Mini-Splits vs. SpacePak for Older Homes in the Chicago North Shore?
Part of the Chicago North Shore’s charm is the abundance of older homes adding their own bit of character to each neighborhood. What’s a little less charming, however, is that hot summers make it difficult to keep your vintage home cool. This tends to be the case with older homes, since many of them lack the ductwork needed to install a traditional air conditioning system. Luckily, mini-splits and a system called SpacePak are both excellent options to consider — and American Vintage Home specializes in serving exactly this type of solution.
Can Ductless Mini-Splits Work in Older Homes?
As the name suggests, ductless mini-splits require no ductwork to cool your home. These systems use indoor units specific to the rooms you want to cool, which connect to an outdoor unit using insulated copper wiring tubes. They provide zoned heating and cooling abilities to effectively make your older home more comfortable.
Installing SpacePak in an Older Home
SpacePak is a central heating and cooling system that does actually use ducts, but the ductwork is 2-inch flexible tubing rather than a large and invasive piece of metal. SpacePak is the original Small Duct High Velocity system, and can be installed seamlessly in the older homes in the Chicago North Shore area. We can thread the system through floors, walls, and ceilings depending on your home’s configuration,
Mini-Splits vs. SpacePak
Since both systems allow you to get heating and cooling in your older home without the need for ductwork, let’s take a look at the pros and cons of each by category.
- Noise: SpacePak systems may be louder because the air moves through ducts at high speed, but it’s easy to troubleshoot when it gets noisy. Mini-splits are a bit quieter since their compressor and condenser are outside the home.
- Cost: If affordability is your main concern, then ductless mini-splits tend to have the lower upfront costs.
- Aesthetic: Here is where SpacePak really shines. In contrast to bulky and usually stark white mini-splits, SpacePak’s 2-inch tubing is invisible behind your walls and you have multiple options of grille style that can actively complement your decor and architecture.
- Lifespan: While mini-splits are often more affordable to install, SpacePak systems tend to last longer, so you won’t have to pay to replace them as often.
- Efficiency: SpacePak systems can reach up to 20 SEER ratings, while mini-splits can reach about 30. However, SpacePak systems help reduce energy bills by removing 30% more humidity than traditional HVAC, allowing you to enjoy cooler temperatures without raising the bills.
Overall, each of these systems offers unique advantages, so which system is best comes down to your personal needs and wants.
Choose American Vintage Home for Older Home HVAC Services
If you’re interested in retrofitting your Chicago North Shore home with either HVAC system, American Vintage Home is the company to call. As the Older Home Experts, we have plenty of experience in helping owners of vintage properties select the right air conditioning option, and installing the systems for maximum efficiency based on your home’s layout.
Contact us for more information about SpacePak versus mini-splits and request your free, no-obligation estimate today.
Further Reading
- SpacePak vs. Traditional HVAC: Pros & Cons for North Shore Homes
- High-Velocity vs. Conventional AC Systems for Older Homes
- HVAC Retrofitting for Older Homes
- Is SpacePak Right for My Older Chicago Home?
