Having been in the business for as long as we have, we have had the opportunity to work on all types of homes in Houston. We’re talking about from the new houses to homes built during the 1970’s and 1980’s. With this experience, we have noticed that older homes (built over 15 years ago) tend to have the same problems. So we’ve put together this list of the most common Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) problems in older homes for you.

Living in Houston we know that summers are not only scorching hot, but also humid. We tend to take solace because we have our Air Conditioning systems to keep us cool. When these systems stop working, it doesn’t only affect our levels of comfort, but also our monthly electrical bills as well. If you have an older home, and haven’t regularly maintained or repaired your system you could be experiencing the following problems:

Poor Air Quality

Construction has come a long way since the days in which the first Houston homes were built. We now have efficiency standards which aid in keeping your cool air inside, and hot, humid air outside.

When outdoor air makes its way into your home, it brings with it the humidity and the pollutants. These pollutants could lead to health issues such as congestion, headaches, and even respiratory problems. Also, having your AC running when warm, humid air is leaking inside your home, causes your AC to work overtime to maintain temperatures—which leads to you spending more money than you should.

What you can do if you have this problem is modernize your home and install new doors and windows which are energy efficient. Also making sure than all of the cracks in your home where the outside air is coming in are sealed up. Along with this, making sure that your filters are changed on a regular basis will keep your air as clean as can be, regardless of the age of your home.

High Utility Bills

When you think of your home, you more than likely don’t think of insulation (out of sight, out of mind), but it is the insulation on your home that could determine how high or low your energy bill is. It used to be that the builders didn’t care much about the heat loss or gain of your home, but now the standards are much higher. This means that in a newer home, you usually get more insulation although, sometimes even in modern homes it’s not enough.

Think of insulation like a blanket. The more of this “blanket” you have, the more heat you can keep inside your home (during the winter). Having the proper amount of insulation in your home could save you up to 20% on your utility bills (depending on how much insulation you originally had).

Another reason why the utility bills in older homes tend to be higher is because of the older systems that they have. This doesn’t mean that all older system will cost more for your home, but it means that older systems require more care and maintenance to keep them working properly.

We have all experienced that one day where it’s 100+ degrees outside and our AC system just shuts down. So we call a cousin of a friend who knows someone who could “get it working” for us so we do it, thinking that we are saving money. Half the time, these small “home-fixes” will get the system running, but if the main problem hasn’t been fixed your system is just working harder to cool or heat your home. This is why routine maintenance is key to saving money on your utility bills. Fixing the issues with your system immediately will prevent any extra wear and tear on the different components of your HVAC system.

Lack of Air Flow

Something that a lot of home owners never think about is their air ducts. Air ducts play a major role in moving the hot and cool air throughout your home allowing it to cool your home evenly.
Your air ducts do have a longer life-span than your AC unit and heater, but still have to be replaced every 15 years or so. Especially if you don’t get your air ducts cleaned, you could have dust, allergens, and micro-organisms living in them, possibly spreading disease throughout your home. These contaminants also block the airflow, which keeps rooms from properly cooling or heating.

Having an older home is a luxury most of the time, especially here in Houston. These homes, although older, do not have to have outdated HVAC systems. John Moore has options for replacing your system and great technicians to inspect your unit. When you call John Moore, you can rest assure that your AC and heating unit will be running at its best. Call today, or click below to request service!