I do get those random cold blasts in one room and sauna vibes in another.
That patchwork feeling is exactly what pushed me to upgrade a few years back. Honestly, the biggest surprise wasn’t just the even temps—it was how much better the air *felt*. No more waking up stuffy or with dry skin. Humidity control is way more dialed in with newer systems, at least in my experience. The bills didn’t plummet overnight, but the comfort level made it worth it for me. Sometimes it’s less about the numbers and more about not dreading certain rooms, you know?
Totally get where you’re coming from. I used to think the uneven temps were just part of living in an older house, but after upgrading, it’s wild how much more comfortable things are. The air just feels “right” now, if that makes sense. I was skeptical about the humidity claims too, but it really does make a difference—no more waking up with a dry throat. The energy savings weren’t massive for me either, but honestly, not having to avoid certain rooms is worth a lot.
I totally relate to the “avoiding certain rooms” thing—my old house used to have this one bedroom that was basically a sauna in summer and an icebox in winter. I always chalked it up to the quirks of 1920s construction, but now I’m wondering if a new system would actually fix that. Did you have to do any ductwork or insulation upgrades when you switched out your HVAC, or was it just a straight swap? I keep hearing mixed things about whether it’s worth doing the whole shebang or just replacing the unit itself. Also, did you notice any difference with dust or allergies after the upgrade? That’s another thing I’m curious about, since my place seems to collect dust like nobody’s business...
I always chalked it up to the quirks of 1920s construction, but now I’m wondering if a new system would actually fix that.
Funny you mention that—I've had a few properties from the 20s and 30s, and those “quirks” are basically a rite of passage. In my experience, just swapping out the HVAC rarely solves the hot/cold room problem. I had to bite the bullet and get some ductwork redone in one place, plus added insulation in the attic. It wasn’t cheap, but it made a world of difference. The straight swap only helped with efficiency, not comfort.
As for dust and allergies, I did notice less dust after upgrading, but I think that was more about sealing up old leaks and using better filters than the system itself. Have you ever looked into zoning or mini-splits for those stubborn rooms? Sometimes it’s less about the main system and more about how air actually moves (or doesn’t) through those old walls. Curious if anyone’s tried those smart vent systems—seems like a cool idea, but I haven’t pulled the trigger yet.
I’ve been down this rabbit hole with my 1928 place, and honestly, just swapping the HVAC felt like putting a new engine in a car with leaky windows. The real game changer was sealing up the attic and adding insulation—suddenly the upstairs wasn’t a sauna. I did look into smart vents, but I got nervous about them fighting with the old ductwork. Mini-splits seemed tempting for the weird back room, but I’m still on the fence. It’s wild how much those old walls mess with airflow... sometimes I swear the house is just trolling me.
