How to Heat/Cool a Property in KS

Question

I am considering a property that has no ductwork present for setting up an HVAC. Is this standard? I browse the temps, and see a low in the Winter of 21 Degrees and a high in the Summer of 91 degrees. I would think I would need to provide some type of heating and cooling for this property, but without ductwork, how did they do it all these years?

What am I missing? How do you heat and cool your properties in KS? Window Units? Any local input would be helpful and Thanks!

What am I missing?  How do you heat and cool your properties in KS?  Window Units?  Any local input would be helpful and Thanks!

Cara Lonsdale · Answer

Okay.  That sounds good because I didn't want to have to install ductwork and have to redo walls/ceilings and paint afterwards.  So, this could be a good option.  Is this easy enough to self install, or do you need a contractor for something like this?

Cara Lonsdale · Answer

Yes.  Gas to the house.  Sorry I didn't mention that before.

Dean H. · Answer

@Cara Lonsdale

Cara,

I'm a fan of mini splits. No duct work needed just a pair of small tubes and a couple of wires to each " head " mounted on wall, small condenser unit sits outside. 1100 sq ft probably 2 heads depending on layout of house. We have also used ventless gas wall heaters with blower and window a/c on small dwellings

Victor N. · Answer

I am assuming that the house has a gas service line to it as that would probably be a material difference in cost.

Victor N. · Answer

That is a similar size to two houses we are doing now. Split systems like Pat mentioned don't need ductwork which is a plus but you need units for every room in the house or at least all areas.  So, you may need 4 or 5.  They install through the wall and likely will require an upgrade to the electrical panel.

For my two 1100 sq foot houses, I solicited multiple bids and found that a conventional central HVAC unit with ductwork installed in the crawlspace or in the attic was the most cost effective  and around $5100.  My houses are in a small South central Kansas town so your labor cost could be more or less than mine.

Cara Lonsdale · Answer

@Victor Nelson This property is only 1100 square feet.  It's a 2 bedroom, 1 bath.  So, it's small.  It doesn't have a basement.  It has a crawl space.  Would you still recommend the mini-splits @Pat L. ?  I have heard of those and from what I find online, they seem to be fairly priced, but do they still need ductwork, or do they work like a window unit?  I couldn't get a definitive answer from the websites I looked at.

Pat L. · Answer

Tough to tell without any information on the building. SFH, duplex, multi 2 story etc etc.

Best solution would probably be mini splits (a/c & heat). They are very efficient (more so than baseboard) but again not knowing the layout it's impossible to guesstimate. I installed wall heaters with blowers because I found baseboard heating ugly & very inefficient. But I ran 240v lines throughout connecting several in series. But that doesn't solve your a/c dilemma.  A fellow investor completely rehabbed a big 2 story adding NG (forced air) heat with a/c. Venting runs ran about $3000 & he did it himself. We get the furnaces & a/c units from a company in Florida.

Victor N. · Answer

Some smaller older houses were built with wall heaters, floor heaters or stand alone space heaters.  Typically they cooled with window units.  I convert to central HVAC but it would depend on the neighborhood and the units competing with your house.  I think baseboard heating is probably about the same cost as a central unit.  You have three or four options for a central unit:  1) put the unit in the basement, 2) put the unit in the attic, 3) put the unit outside as a package unit, or 4)  put the unit in a utility closet.  Each will have a different ductwork cost depending on the house.  You might be able to go back with a wall furnace and window units.  How big is the house?

Cara Lonsdale · Answer

So in the absence of anything.  How would you suggest I proceed?  How hard is it to install this base board heating system throughout?  Ball park.

Jim Adrian · Answer

It may have electric base board heating and you didn't realize it.   I like central air systems but with  no ductwork that's hard to do without a lot of cost.