Athens has some of the most beautiful historic homes in Georgia. Many of them were built long before central air was common, which is why so many still run on window units, a floor furnace, or an HVAC system somebody squeezed in decades ago. If you own one of these houses, you don’t have to choose between the character you love and a home that’s comfortable in August.
At Blount Heating and Cooling, we’ve been adding and replacing heating and cooling in Athens homes since 1986. This guide covers your main options, what each one needs, and what to plan for in an older house.
Start With What the House Has Now
Before anyone recommends equipment, a good contractor looks at the house itself. In older Athens homes, these questions drive almost every decision:
- Is there any ductwork? Some homes have none. Others have ducts that are too small, too leaky, or in the wrong places for modern equipment.
- Where could new ducts go? An accessible attic or crawlspace makes ducted systems much easier to install. Finished attics and slab floors make them harder.
- What heats the house today? A gas line opens up furnace options. No gas usually points toward a heat pump.
- Can the electrical panel handle it? Older panels sometimes need an upgrade before a new system goes in.
- Which rooms need it most? Whole-house comfort and one hot upstairs bedroom are very different projects.
Option 1: Ductless Mini-Splits
A mini-split pairs an outdoor unit with one or more indoor units mounted on a wall or ceiling. Refrigerant lines run through a small opening in the wall, so there’s no ductwork to build.
Mini-splits are often the best fit when:
- The house has no ducts and no good place to put them.
- You want to protect plaster walls, original trim, and woodwork.
- Only part of the house needs help, such as an addition, a sunroom, or a converted attic.
- You want each room or zone at its own temperature.
Most mini-splits are heat pumps, so they heat in winter and cool in summer. The trade-off is that you’ll see the indoor units, and a whole house usually needs several of them. Learn more about our ductless mini-split installations.
Option 2: A Central System With New Ductwork
If the attic or crawlspace has room for ducts, a central system can condition the whole house with nothing on the walls but vent covers. Supply ducts often run through the attic or crawlspace, with returns placed in hallways or closets.
Central systems work best when:
- You want even temperatures in every room from one system.
- There’s good access above or below the living space.
- You’d rather not see equipment on the walls.
The key in an older house is to design the duct system around the home, not to force a standard layout into it. Poorly placed or undersized ducts are the reason so many older homes with central air still have rooms that never get comfortable. Learn more about our ductwork services.
Option 3: A Combination
Plenty of older homes end up with both: a central system for the main floor and a mini-split for spaces ducts can’t reach, like an attic bedroom, an addition, or an enclosed back porch. It’s often the most practical way to make the whole house comfortable without tearing into finished spaces.
Mini-Split vs. Central Air at a Glance
| Ductless mini-split | Central system with ducts | |
|---|---|---|
| Needs ductwork | No | Yes, existing or new |
| Disruption to walls | A small opening per indoor unit | Depends on attic and crawlspace access |
| Room-by-room control | Built in | Possible with zoning |
| What you see indoors | Wall or ceiling units | Vent covers only |
| Best for | Homes without ducts, additions, problem rooms | Whole-house comfort where ducts can fit |
Choosing Your Heat Source
If you’re adding cooling, it’s the right time to think about heat too. A heat pump heats and cools using a single system and works well in Athens’s mild winters. If the house has natural gas, a gas furnace paired with central AC is another good option. We’ll talk through operating costs and comfort with you before you decide.
What Matters More in an Older House
Sizing. Older homes lose and gain heat differently than new construction, with high ceilings, older windows, and less insulation. A system sized based on square footage alone often performs poorly. An oversized system cools quickly but shuts off before it removes enough humidity, leaving the house cool and clammy.
Insulation and air sealing. New equipment can’t make up for an uninsulated attic. If the house has always been hard to cool, our post on why older homes are so hard to cool covers what to fix before or alongside a new system.
Historic district rules. Athens-Clarke County has 16 local historic districts, and the county requires a Certificate of Appropriateness before exterior changes to properties in them. If your home is in one, check with the county’s Historic Preservation office before you finalize the location of the outdoor unit and refrigerant lines.
Older Home HVAC FAQs
Can you install central air in a house with plaster walls?
Often, yes. Most duct runs go through the attic and crawlspace, so we can usually avoid opening plaster walls. When a ducted system would mean too much demolition, a mini-split is usually the better choice.
Will a mini-split heat my house enough in winter?
Most mini-splits are heat pumps, so yes. They heat efficiently through a typical Athens winter.
How long does it take to add AC to an older home?
A mini-split for one or two rooms can often be installed in a day. A whole-house system with new ductwork takes longer, depending on access and the size of the house.
Do I need approval to add an outdoor unit in a historic district?
If your home is in one of Athens-Clarke County’s local historic districts, exterior changes need a Certificate of Appropriateness. Check with the county before installation.
Talk to an Athens HVAC Company That Knows Older Homes
Blount Heating and Cooling is a family-owned HVAC company based in Bogart and serving Athens since 1986. We also work on older homes in nearby Winterville and Watkinsville. We’ll look at your house, explain what will work, and give you a clear estimate. Contact us or call (706) 548-6933.