Considering the benefits and drawbacks of high-velocity heating & cooling

I’ve been looking into high-velocity heating and cooling for my home.

We’ve never been able to have a whole-house temperature control system because the house lacks ductwork.

Our home is extremely old and the walls are too narrow to accommodate conventional ducts. Plus, I don’t want to undertake the lengthy, messy and expensive construction project. However, a high-velocity system can be implemented without renovation. The HVAC installers can snake the flexible and narrow tubing around existing studs and rafters, which keeps the overall costs lower. I won’t need to pay anyone to tear down old plaster and put up new drywall. There’s no huge cleanup, painting or disruption of my family’s lifestyle. However, there are some drawbacks and concerns to consider. It’s very difficult to accurately estimate the exact cost of high-velocity HVAC installation. The installers can’t be sure what’s hidden inside the walls. Restrictions such as plumbing pipes or electrical wires might be found in unexpected places. Navigating around obstacles takes extra time and labor, adding up to a higher cost than anticipated. Because high-velocity systems push heated and cooled air with a great deal of force, the blast of air can be uncomfortable, especially near the vents. However, the vents are very small in diameter and can be placed just about anywhere. I’m hoping to find a spot in each room that’s nowhere near where we would tend to sit or stand. Another issue is that high-velocity systems are typically noisier than conventional heating and cooling options, but there are certain manufacturers who offer muffling technology to reduce the sound. In the end, I think the few drawbacks are worth the benefits of a whole-house temperature control system.

 

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