There are a few types of systems that offer homeowners both heating and cooling, and one of these is a high velocity system. High velocity systems are great options for homeowners, especially for those who need to retrofit an older home. It’s important that a specialist installs your system, as high velocity heating systems are different from more traditional ones. The trained and certified technicians at Clean Air Act have the expertise and knowledge to install your heating system in Portland, so call us today.

How Does a High Velocity System Work?

High velocity systems take advantage of a principle called aspiration. Using a high level of pressure and narrow venting, air is blown into your living spaces at a high rate of speed from corners and different points on walls. The speed at which the air enters your living space is 2,000 feet per second. This rate forces the warm air to mix with the air in the room, making the room warm and comfortable.

The venting for a high velocity system consists of 2” wide flexible, durable ductwork that is snaked through the walls of your home.  An outdoor unit contains the heat pump technology that provides both the heating and cooling, and a small indoor blower unit can be placed in a closet or other space. A refrigerant line runs between the outdoor unit and indoor blower. The outlets for the air are the same width as the flexible ductwork, and blend seamlessly with your walls and ceilings.

Benefits of a High Velocity System

There are some benefits you can gain with a high velocity system that you may not get with other more traditional heating systems:

• Even heating – the high rate of speed at which the air travels with a high velocity system creates air currents in your living spaces that distribute the warm air evenly throughout your home.

• Energy efficient – the heat pump technology doesn’t need fossil fuels to operate and uses only a small amount electricity to run.

• No need for ductwork construction – the ductwork of a high velocity system does not need the room that traditional ductwork does, relieving you of potentially costly construction.

• Quiet operation – the air blows very quietly, even more quietly than low velocity forced-air systems.

If you’ve been looking for a heating system that is energy efficient, can heat and cool your home and is great for retro-fitting, a high velocity system may be just what you’ve been looking for. Call Clean Air Act today and schedule an appointment with one of our installation experts.

Heating in Portland, OR involves more than just traditional gas furnaces and boilers. Those earlier systems still see a lot of use today – they’re easy to install and simple to operate, which makes for a winning combo – but these days they have to share the podium a numerous other systems and upgrades. You may hear the phrase “high velocity system” when discussing heating options. What is it? And more importantly, how does a high-velocity system work? A brief outline of the features involved can be found below.

High-velocity heating systems are based on the notion of using pressure rather than power to distribute air through the system. They use small, narrow air ducts to move the air around, causing the air to move more rapidly (with a little help from specialized fan blowers and similar components). They work according to the tenets of aspiration: creating a subtle circulation that moves throughout a room, making the temperature change more even and balanced throughout a given area.

The benefits of the notion are considerable. Because the ducts are smaller, they can fit into crawlspaces and between walls more easily. That makes them easy to install in older houses that might not be able to support a more traditional duct system. Most high velocity systems are very quiet, and the speed of the air helps reduce dust build-up and other contaminants within the system.

Perhaps most importantly, aspiration helps keep the temperature change steady and even: eliminating cold spots and drafty corners (which you find in more traditional duct systems). It also helps pull more moisture from the air, reducing humidity and keeping our famously wet Oregon weather in check.

Perhaps most importantly, it works to solve a number of potential problems, especially in older houses with a lot of open spaces or which can’t support a standard duct system. The more you know about the principals – the better you can answer the question “how does a high-velocity system work?” – the better you can decide for yourself is such a system is right for you. Clean Air Act handles all kinds of issues related to heating in Portland, OR and can provide guidance and support as well as installation services for high velocity systems. Pick up the phone and call our Portland heating service technicians today!