My house is well over a hundred years old. Although we’ve made a lot of updates to the electric and plumbing system, kitchen appliances, bathrooms, roof and exterior siding, the original structure remains. We’ve torn down the plaster and lathe, and added insulation, but the frame of the house has not been changed over the years. The studs were installed sideways in order to increase living space. At the time, more narrow walls were not an issue. People didn’t worry about insulation or efficiency, because the cost of energy was cheap. The depth of the walls doesn’t accommodate conventional ductwork. For several years, we managed temperature control with electric baseboard heaters, portable air conditioners and box fans. These units were not efficient or effective. They detracted from aesthetics and failed to keep up with demand. During the summer, my house was typically hot and sticky. I constantly dealt with condensation, mold and mildew. In the winter, the house was chilly and unpleasant. I finally contacted a local HVAC contractor, hoping for some help. The contractor recommended a high velocity heating and cooling system. This type of system is designed for older homes where retrofit is difficult. It features narrow diameter and flexible ducts that are inserted into the walls without tearing them down. The ducts are able to be snaked around obstacles, such as plumbing pipes, and link to small vents that are available in a wide range of styles. The high velocity system introduces heated or cooled air at a high rate of speed, which mingles quickly with the air in the room to swiftly raise or lower temperature. Plus, this creates very evenly distributed heating or cooling. The system handles the comfort of the entire home, replacing the space heaters and portable air conditioners. It is such a convenience to now have a thermostat and control temperature throughout the home.
