Walk around Duckpond or some of Gainesville’s winding side streets. You can see history in every block, from the brick chimneys to the wood floors to the high ceilings. Nice? Of course. But just thinking about them in late July makes you sweat. That’s when HVAC in Gainesville start to get intriguing. Colonial-style homes didn’t have air conditioning in the past. The thick walls and odd crevices give them character, but they also make things harder.
Ductwork, for example, turns into a real game of Tetris. Architects sometimes feel like they’re on a treasure hunt when they remodel colonial homes because they didn’t have room for big vent systems. One common answer? Mini duct systems that move fast. Mini-ducts are not like the huge, heavy metal objects. They can fit into small locations like the corners of closets and under trim. Not much. Quiet. They keep you cool without hurting the trim and crown molding. Also, those systems move cooled air around faster, which helps with humidity, which is a concern in Gainesville.
We should also talk about heat pumps. Even in our sometimes mild winters, modern heat pumps run all year round. They chill you down and get rid of moisture just as well. Some people swear by ductless mini-splits, which are wall-mounted machines that cool (and heat) some rooms. These are perfect for homes with modest attics or stone walls that are thicker than a Gainesville pita sandwich.
Historic preservation boards can set rules about changes to the outside of buildings, but most of the time they allow changes that keep old homes both historic and livable. Don’t worry if you’re sweating it out in one of these classic beauties. There are a multitude of HVAC options in Gainesville that can assist protect the charm of yesterday from today’s heat waves. You don’t want history to sweat on your new Persian carpet, after all.
