Did you know that the modular home market is expected to grow at an average of 6 percent each year until 2028? As this market expands, more home building companies are looking for ways to streamline their manufacturing. The process of finding the right HVAC system for modular homes is often a challenge. Traditional systems often feature bulky ductwork that may not seamlessly integrate in your design plans.

The Unico System Offers Unmatched Design Flexibility

When a modular home is being built, there are some HVAC systems that slow down the process and create roadblocks. With a traditional HVAC unit, extra time might need to be spent adjusting the design to accommodate the size of the system’s components. For example, a wall might need to be brought in a foot or two so the ductwork can be installed. The Unico System doesn’t require you to build around bulky HVAC components.

The Unico System is small enough to fit in between the floor and roof system (or modules) during the construction process. With most of the ductwork running through the interstitial space, all you’ll see in the rooms are the round outlets. Those outlets can also be customized to match almost any décor. With The Unico System as the HVAC solution for your modular home, you get a less invasive solution that provides optimal comfort.

Installation and Training at the Factory

One of the greatest benefits for modular manufacturers and builders is that both installation and training can be done on-site at the factory. In most cases, a member of the Unico team will then meet you at the job site to oversee the connections between the modules. This ensures that the modules are properly fitted as well as allowing for any adjustments, should they be needed. Therefore, minimizing any potential issues that may arise during the installation process.

Get Energy Efficiency Without Sacrificing Comfort

More and more modular homebuyers want an energy-efficient residence which is the reason why modular home builders are creating passive and net zero designs. If you’re looking for an energy-efficient HVAC system, Unico is the solution. With traditional HVAC units, heat often leaks through the walls of the ducts. While there are building practices that address this, there’s less flexibility with modular homes since a uniform design needs to be followed, which isn’t ideal for traditional HVAC systems.

• Heat can leak through the walls of the duct (thermal loss) and air can leak through its seams (duct leakage). In both cases, the Unico System is far superior to a conventional system. Insulation and size determine the thermal loss. Workmanship and design determine the duct leakage.
• The Unico System ductwork has 1/3 the surface area of conventional ducting so before it is even installed the Unico System ductwork has 1/3 less thermal loss. The supply tubing is also wrapped with insulation and an outer vapor barrier, which keeps nearly all of the thermal energy within the duct.
• In the case of duct leakage, the Unico SDHV system is engineered for simplicity and air tightness. It has been documented through third-party testing that traditional systems can lose up to 25% of the air that the unit puts out through leaky ductwork. The Unico System loses less than 5%. This means that with the Unico System you’re getting what you pay for.

The Unico System doesn’t have this issue since its ductwork takes up only a third of the surface area and only allows a third of the thermal loss of traditional HVAC systems. Every piece of supply tubing is wrapped in insulation and an outer vapor barrier to help keep almost all the thermal energy inside the duct. Through third-party testing, it was found that traditional HVAC systems can lose up to 25% of the air being pushed throughout a home, while The Unico System loses less than 5%.

With insulation supply tubing, The Unico System creates a gentle suction that draws the air in the room into its airflow. The result is a temperature differential that’s no more than 2% from the thermostat setting across the entire modular home.

Give Your Modular Home Manufacturing More Flexibility

Instead of having to compromise your modular home design to accommodate an HVAC system, choose an option that can fit into any space. No matter what type of modular home design you’re manufacturing, The Unico System is the right HVAC solution. This small yet powerful HVAC system won’t compromise your design and can deliver comfort throughout the home.

Because The Unico System’s supply tubing is lined with a nylon inner core that absorbs the sound and vibration of air being pushed through the system, The Unico System runs whisper-quiet.

The Unico System Design Process for Modular Homes

If you are a manufacturer or architect, Contact our Design Services Team today and we will look at your modular home plans and develop a system configuration that works. You’ll even be able to install part of the system at the factory for increased efficiency.

If you are a homeowner, Find a Unico Rep to start the process of developing a system configuration that works best for your modular home plans.

The post Why The Unico System is the Right Solution for Modular Homes appeared first on The Unico System.

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.

The post Gain control of your comfort with these 3 zone control methods appeared first on The Unico System.

The process of building ducts inside the conditioned space has led many projects to use ductless systems as the solution. What if there was a better way? Join us as we dive into why The Unico System is the best option for building ducts in conditioned spaces.

Why You Should Choose The Unico System Over Ductless Options

While ductless systems may seem like a great option for keeping ducts inside the home, they come with one big disadvantage—altering the aesthetics. Ductless units are hung on walls indoors. This sticks out and clashes with the design of the home. Many homeowners say that these units look bulky, especially when surrounded by the modern look of a custom home.

