Home Improvement

Landscaping Around Outdoor HVAC Units

Trees and bushes can damage your HVAC system without proper care. Discover the best ways to landscape around your outdoor system.

Leave the proper clearance

When planning the landscaping around your air conditioning unit, you want to leave adequate space between the unit and your plants to avoid restricting airflow around the coils. Make sure plants are at least 2-3 feet from the unit on all sides, and plan the landscaping so that the air conditioner is easily accessible for maintenance and repairs. If you have trees or other plants growing above the unit, trim regularly to keep a 5-foot clearance between them and the air conditioner.

Make the most of the shade

In addition to making the area look more natural, landscaping around your air conditioner can actually help improve its efficiency. Shade cast on the air conditioner keeps the temperature down so the unit doesn’t have to work as hard to cool your home.

Choose the right plants

There are a lot of plant options to choose from when planning landscaping around your air conditioner. If possible, look for plants that don’t lose their leaves during the colder months. This will reduce the amount of sweeping and raking you do to keep the area clear of debris. Hedges are a common choice, and can be trimmed to your desired shape and height. Building a lattice around the A/C unit and landscaping with climbing plants is also a relatively simple and attractive option. Whatever landscaping options you choose, make sure to trim plants, hedges and trees near the air conditioner regularly to maximize airflow and efficiency.

Buying an Older Home: HVAC Checklist

Home Improvement

Buying an Older Home: HVAC Checklist

Ask your inspector the right questions during your home evaluation.

When purchasing an older home, make sure the HVAC system is working properly.

Check the furnace

With any home purchase, make sure to have the furnace checked by a certified technician during the home inspection. Your technician should be able to tell you the condition of the older furnace, and let you know about any potential repairs or costs you could face in the near future.

With your realtor’s help, you may even be able to subtract all or part of the cost of the furnace from the seller’s asking price. If the existing furnace does pass inspection, have it rechecked annually. Be sure to keep your family safe by installing carbon monoxide detectors in your home.

Check the air conditioners

If your older home does not have an air conditioning system, you may be wondering how much it will cost to install a new central air conditioner. Your local Trane dealer can provide you with a quote including the cost of installation, labor and equipment.

Even if the home does have an existing central air conditioning system, you may still consider replacing it. Older air conditioners are usually less efficient than newer models, and replacing old systems could result in significant energy savings over the life of the system. Check out SEER ratings to compare the energy efficiency of different models.

Check the ductwork

Keep in mind that some older homes have electric or steam radiant heat. If that’s the case, and your home has no ductwork, you have two options:

Ductwork can be installed throughout your home. While this can be an invasive and expensive option, you can work with your contractor to minimize the ductwork visibility, while still efficiently moving air to all parts of the house.
You may also opt for a ductless system. As the name suggests, these systems do not require ducts, but rather run small refrigerant and drainage lines from an outdoor unit to one or more indoor units.

Renovating an Older Home

Home Improvement

Renovating an Older Home

Here are a few things you need to know before you start a home renovation project

Historic homes are full of character, but sometimes they also need repairs and renovations.

couple picking paint colors for their house

Changing kitchens and bathrooms

Kitchen and bathroom updates are often first on the list for many homeowners to tackle. From knocking down walls to simply repainting your cabinets, you can update your kitchen to reflect a modern style while still maintaining the charm of your older home.

Bathroom remodeling may include updating the plumbing or replacing the shower and tub depending on the age of the home. You can start small with a coat of paint and a new vanity, or remodel the entire bathroom for a fresh, new look.

A huge upside to remodeling kitchens and bathrooms is that it will increase the value of your home and make it more appealing to potential buyers if you decide to sell.

Updating windows, insulation and heating/cooling

Many homeowners are drawn to cosmetic updates, but maintaining a comfortable, efficient home should also be top of your list. Depending on your budget, there are many heating and cooling options for older homes.

A home built some time ago may not have a whole-house air conditioning system installed. There are several ways to approach this, and a we can walk you through your options. You may also find that the heating systems for older homes are inefficient and need updating. For best results, consider new windows and insulation to prevent drafts and keep cold air out in the winter and warm air out in the summer as a great addition to installing a new HVAC unit.

