It’s been about fifty years since most newly-constructed homes in the US started to be built with ductwork to accommodate the central air conditioners which were becoming so popular. But these systems were a little slower to catch on in northern regions which were less dependent upon air conditioning, and in New England in particular, many of our houses have been standing for much longer than fifty years. If you want to install a central air conditioner in your home, you might encounter some challenges. High velocity AC systems might provide the solution.
Adding Ductwork to Older Homes
In some cases, it’s possible to add standard ductwork to homes that never had it. But in many cases, that would mean making disappointing compromises, using up too much space, or visibly intruding into your home, which can be unsightly. Some historic homes can’t be significantly altered at all.
And in a lot of homes, the space between walls is simply too narrow to allow for the usual type of ducts. What can be done about that? Well, the obvious solution is to use narrower ductwork that fits the space, rather than undertaking major modifications to the home to allow for wider ducts.
Narrower Ducts
Do the narrower ducts solve the problem? Well, they’re part of the solution. But narrow ductwork doesn’t allow for enough airflow to be sufficient for traditional central air conditioners. So it presents a new challenge. The answer is high-velocity air conditioning systems.
The Parts of an Air Conditioner
The outdoor unit of an air conditioner is where the heat is released, and where the compressor, which pressurizes the refrigerant so it flows through the coils, is housed. The indoor unit is where heat is absorbed from air, cooling it, and where that cool air is dispersed through the home. While the outdoor unit can remain the same, the indoor unit must be different in order to move enough air through the narrower ducts. A high-velocity indoor air handler is designed for exactly this purpose.
Benefits of High Velocity AC
In addition to simply being possible in homes where central air is otherwise unachievable, replacing bothersome and inconsistent window units with a single system, there are other benefits to high-velocity air conditioning that make it even better than the traditional ducted system.
Did you know that 20-30% of conditioned air is usually lost through standard ductwork? Holes and tears are common and can dramatically reduce comfort and increase utility bills. With the smaller diameter of the ductwork in high-velocity systems, there is less energy loss, and less surface area where problems can develop.
And the excellent circulation of a high-velocity system means that it’s easier for the system to keep the whole home at an even temperature, eliminating hot spots that often occur with lower airflow.
If you’re considering high velocity air conditioning in Boston, we’d love to hear from you.
Reach out to Cooling Unlimited, Inc. to speak with qualified AC experts.
