Best HVAC Options for Historic & Older Homes Without Existing Ductwork

If you live in a historic or older home around Bowling Green, you already know the charm comes with a few quirks to consider. You probably have the beautiful trim, tall ceilings, and original floors, but there’s no actual ductwork for your heating and cooling system anywhere. 

The good news is you do not have to choose between comfort and preserving your home’s character and charm. Instead, there are several HVAC options that work very well in older houses without existing ducts, and our team at Top Notch Heating & Air Conditioning works with them every day.

Here’s a round-up of what actually works, where each option shines, and what to expect during the process.

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Why Traditional Ductwork is Often a Bad Fit

It is sometimes possible to add full-size ductwork to an older home, but it usually comes with some significant tradeoffs:

• Chasing ducts through closets and soffits that eat up storage
• Cutting into plaster, trim, or ceilings you’d rather leave alone
• Less-than-ideal airflow because the duct layout had to be “forced” into the structure

For many older homes in Warren, Simpson, and Logan counties, it makes more sense to choose a system that works with the house instead of fighting it. That’s why our team at Top Notch Heating & Air Conditioning frequently recommends ductless and small-duct systems.

Option 1: Ductless Mini-Split Heat Pumps

For most historic and older homes without ductwork, ductless mini splits are the top choice. They provide both heating and cooling, and they do it without tearing the house apart.

How Do Ductless Mini-Splits Work? 

A ductless system uses a small outdoor unit connected to one or more indoor “heads” mounted high on the wall or recessed into the ceiling. Refrigerant lines run through a small opening in the wall instead of a big duct chase. Each indoor unit serves a specific area or “zone” of your home.

Why Older Homes Love Ductless Units:

• No major demolition: Only a few small penetrations in the wall are needed. You keep your existing walls, ceilings, and trim intact.
• Room-by-room control: Have a hot upstairs and a cold downstairs? You can give each floor or room its own temperature setting instead of conditioning the whole house the same way.
• High efficiency: Modern ductless heat pumps are extremely efficient, especially in our climate. That means more comfort with less wasted energy.
• Great for partial upgrades: You do not have to do the entire home at once. Many homeowners start with the main living areas or a new addition, then add zones over time.

If you’ve ever seen mini splits in photos and worried they might create an eyesore, there are cleaner, low-profile options on the market. Scheduling a site visit with one of our techs with deep knowledge of older homes can help you pick locations that blend in as much as possible.

Option 2: Small-Duct Systems

If you like the idea of a more “traditional” central system but do not have room for big ductwork, a small-duct system could be worth discussing.

These systems use:

• Smaller, flexible ducts (about the size of a drink can)
• Small, round outlets that can be tucked into corners, crown molding, or floors
• A special air handler designed for higher air speed and even distribution

These systems are especially useful when you want the look of central air without big registers or soffits. Installers can often snake the small ducts through existing cavities, closets, or attic spaces with less disruption than full-size ductwork.

Small-duct systems are more specialized and not right for every floor plan or budget, but they are an option older-home owners should at least know about when planning a major renovation.

Option 3: Pairing a Heat Pump with Air Handlers or Existing Systems

Some older homes already have radiators, boilers, or baseboard heat that still work well but offer no cooling. In these cases, you might:

• Keep your existing heat source for now.
• Add a heat pump with air handlers or ductless heads to provide cooling and shoulder-season heating.

This hybrid approach can:

• Spread out costs instead of replacing everything at once
• Give you modern comfort while you plan for a full future upgrade
• Provide backup heat during very cold snaps

We also assess the capacity of your older electrical panel to make sure of the safety and integrity of the new equipment.

How to Choose the Right Ductless Unit for Your Older Home

There is no “one size fits all” solution. When we walk through a historic or older home, we look carefully at:

• Layout and structure: Attic space, basement access, wall construction, and where we can run lines or small ducts with minimal impact.
• Hot and cold problem spots: Certain rooms that always feel uncomfortable, additions that were never conditioned properly, or rooms you barely use.
• Your long-term plans: Planning to remodel in five years? Thinking about finishing the attic? We can design a plan that works now and still makes sense down the road.
• Budget and phasing: Many homeowners choose to phase upgrades. For example, start with ductless units in the main living area and primary bedroom, then add zones later as budget allows.

The key is an honest conversation about what matters most: preserving original features, improving comfort, saving on utilities, or all of the above.

Schedule an Assessment with Top Notch Heating & Air

When you call Top Notch Heating & Air Conditioning out to an older home, we do not just glance at your thermostat and quote a unit size. A typical visit for a no-duct home includes:

• Walking the entire home, including attic and basement or crawl space
• Talking through where you spend most of your time and what rooms bother you most
• Checking insulation, windows, and any existing equipment
• Running load calculations instead of guessing on system size
• Laying out a few clear options, with pros, cons, and pricing for each

Our goal is simple: help you get modern comfort without sacrificing the character that made you fall in love with your home in the first place.

If you are in Bowling Green or the surrounding counties and living with window units, space heaters, or a “don’t touch that room” rule, it may be time to look at a better solution. A quick visit from our Top Notch team can show you exactly what is possible in your historic or older home.

Call us and schedule your appointment today!

Call (270) 770-2665