Make quick, low-budget updates

Don’t have the budget for a major overhaul? Start small. Replace the hardware in your kitchen and bathrooms for an instant, modern look without breaking the bank.

You can also stop by your hardware store and pick up paint and supplies. Painting a room yourself will save you on the cost of hiring a painter and fresh paint can transform a room. Don’t forget to apply fresh paint to the ceilings, too. New curtains or blinds and colorful accent furniture can also brighten a room.

Heating and Cooling and In-Law Suite

Home Improvement

Heating and Cooling and In-Law Suite

Add more living space to your property by adding an in-law suite

Despite the common name, in-law suites don’t have to only be for in-laws. You can use your new living space for family members, or even rent it out as an apartment to tenants for extra income.

An in-law suite is simply a smaller residence, usually near the main house. These suites are often converted garages, basements or attics. Before beginning construction, talk to a us and be sure to consider local regulations.

Square footage

Since the square footage will be significantly smaller than a typical home, heating and cooling the in-law suite will require a less powerful system. Your local dealer can help you find an HVAC system configuration that will match the size and layout of your home’s added living space.

Ductwork

During the planning stage, you’ll have to decide whether ductwork will be installed, and where it will be positioned in relation to the HVAC system. If you decide not to install ductwork, ductless heating and cooling systems are a popular choice for smaller-footprint homes.

Utilities

If your home’s added living space will be fed by both natural gas and electric lines, you’ll have a wide range of heating and cooling options for your in-law suite. However, if the residence will be electric only, your choices will be more limited. Talk to your local Trane dealer to learn about the HVAC options available with your utility configuration.

Get an estimate from your local dealer

Planning the heating and cooling system is a vital part of building an in-law suite, so be sure to contact your local Trane dealer to learn about your HVAC options before breaking ground. Choosing the right HVAC system at the outset will be much more cost effective than adding a new system to an existing structure.

Heating and Cooling an Addition to Your Home with Ductless Systems

Home Improvement

Heating and Cooling an Addition to Your Home with Ductless Systems

Find the best way to heat and cool your new space

Thinking about adding on to your home, but not sure about the best way to heat and cool your new space? A ductless system may be the most cost-effective option for your addition and it could help you reduce energy costs.

Man is turning on ductless air condition by remote control

How Ductless Air Conditioning and Heating Works

Ductless HVAC systems create a comfortable environment for separate indoor spaces where it might be impractical or expensive to add new ductwork. These types of systems have two components — an outdoor unit and an indoor unit.

The outdoor unit will be similar to a traditional HVAC system. The only difference is whether it’s connected to a single indoor unit or multiple indoor units. The indoor ductless units come in a variety of styles, including high wall units, concealed and cassette designs, as well as floor/ceiling and console units. You can choose your indoor unit based on your personal style, space design and desired features.

3 Reasons to Go Ductless

You’ll save energy (and the planet!)
Ductwork for central air systems can lose energy, especially if it runs through unconditioned spaces like attics or basement to get to your addition. A ductless system makes sure all the air goes right into your space, reducing your energy costs and impact on the environment.
You’ve got creative control
Most ductless heating and cooling systems use wireless or wired controllers that let you easily operate your system, even if your indoor units are mounted on the ceiling or wall. If you’re looking for a more personalized experience try Trane Ductless Systems. Their controls take comfort to the next level with an “I Feel” function. This feature allows your controller to read the temperature from your exact location in the room and adjusts the heating and cooling for maximum comfort. No more hot spots or cold zones!
You can keep things flexible
A ductless system provides spot heating and cooling that operates separately from your central system, so your new master bedroom or media room can be as cool or warm as you like. You can also mix and match multiple indoor units to create a multi-zone system for customized comfort. Think you may continue to add on to your new space later? Go ahead and get additional ports to allow for future expansion.

Ductless systems are one of your best bets for custom temperature control in added-on rooms, especially when you want an energy efficient air conditioner and heating system that is cost-effective.