As summer temperatures in Edmonton continue rising, the need for effective cooling systems is becoming harder to ignore. But what happens when demand for cooling rises, and your building simply wasn’t built to handle it?
For many older apartment and condo buildings, this is becoming a real challenge. Tenants expect comfortable indoor temperatures, but older multi-residential buildings lack the ductwork and air-moving equipment needed for traditional central air conditioning. In these situations, undertaking a complete building-wide AC installation can be expensive, disruptive, and overall extremely difficult. That’s why more building owners and property managers in Edmonton are turning to split AC systems.
In this article, we’ll explain why older buildings can be difficult to cool, how split AC systems work, and how to get started with this HVAC installation today.
Are you interested in AC or commercial cooling system installation in Edmonton? At Karlen-Kada, we specialize in developing creative solutions for commercial and multi-unit residential properties in Edmonton. Keep reading to learn more about the benefits of split AC units and how to schedule your first site assessment today.
Why AC Installation Can Be Difficult in Older Apartment and Condo Buildings in Edmonton
In a typical commercial HVAC installation, cooling often depends on air movement. That may include ductwork, rooftop units, air handlers, coils, ventilation equipment, and controls that distribute conditioned air throughout the building.
Unfortunately, many older apartment and condo buildings don’t have these systems. Instead, they often rely on boilers and hydronic heating, which do not require air-moving equipment. In these situations, simply “adding AC” is a lot more challenging than most tenants and property managers realize.
However, here’s the important part: while it might be difficult, it isn’t impossible! This is where split AC systems come in. This commercial HVAC retrofit adds cooling to buildings without the headache of adding coils, reframing, and re-piping entire systems.
What Is a Split AC System?
A split AC system separates the cooling equipment into two main parts:
- An indoor unit, often mounted on a wall or ceiling inside the space.
- An outdoor condenser, placed outside the suite, building, balcony area, roof area, or another approved exterior location.
The two components are connected by refrigerant lines, electrical wiring, and drainage.
Crucially, split air conditioning systems do not require ductwork like traditional forced-air systems. Instead of moving cooled air through a full duct network, the indoor unit delivers cooling directly into the room or zone where it is installed.
Why Split AC Units Are Popular for Apartment and Condo Retrofits
Split AC systems are becoming a common way to add cooling to buildings that were not originally designed for it.
For older multi-residential buildings, the appeal is straightforward: they can often provide cooling without the scale of renovation required for a ducted system.
A split AC retrofit may help building owners and condo boards:
- Add cooling to individual suites or selected spaces.
- Avoid major ductwork installation.
- Improve comfort in buildings with hydronic heating.
- Reduce resident complaints during summer heat.
- Provide zone-specific cooling instead of trying to cool the whole building from one central point.
- Support phased upgrades instead of one large building-wide project.
- Add cooling to areas that overheat, such as top-floor units, south-facing suites, offices, or common areas.
Schedule Your Commercial HVAC Assessment in Edmonton Today
Not sure if your building is a good candidate for split AC? Karlen-Kada can assess your existing heating system, suite layouts, electrical capacity, condenser placement options, and cooling goals to determine whether a split AC retrofit is practical for your apartment or condo building. Request a quote through our website or call our office to schedule a site assessment today!