave the boiler in place. The option I keep coming back to is ceiling mounted cassettes. I can't do central AC with no furnace, and wall mounted mini splits will look terrible. Window AC is not the best because the property has the original windows, and most window units aren't made for historic windows with storms over them.

I want to preserve the character of the property, so smaller units mounted in the ceiling will be the least noticeable. What I don't like is that I anticipate the price will be very high. What options might you all consider in this circumstance? Have any of you used ceiling mounted cassettes in a multi-zone setup?

[David Liu]

I would get quotes first and then decide what to do. I would also ask the hvac companies (min 3) what they would recommend. They do this day in day out and typically will have come across the same situation that you're in. i.e. radiator, summer is hot, old house, what to install for summer coolin?