NWR: A/C Question

efabian

I just looked at the condo information from the realtor (we put an offer on today) and it's saying that the cooling system is ceiling fans. I forgot to look for an AC unit when we did the walk through but it's a relatively new condo complex (90s) so I just assumed it would have central air. So, I started looking online at how much it costs to put central air into homes and basically it comes down to the kind of duct work that you have before hand. It says there is forced air system as our heating, which is what the other condos (with central air) had as well. I guess my question is, does anyone know if a forced air heating system would have the duct work that is needed for an A/C unit??
TIA.

sunkissed212

Disclaimer: I am not an HVAC professional.  But, I am bored so I'm researching for you. From what I read here, it sounds like a forced air/heat duct system would work for a central air unit:

"The typical forced air system uses supply ducts to deliver warmed or cooled air from the furnace, heat pump, or central air conditioner to rooms around your home. Return ducts are used to pull back air from those same rooms so that it can be heated or cooled again. The diagram below shows how this works. A fan in the furnace, heat pump, or air conditioner pushes air through supply ducts (on the right) into the living space. The conditioned air heats or cools the rooms."

I got that from here:  http://www.homeenergy.org/consumerinfo/ducts.php

terbear_86

If the condo has forced air heat, you should be golden. If it has radiant heat- Good luck.

mordacious

If you have forced air you should be okay. If it's radiant, like terbear said, or baseboard heating then I wouldn't even buy the place.

pattye14

i think you may have to check to see if the furnace is set up for the a/c hook up.  i don't know much about this stuff but with the house that we are trying to get they told me that it is a new furnace and it all set to have the a/c hooked up.  we basically just have to get the unit and have it installed.

if you have never had a ceiling fan, they really do work well with cooling down the house.  just make sure you winterize it during the winter so you are not losing the heat through it.  i just learned that when we went through our inspection 

efabian

Thanks Ladies, I totally forgot I posted this question last night. You're awesome!! FI just did a drive by on the condo and found an AC unit in the back!!! Thank goodness! Thanks again, I knew you would have answers for me