A Salt Lake City customer in a 1924-built Sugar House-area bungalow contacted us about adding central AC. Unlike many older Salt Lake homes that operate on boiler systems, this home had been converted to forced-air heating during a 1990s renovation, with existing ductwork that could accommodate AC addition. This case study documents a central AC retrofit in an older home with appropriate existing infrastructure.
Customer Situation
- Home: 1924-built Salt Lake City bungalow, approximately 1,400 sq ft single-story
- Existing equipment: 1990s-era 80% AFUE atmospheric-vent furnace, original-renovation ductwork
- Existing cooling: Window units only
- Customer priorities: Modern central cooling, work with existing forced-air infrastructure
System Design
Manual J load calculation: 22,000 BTU/h cooling (1.83 tons)
Equipment selected: Trane XR16 2-ton two-stage AC with matching evaporator coil
Existing ductwork evaluated — adequate for 2-ton AC airflow with minor modifications (one return air expansion).
Installation
- Evaporator coil installation in furnace plenum
- Outdoor condenser placement on side of house
- Refrigerant line routing through wall to attic to furnace location
- Existing ductwork minor modifications (return air expansion)
- New 240V electrical circuit for AC
- Condensate drain to floor drain
- Smart thermostat upgrade (existing was heating-only)
Final Cost
Customer’s cost: $8,400
Rebates:
– Federal 25C: $600
– Rocky Mountain Power Wattsmart: $150
Effective net cost: $7,650
Customer Outcome
First summer: comfortable cooling throughout home. Two-stage equipment provides quieter operation and better dehumidification than typical single-stage. Customer specifically appreciated finally having a central comfort system after decades of window units.
What This Case Study Demonstrates
- Older homes with forced-air heating can accept central AC retrofit
- Manual J right-sizing delivered proper equipment match
- Two-stage equipment improves comfort over single-stage
- Minor ductwork modifications addressed return air capacity for cooling
Considering AC Addition?
If your older Salt Lake City home has forced-air heating, call (385) 250-0687 to discuss AC retrofit feasibility.
- Phone: (385) 250-0687
- Address: 4454 Manhattan Ct, West Valley City, UT 84120