by Unico Marketing Team | Feb 8, 2024 | Chiltrix
Over the last few years, energy-efficient homes have skyrocketed in popularity. More homeowners want to reduce their energy use throughout the year without compromising on comfort.
The Chiltrix by Unico air-to-water heat pump is the only air-to-water heat pump on the market certified by the Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI), and has a rated IPLV of 23, nearly double that of our closest competitors. Given this impressive statistic, Chiltrix by Unico is the leading solution if you are considering an energy-efficient home.
Today, there are three common types of homes designed to accomplish this goal: net-zero, passive and low-load homes.
Join us as we look at what makes each type of energy-efficient home unique and the benefits that Chiltrix by Unico offers homeowners like you.
The Difference Between Net-Zero, Passive and Low-Load Homes
In the world of energy-efficient homes, the terms net-zero, passive and low-load are often used interchangeably. While these types of homes are all similar, there are some differences to note:
– Net-Zero Homes: Net-zero or “zero-energy” homes are specifically designed to generate renewable energy throughout the year on their own. This usually involves equipping the home with solar panels with an overall goal of producing as much energy as it consumes. Net-zero homes strive to use no power from the local grid and be as self-sufficient as possible.
– Passive Homes: Passive homes are designed to provide as much “natural” heating and cooling (non-mechanical) as possible to be more energy efficient. These types of homes don’t generate their own power. Instead, passive homes rely on properly placed windows, eaves, home orientation, landscaping, insulation, sealed structures and more.
– Low-Load Homes: The goal for low-load homes is to use less heating and cooling by achieving higher energy efficiency. These homes use insulation strategies, passive home designs and variable-speed HVAC systems.
Although each of these types of homes has unique distinctions, all three aim to minimize energy use and their overall global environmental impact. These homes maintain a balance between energy use and delivering a comfortable living environment.
The Benefits Chiltrix Can Offer Your Home
When choosing an energy-efficient HVAC system, there are many variables and personal preferences to consider. The process of finding the best option starts with what your goals as a homeowner are. For example, low-load homes often combine Chiltrix with The Unico System. By working together, these systems make air distribution in the home more efficient and help enhance dehumidification in the cooling season. The small-duct, high-velocity layout of The Unico System keeps rooms at optimal comfort while using less energy.
If you have a house with an existing duct and/or radiant heating system, replacing the boiler with Chiltrix is a great option. Since Chiltrix is an electric-driven heat pump, you’ll eliminate the need for fossil fuels. Plus, the system has a unique “monoblock” design, which means no refrigerant is present inside your home. Essential components like the compressor, evaporator and condenser are housed within an outdoor unit, giving you added peace of mind.
When Chiltrix and The Unico System are combined, there are benefits you won’t find with other options. For starters, both systems use variable-speed compressors and fans, highly effective heat exchangers and blowers, and the latest control strategies. That means less wasted power to achieve optimal comfort in every room in your house.
The Innovative Power Behind Chiltrix by Unico
In addition to the “monoblock,” Chiltrix has a variety of other benefits that are perfect for net-zero, passive and low-load homes:
• Design Flexibility: No matter the design of your energy-efficient home, Chiltrix offers the flexibility to integrate into various systems. It can be installed to support air conditioning, ventilation, underfloor heating, domestic hot water and more.
• Efficiency: Chiltrix by Unico is the highest-efficiency outdoor unit in its class on the market today. It’s the best solution for an “all-electric home” and sets the standard for residential heating and cooling.
• Specialized for Green Homes: Chiltrix is perfect for net-zero, passive and low-load homes. Chiltrix and The Unico System are the only pair of products on the market that specializes in green home applications.
Get a Better Way to Make Your Home Comfortable with Chiltrix
If you’re interested in achieving greater comfort and energy efficiency in your home, Chiltrix by Unico is worth considering. By harnessing the heat from outdoor air and transferring it to the water inside the system, Chiltrix offers unrivaled efficiency without compromising on comfort. Learn more about the value Chiltrix can offer your home today. And don’t forget to ask about our free Design Services to help find the best Chiltrix by Unico combination for your home.
by Unico Marketing Team | Feb 1, 2024 | Chiltrix
Over the last few years, more homeowners are choosing to re-invest in their current homes. One of the best ways to save on monthly bills while boosting the value of your home is with residential HVAC upgrades. The HVAC system plays a crucial role in your home’s comfort level, air quality and energy consumption.