The Unico System is virtually unnoticeable while providing optimal comfort. By being 33% the size of traditional ductwork, Unico ducts can be threaded through tight spaces. You’ll even have the option of running ductwork through hallways for super short runs into every room. Homeowners can also get customized soffits to match the paint color or floor material.

Having Ducts in Conditioned Spaces Gives You Higher HVAC Quality

With ducts in conditioned spaces, you’ll have greater visibility of the HVAC system. If the system is in the attic or crawl space, they are out of sight, making it easier for problems to arise without the homeowner knowing. When ducts are built inside the conditioned space of the home, everything is visible and can be easily accessed in the floor joist space.

The process of getting ducts in conditioned spaces is much easier when it’s started during the design phase of custom home construction. Unico’s Design Services is a free resource that uses your project plans to calculate the right number of ducts each room needs. Given the compact size and high speed of Unico ducts, you’ll have more freedom with outlets that are only five inches in diameter.

The Unico System Has Smaller Ducts with High Velocity

In most cases, traditional ductwork is around six inches in diameter. The size of these ducts often makes it challenging to run them throughout the inside of home without running into other essential parts of the infrastructure. The Unico System has small ductwork that is only two inches in diameter. That means you’ll have much more flexibility in how the home is conditioned.

This small-duct high-velocity system can deliver up to nine tons of conditioned air without compromising the design of a new home. With The Unico System, it’s easier to optimize the HVAC energy efficiency of a home. Smaller high-velocity ducts are a great option to get efficiency credits that many local utilities and governments offer for new home construction.

The Unico System Offers Draft-free, Even Temperatures

The Unico System also creates efficiency by ensuring each room is conditioned with draft-free, even temperatures, which is accomplished in two ways:

1. The supply tubing used in The Unico System is wrapped in insulation and an outer vapor barrier to keep more thermal energy within the ducts. Ducts that are run through the home will have less thermal loss.

2. The Unico System uses a principle called aspiration to create a gentle suction around itself that draws the room air into its stream of cooled air. This delivers draft-free, even cooling, from room to room, floor to floor, and floor to ceiling.

The Unico System is the Best Choice for Building with Ducts Inside

The Unico System makes the HVAC system more efficient for custom home projects. Get draft-free, even temperatures for each room and create more effective duct runs. If you’re interested in seeing the benefits small ducts can offer your project, be sure to reach out to our Design Services team.

The post Building with Ducts Inside – Why Unico is the Best Option appeared first on The Unico System.

The good news is that the right HVAC partner can make your next project easier. If you’re planning on using the Unico System in an upcoming build, support isn’t far away. Keep reading to discover why you should use Unico’s Design Services.

Unico’s HVAC Design Services are Free

Unico has free design services to help make the HVAC portion of your projects easier. Here’s how it works. First, you’ll need to submit the design and layout of your project. A PDF file is preferred, and you’ll want to get specific about the type of insulation used in the building, what kind of windows you’re working with, and an elevation view. The more detail you can provide, the more accurate Unico’s recommendation will be for the type of HVAC system that’s needed.

It’s also important to mention that Unico Design Services for HVAC systems are completely free, and it includes:

• A Manual J HVAC load calculation to determine the right small-duct high-velocity HVAC system needed for your project.
• A full HVAC system layout that includes an estimated material list to make the planning and installation of the project easier.
• A drawing of supply and return duct locations overlayed on your project’s design plan.

Unico’s Design Services for HVAC Systems is Powered by Wrightsoft

As a builder or contractor, it’s important to know that Unico Design Services use Wrightsoft (an industry leading HVAC design software) to help make your HVAC plan more accurate. Not only is Wrightsoft known throughout the HVAC industry for its reliability, but the software is a Manual J (calculation to help determine the correct size for an HVAC unit being added to a building). In many states across the country, Manual J is required to obtain certain building permits.

The Wrightsoft data also is used to construct a visual to show you how a Unico small-duct high-velocity HVAC system would look in your building project. While it’s nice to see the recommended locations for ducts in this visual, The Unico System has an added benefit: due to the system’s flexibility, you can install the ducts virtually anywhere in the room or zone. This eliminates the tedious process of changing other building elements to accommodate ducts.

You’ll Be in Contact with Our Small-Duct High-Velocity HVAC System Experts

When you submit plans to Unico Design Services, our team will be there to support you. If there are questions about your project, an expert will reach out to help create the best load calculation possible. Since we know how fast building projects can move, it’s our goal to deliver design plans within 10 business days of your submission.

To help personalize the design plan for your project, our team gathers data about the building and local codes to help the calculations be exceptionally accurate. At Unico, we’re dedicated to making projects easier.

Try Unico’s HVAC Design Services for Your Next Project

If you want to make HVAC planning and installation easier for your next project, try Unico Design Services. This complementary service is just another way Unico supports those who want to find the best HVAC solution.

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