Spanish Colonials in Pasadena, Craftsman bungalows in Long Beach, mid-century ranches throughout the LA basin — these homes were designed before forced-air cooling was standard. The ductwork was added later, often through whatever cavities were available, with whatever sizing the installer had in stock that day.
What to expect
- Long, undersized duct runs to back bedrooms.
- Returns located in hallways instead of rooms.
- Original equipment sized to "fill the system that exists" rather than "cool the load the house has."
What helps
A serious Manual J + Manual D load and duct calculation, mini-split heads in the rooms ductwork can't reach, and a willingness to replace duct runs as part of equipment replacement rather than putting new equipment in front of old ducts.