While the value is clear, you might be wondering about the best way to upgrade your residential HVAC system. We’ve got you covered. Keep reading to discover why Chiltrix by Unico is one of your best upgrade options.
What Makes Chiltrix by Unico an Unmatched Upgrade for Residential HVAC
Air-to-water heat pumps, like Chiltrix, are rapidly growing in popularity. Instead of heating or cooling the air directly, Chiltrix air-to-water heat pumps use water, which is then efficiently circulated throughout the home through fan coil units, radiators, wall-mounted ductless units and more. By using water to affect the air temperature, you’ll be replacing fossil-fuel-burning boilers with a highly efficient electric system. Not only is Chiltrix more sustainable, you won’t have to worry about hydrocarbon refrigerants used in these boilers inside your home.
The Chiltrix System can also seamlessly integrate into energy-efficient HVAC systems like The Unico System. The Unico System uses a small-duct high-velocity system to create draft-free, even temperatures throughout your entire home.
3 Benefits to Expect When Upgrading Your Residential HVAC System with Chiltrix
If you’re looking to upgrade your residential HVAC system, Chiltrix offers three main benefits that make it one of the most preferred options.
1. Sustainability: With Chiltrix you’ll move away from fossil-fuel boilers and water heaters for an HVAC upgrade that’s more friendly to the environment. Plus, all the refrigerants will be outside the house, drastically lowering the risk of exposure.
2. Efficiency: Chiltrix is one of the most energy-efficient air-to-water heat pumps on the market. Thanks to the variable speed compressors, the system wastes less energy since it can easily operate at lower speeds. That means less energy use throughout the year without compromising indoor comfort.
3. Comfort: Water-based residential HVAC systems like Chiltrix make it easier to control custom temperatures in each room of your home. When it’s combined with The Unico System’s air distribution, you get even temperatures, efficient air filtration and reliable ventilation. These two HVAC systems combined can even get close to helping your home achieve a 0% load – where the home offsets most or all of its annual energy use.
How Chiltrix and The Unico System Work Together
The Unico System and Chiltrix are two separate systems that work together to heat and cool a home with high energy efficiency. The main link between the two systems is a buffer tank of conditioned water. Chiltrix uses a variable capacity self-contained refrigerant heat pump to ensure the water is the right temperature before it is used throughout the home. All the refrigerant is factory installed and is kept outside the home for added peace of mind. In fact, there’s no need to recharge the refrigerant unless it’s needed for service.
The Unico System draws the water from the Chiltrix tank and uses it to heat the air inside your home by passing it through a plate-fin heat exchanger. With any common thermostat, you’ll be able to control the temperature inside your home without ugly soffits or noise. Thanks to the efficiency of both systems, each room of your home can be set up with custom temperatures.
The Chiltrix system monitors the water tank on its own and adjusts itself to make sure the water is at the proper temperature for The Unico System to use. Outside of having both systems set to the same mode (heating or cooling), you won’t have to do any tedious manual adjustments between them. Since Chiltrix and The Unico System work so well together, it makes the entire HVAC solution much easier to service.
Residential HVAC Upgrades: What Home Factors You Need to Consider
If comfort and energy efficiency are important to you, Chiltrix is a great residential HVAC upgrade option. For anyone who lives in especially cold climates, you will likely need to add additional radiators or fan coils inside your home for the best energy efficiency. If you have an older home or one without ductwork, pairing The Unico System with Chiltrix is a perfect option. The Unico System is equipped with ducts that can fit in any space. Plus, the system takes up one-third of the space of a traditional HVAC system.
For new construction, combining Chiltrix with The Unico System can significantly help a home achieve low-load status. When these systems work together, you’ll have better zone temperature control, refrigeration management and HVAC simplicity.
Learn More About the Value Chiltrix Can Offer Your Home Today
Upgrade your residential HVAC system with the most efficient air-to-water heat pump on the market. Chiltrix helps your home be more comfortable while maintaining a high level of energy efficiency. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you find the perfect HVAC solution.
by Unico Marketing Team | Jan 4, 2024 | heating, Maintenance, Older Homes
With the weather getting colder it’s time to prepare your HVAC system for the change in temperature. The switch between blowing cool air in your home to heat is often a stress test for many HVAC systems. Without proper maintenance, your home could become less comfortable while driving up energy bills.
The good news is that a little preparation goes a long way for the winter. Join the heating and cooling experts at Unico as we share five tips to prepare your HVAC system for the heating season.
