My husband and I purchased a historic home in Glenview, Illinois about five years ago.
The house was built in the mid 1800’s and retains many of the original features.
The hardwood floors throughout the house are beautiful. There is a gorgeous wood staircase, moldings and doors. We love the big windows, wraparound porch and spacious kitchen. However, the lack of conventional ductwork and the weather extremes in Glenview caused us some problems. We had no centralized heating and cooling for the home. With the original plaster and lath walls, installing a duct system wasn’t feasible. We were unwilling to face such a gigantic mess and expense. Getting by with window air conditioners, box fans and a variety of portable heaters was a nightmare. The rooms were horribly overheated and muggy all summer long. During the winter, we just about froze to death. Plus, the equipment was ugly and inefficient. I did some research into options and came across high-velocity heating and cooling. This style of system was engineered specifically for retrofitting into older homes without requiring a huge construction process. The advantage is the mini-ducts. The pipes are flexible and only two-inches in diameter. They were able to be routed through the cavities of the walls and around power outlets and plumbing pipes. The vents are round, six-inches in diameter and provide freedom of location. They don’t detract from the decor. We now have temperature control in every room and enjoy year round comfort. The insulated and smaller ducts minimize energy waste. The process of aspiration raises and lowers room temperature very quickly, reducing running times and keeping costs low.