High velocity system is ideal for historical home
When my husband and I purchased a home in the historical district, we were delighted with the antique light fixtures, stained glass windows and hardwood floors, doors and moldings. We were thrilled with the high ceilings, big kitchen and wide front porch. It didn’t occur to us how difficult the house would be to temperature control. The walls and ceilings are constructed of the original plaster and lath, and there has never been any conventional ductwork installed. Any repairs, changes or improvements we make to the house needs to be approved by the historical preservation society and the process is difficult and time-consuming. The preservation society is very particular about what they will allow. Any modernization is frowned upon. My husband and I weren’t eager to take on that fight or the mess and disruption of installing ductwork. However, our house was freezing cold in the winter and overheated and sticky in the summer. We were trying to manage comfort with electric baseboard heaters and window air conditioners. The big windows, high ceilings and overall age of the house were making it impossible to adequately heat and cool with portable units. I did some research and came across high velocity heating and cooling systems. This style of temperature control is specifically designed to retrofit into older homes that lack traditional ductwork. The system features mini-ducts that are only two-inches in diameter and flexible enough to route through existing walls without damage. The ducts are able to accommodate studs, plumbing pipes and electrical wires. They link to round vents that are only six-inches in diameter and blend seamlessly with the decor. The high velocity system delivers conditioned air at a very high rate of speed to quickly lower or raise room temperature. This system allowed us to preserve the historical integrity of the home and still enjoy centralized temperature control.