1. Make Sure Ducts and Vents are Clean
In the summer months, the warmer temperatures often increase the amount of dust, pet hair, pollen and other debris in the air – causing possible clogs in the ducts and vents in your home. These clogs will cause your furnace to work harder, use more energy, and will prevent warm air from circulating throughout your entire home, resulting in uncomfortable cold spots.
An easy way to help prepare your HVAC system for winter is to vacuum up any debris around the vents and intake vents. To ensure there are no clogs take off the vent grate to visually inspect the duct space.
Adjusting the flow of ducts in rooms that are harder to heat can also reduce the stress on a system. Since heat rises, first floor rooms often need more warm air to maintain a comfortable temperature.
2. Replace Your Air Filter Before Heating Season
The air filter being used in your HVAC system needs to be replaced regularly. When an HVAC air filter is dirty, the system must work harder to distribute warm air throughout the home. A dirty air filter not only poses some health risks by potentially allowing more contaminants in the air, it also can raise your energy bill.
The easiest way to check if your HVAC air filter needs to be replaced is by taking it out and looking at it. A filter that has a darker gray color and is hard to see through needs to be replaced.
3. Start Running the Heat Early
Before the weather outside gets consistently cold, run the heat in your house a couple of times to help prepare the HVAC system for winter. As you’re doing these test runs, pay attention to see if there is any noise that could indicate the unit is having trouble. If there are any issues that need to be fixed, it’s better to find out before you need to rely on the heating system every day. In fact, many HVAC manufacturers have recommended warm-up cycles prior to switching from cooling to heating season. Check your owner’s manual to confirm if this is the case.
4. Seal Your Doors and Windows
One of the main reasons why your home can stay warm during the winter is because of insulation. Think of your home as a seal, it needs to keep the warm air being distributed by the HVAC unit inside. The problem is that many homes (especially older ones), have small cracks around doors and windows where air can leak through. To help your HVAC system work less during heating season, it’s important to patch any of these openings you can find. That way, your home will be able to keep a warmer, more consistent temperature.
5. Take a Close Look Around Your Furnace
When it’s time to switch from heating to cooling season, it’s a good idea to do a quick inspection of your furnace. With most furnaces, you want to make sure that there’s nothing around it for roughly three to four feet. A furnace needs room to allow a clear and consistent airflow to efficiently heat the home. If your furnace is in a hard-to-reach place, call a professional to check the area.
Keep Your Home Comfortable This Winter with The Unico System
The Unico System is a small-duct, high-velocity HVAC system that provides whisper-quiet, draft-free, even temperatures for homes. It’s a high-efficiency system that’s flexible enough to match with almost any heat source or indoor air-quality system. Plus, its small, insulated ducts help prevent warm air from escaping, saving you money on your energy bill.
Learn more about the value, comfort and efficiency The Unico System can offer your home by finding a Unico Preferred Contractor near you today!
by Unico Marketing Team | Dec 21, 2023 | Cooling, Design Services, heating
Understanding which zone control method works best for your home can be complex—but it doesn’t have to be. If you live in an older, multi-floor home, you’ve likely run into issues controlling the temperature throughout. Almost all of us have experienced this from time to time, whether it’s a drafty room or an upstairs floor that fails to get cool in the summer or warm in the winter.
Although this is a common problem, zone control can help homeowners gain control of their comfort while saving on future energy bills. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, homeowners could save around 30% with proper HVAC circulation.
How does zone control work?
A zoned system is designed to independently heat or cool more than one space within your home, enabling better circulation and temperature control. This can be accomplished by modulating the airflow or air temperature flowing into each conditioned space. With The Unico System, there are several methods of zoning, depending on the number of units and level of control required.
So, what are the different methods for zone control?
1. Zoning with multiple units
This method is the most popular among homeowners with multiple floors due to its unlimited capability. Each unit conditions a separate floor and has its own thermostat, providing homeowners with simplicity and consistent temperature.
2. Zoning with a single unit
There are three different systems by which units operate, and each comes with its pros and cons. Matching your home’s unique needs with the right technology can maximize time, savings, and overall comfort. In all zoning systems, dampers play a critical role due to their ability to direct airflow, helping to regulate temperature within the HVAC system.
Here’s how each of these systems operate:
Hydronic systems
These systems use hot and chilled water to disperse heating and cooling throughout each space. They are the easiest to zone and pose no risk to coils freezing. It can get noisy when reducing the airflow, but a bypass damper can reduce the noise and recirculate the airflow.
