When I bought a historical home, I was delighted with the high ceilings, big windows and hardwood floors.
The wide front porch, intricate moldings and broad staircase are gorgeous features.
I didn’t realize how difficult the home would be to heat and cool. Because it was constructed in the mid 1800s, the residence lacks conventional ductwork. The former owners got by with a combination of electric baseboard heaters, box fans and window air conditioners. This assortment of equipment took up quite a bit of space, detracted from aesthetics and couldn’t keep up with demand. Nearly every room in the house was chilly in the winter and overheated in the summer. I wasn’t willing to accept an uncomfortable living environment just about all year round. I started looking into options. I was unwilling to tear down the plaster wall and ceilings and deal with the mess and expense of implementing an entire duct system. I wasn’t thrilled with the option of ductless heating and cooling because of the separate indoor air handlers. I finally came across high-velocity systems. The advantage of this type of temperature control innovation is the mini-ducts. The system uses flexible ductwork that is only two-inches in diameter. It can be snaked through the walls and ceiling and accommodate plumbing, studs and electrical lines. The installation process causes no damage. The actual unit is small enough to fit into a closet. I am so very happy with the high velocity system. It works through a process of aspiration that provides very rapid increase or decrease in temperature.