Trusted Architects in Whitby, ON

An air conditioner transfers heat from the inside of a house / building, where it is not wanted, to the outside. Refrigerant in the system absorbs the excess heat and is pumped through a closed system of piping to an outside coil. A fan blows outside air over the hot coil, transferring heat from the refrigerant to the outdoor air. Because the heat is removed from the indoor air, the indoor area is cooled.

This depends on how much the system is used and how regularly it is checked or serviced. Generally, the average life of cooling units built in the 1970s and 1980s is about 15 years, but individual units may vary and last longer, depending on use and how well they are maintained. Newer cooling units are expected to last much longer.

It is often fairly simple to design a cooling system for an older home. If there is existing ductwork connected to your furnace a central system may be added. For homes that have hot water heating or electric heating an attic-based or ductless split system may be the answer. An important consideration is how well the older home is sealed and insulated.

That depends largely on your climate and personal needs. Humidification is definitely helpful in many homes and businesses. Particularly during cold weather, insufficient moisture in the air often is responsible for such assorted problems as stuffy noses, sore throats, even more dust than usual, cracks and dried-out joints in wood furniture, wilted plants, and static electricity that jolts hair, clothes, and computer disks. Indoor relative humidity may fall to around 7 percent in the winter, much drier than even the 25 percent relative humidity of the Sahara Desert! Ideal indoor relative humidity lies somewhere between 30 to 50 percent RH.