Refrigerant systems
These systems are the hardest to zone as they pose risks to coils freezing and high discharge pressure, but ensuring the number of open outlets remains constant will help direct airflow and keep the system functioning properly.
Electric Duct Heater systems
Electric duct heaters are equipped to perform in areas with low airflow by converting electricity into heat through resistance. These systems serve as an energy-efficient solution by automatically distributing heat as needed, allowing rooms to heat up and maintain a comfortable temperature.
3. Zoning a single area with multiple units
When hosting parties and other gatherings at home, there may be concern on how the room will feel as more people fill in. Depending on the size of the space, installing multiple units throughout the room will help maintain the temperature—no matter how crowded the space gets.
Are you ready to maximize savings, limit energy use, and gain control of your comfort? Every home has its unique challenges, but a little bit of planning can go a long way. Contact our design services team free of charge to learn which of these three-zone control methods will best suit the needs of your home.
by Unico Marketing Team | Dec 12, 2023 | Chiltrix, Cooling, Custom Homes, Design Flexibility, Energy Effeciency, heating, Indoor Air Quality
In the world of HVAC, more custom and older homes are using an air-to-water heat pump to help with system efficiency. These pumps take the heat from the outside air, transfer it to water, and that water is used to efficiently keep the home temperature controlled. It’s a great way for you to have the comfort of radiant heat without the high level of greenhouse gas emissions that are common with gas boilers.
While The Unico System is known for giving homes draft-free, even temperatures, Chiltrix by Unico™ elevates this experience. Let’s take a closer look at how our small-duct high-velocity system pairs with Chiltrix’s air-to-water heat pump.
What Makes Chiltrix Different from Other Air-to-Water Heat Pumps?
Air-to-water heat pumps are rising in popularity and use; there is no shortage of systems to choose from for your project. What makes the Chiltrix system unique? For starters, all the essential components, including the evaporator, condenser, and compressor are housed within the outdoor unit of the system. This “Monoblock” design ensures that there’s no refrigerant present inside the home.
With Chiltrix, you can be confident that safety and environmental consciousness were the priority in the design of this air-to-water heat pump. It also takes advantage of R32 refrigerant, which has zero ozone-depleting potential, gives the entire HVAC system higher energy efficiency, and uses less refrigerant on average compared to other options.
It’s also worth mentioning that Chiltrix can seamlessly connect to your indoor HVAC system through insulated water lines—ensuring a more efficient way to have smooth heating and cooling.
How Chiltrix Helps with HVAC Energy Efficiency
Chiltrix is much more energy efficient than other heating and cooling systems powered by oil or gas. It doesn’t burn any oil or gas in the heating process, giving you the option to have a net-zero energy application when it’s used with solar panels. You’ll also get a high-efficiency hot water supply for the home, which can help reduce the cost of monthly energy bills.
What are the Main Benefits of Pairing Chiltrix with The Unico System?
Now that we know the unique benefits of Chiltrix, let’s dig into the advantages of combining it with The Unico System.
-HVAC Energy Efficiency: Chiltrix and The Unico System are the only HVAC product pairing on the market that specializes in zero energy and passive house installations. Unico has the leading high-efficiency hydronic air handler, and Chiltrix is the highest-efficiency source for hot and cold water. Together, the Unico and Chiltrix solution is one of the most energy-efficient HVAC systems available.
-Flexibility: Both Chiltrix and The Unico System have amazing flexibility for custom and older home projects. The Unico System is compact (ducts are roughly one-third the size of other options) and designed to fit where traditional HVAC systems can’t go. Chiltrix gives you more options in home design by being the perfect fit for underfloor heating, domestic hot water systems, radiant cooling, and more.
– Comfort Without the Noise: Some HVAC systems can be noisy when they’re switched on, which can cause disruptions in the home. With Chiltrix by Unico™, you won’t have to worry about it. Unico’s ducts are whisper-quiet, with supply tubing being designed to minimize sound.
Chiltrix follows suit with the ability for the outdoor unit to be placed up to 300 feet from the home. Get reliable comfort control without the noise.
Chiltrix by Unico™ for Your Custom and Older Home Projects
If you’re interested in improving the HVAC energy efficiency of your home or project, Chiltrix by Unico™ is a great option. The ultra-efficient HVAC solution that’s perfect for any home trying to incorporate more net zero energy.
Don’t compromise on comfort or efficiency with your HVAC system. See if Chiltrix by Unico is a good fit for your project today!
