I've recently bought my late mom's house, which has a boiler-based baseboard heating system and A/C located in the attic. The windows are foggy and I've been told that's due to gas leakage, plus they get a lot of condensation that causes mold. I've been cleaning it with bleach whenever I see it. I'm considering whether I should install temperature and humidity sensors around to monitor the humidity levels at different temperatures, especially since some back bedrooms are really cold despite keeping the thermostat at 68°F in winter. I know the windows need replacing, and the A/C unit has issues too—its pan has rusted, and accessing the Freon hasn't gone smoothly. I'm pondering if I should replace the A/C by moving it out of the attic and possibly adding a blower for more even heating, instead of relying solely on the boiler. This seems quite complex given the space restrictions, crawl space, and the need for ventilation reconfiguration. Am I overthinking this?
2 Answers
You’re right to take this seriously! Mold is definitely a red flag, and you’re doing the right thing by cleaning it. It sounds like you’re covered with siding over insulation, which is good, but you might want to check how well it’s doing overall. The blower test your electric company did is a good step to identify air leaks. They’re pretty reliable for spotting where your home isn’t as efficient as it could be. Don’t rush to insulate the crawl space if you’ve been advised against it—mice can definitely be a concern! Replacing the A/C sounds necessary. If you can, consult an HVAC pro; they’ll know how to optimize your setup for better heating and cooling without complicating things. Keep at it, you'll get the hang of it!
It sounds like you're really diving deep into your home’s needs! First off, you're right that those foggy windows need replacing, it's a clear sign of seal failure. As for humidity readings, yeah, installing sensors can help you track when and where those levels spike—especially in the colder rooms. You might also want to look into a home energy audit; some areas even offer that for free. Since you’re dealing with the attic A/C issues and rusty pans, moving it out could actually improve airflow and efficiency. A mini-split system might work better than trying to fix the old A/C. Just make sure the insulation in your home is up to snuff too so you're not losing heat! Good luck, and it sounds like you’re on the right track!