Tom has spent more than 30 years with Unico, serving in roles ranging from PR to historic home coordination. His deep appreciation for historic architecture, combined with decades of industry experience, gives him a unique perspective on preserving older spaces while bringing them modern comfort.

Here’s what he had to say.

Why Historic Preservation Matters

1. From your perspective, why is historic preservation important today?

Tom: To truly understand our present and map our future, we MUST understand our past. Preserving places and structures – whether in a historical or design context – allows us to “time travel” – to literally step into the spaces and buildings of the past to experience them in the context of the now.

2. Over the years, have you seen attitudes toward preserving historic buildings change? If so, how?

Tom: Every generation brings their own perspective to preservation, so it’s only natural that as people change, preservation does too. Thankfully, there are longstanding organizations like the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Frank Lloyd Wright Conservancy and others who are dedicated to preserving historic and architecturally significant structures for generations yet to come.

The HVAC Challenge in Older Homes

3. What makes HVAC installation especially challenging in historic homes and buildings?

Tom: Preservationists must walk a fine line, especially when it comes to public and shared spaces. They have the challenge of making spaces comfortable and useful by contemporary standards while still preserving historic structural and aesthetic design elements. HVAC makes that difficult because it must be retrofitted into spaces that were never designed for it – because it simply didn’t exist in that space’s original timeline.

4. How does The Unico System help solve problems that traditional HVAC systems often create in preservation projects?

Tom: Simply put, it fits where traditional HVAC systems can’t, avoiding the structural disruption “shoehorning” traditional systems into a building requires. Additionally, it’s more aesthetically pleasing than bulky dirty rectangular diffusers or room-by-room “wall wart” systems. As an added benefit, The Unico System also provides superior comfort and energy efficiency.

5. Are there specific architectural styles or historic properties where The Unico System works particularly well?

Tom: The fact that it can fit into the smallest of spaces means that there is no particular architectural style that cannot benefit from The Unico System. From Colonial and Federalist to Victorian and Mid Century Modern – retrofitting Unico will not disrupt the original design and aesthetic elements of your home.

Why Preservationists Choose Unico

6. Can you share a memorable historic preservation project you’ve worked on or heard about involving The Unico System?

Tom: Three structures in Washington, DC involving President Lincoln: his cottage, the retreat where he took respite during the Civil War; Ford’s Theater – the site of his assassination; and the Peterson Home, across from the theater where Lincoln died. We’re very proud that visitors who come to soak up the history of these iconic places can do so in absolute comfort.

7. What are some common mistakes contractors or homeowners make when retrofitting HVAC into older buildings?

Tom: “Shoehorning” a system in – e.g. dropping ceilings, building chases, soffits, or bulkheads to conceal ductwork. None of this is necessary with The Unico System.

8. How do preservationists typically react when they learn about The Unico System?

Tom: They love it! Because of the challenges presented by conventional or stop-gap HVAC solutions, preservationists typically cringe when it comes to these mechanical add-ons. But once they learn of The Unico System, they understand there’s a way to let comfort fit in.

9. In your opinion, what features of The Unico System are most valuable for maintaining the integrity of historic interiors?

Tom: The system’s smaller indoor unit, duct size and unobtrusive diffusers that can blend into any decor.

Unico’s Role in Historic Preservation

10. Looking back on your years with Unico, what role do you think the company has played in the historic preservation space?

Tom: We’re very proud of the fact that we are the only HVAC system recommended by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

11. Is there anything else you think people should understand about preserving older buildings and integrating modern systems into them?

Tom: Only that there IS a way to preserve historic structures while providing 21^st century comfort. The Unico System is that way.

Whether you’re a homeowner, contractor, architect, engineer, or builder working on historic property, The Unico System makes it possible to preserve architectural integrity without sacrificing comfort.

Not sure how a high-efficiency HVAC system could fit into your project? Unico offers a free design service to help you visualize how the system can work within your space.

The Unico System | Comfort Fit For Your Projects

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With older homes, it can be challenging to keep its classic aesthetic intact while incorporating a modern HVAC system that provides comfort all year round. The good news is that there’s a solution. Join us as we share why The Unico System is the right choice for homeowners looking to preserve interior woodwork.

Little to No Remodeling Required

With traditional HVAC systems, you might have to remodel your existing home to accommodate new ductwork. This doesn’t just add in an extra cost, some of the woodwork in your older home could be affected. The Unico System requires little to no remodeling and goes where other systems can’t. The modular air handlers and coils can easily be installed in older homes without disrupting your woodwork.

The adaptable small ducts are designed to be fed through existing walls, floors and ceiling cavities. You won’t have to gut the interior of an older home to get an HVAC system that provides optimal comfort. That means less dust, mess and disruptive construction paired with a faster installation process.

The Unico System Can Match Any Décor and Woodwork

One of the largest issues owners of older homes run into when updating the HVAC system is matching the vents, ducts and soffits to existing décor. Metal grates can be an eyesore and chip away at the character of established woodwork. With The Unico System, you won’t have to sacrifice your home’s classic look to get comfortable draft-free temperatures.

The Unico System has a wide variety of outlet choices that are designed to fit into the aesthetic of older homes. No matter what type of woodwork your home has, Unico outlets can be stained or painted to match. It’s also important to talk about the flexibility of these outlets. Unlike traditional HVAC solutions, The Unico System outlets can easily be installed in floors, ceilings and even supporting walls.

The small outlets deliver up to nine tons of air while taking up one-third of the space compared to traditional HVAC systems. With the outlets being small and designed to match your woodwork, you’ll hardly even notice that they’re in the room.

The Unico Systems Removes 30% More Humidity

As an owner of an older home with woodwork, it’s important to monitor indoor humidity. High humidity in your home can cause woodwork to absorb excess moisture, which often leads to cracks, gaps, uneven spots and damaged joints. Many traditional HVAC systems have a hard time lowering the amount of moisture in conditioned spaces. The good news is that The Unico System can help keep your woodwork preserved by removing 30% more humidity.

How does it work? For starters, The Unico System is designed to maximize the efficiency of the cooling coils, which creates a comfortable indoor space. Unico’s moisture control capabilities are due to the variable-capacity heat pumps in the system. These pumps help lower the humidity in the air instead of just cycling the air around the home. The Unico System even helps you save on energy by being able to run during low-load periods (times when the system uses less energy), like mild summer days.

With The Unico System, you’ll be able to say goodbye to your home’s wood floors being creakier or wood-framed windows getting stuck in the summer. It’s so efficient at helping preserve woodwork that the National Trust for Historic Preservation recommended Unico to be used for President Lincoln’s Cottage in Washington, D.C. Visitors now get to experience the history and character of the museum with optimal comfort.

Help Keep Your Woodwork Preserved with The Unico System

You don’t have to compromise on comfort when preserving your home’s woodwork. As a leader in small-duct, high-velocity heating and cooling, The Unico System is the best choice for older homes. Get started on preserving your home’s woodwork by finding a Unico preferred contractor in your area today!

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The Unico System, a high-efficiency cooling and heating system, can be discreetly retrofitted into historic homes without the need for extensive remodeling or intrusive ductwork. There’s less mess, less dust, less installation time— and no need to get your home for installation whether you’re replacing or supplementing your radiant heating system.

The Unico System offers three configurations in radiator homes:

– Connected to an existing boiler

– Connected to a heat pump

– Connected to an electric duct heater

Here are 10 ways small duct systems can increase comfort in homes by replacing a home radiator.

Home Comfort

Efficient supplemental system. Small duct systems can supplement old radiators or boiler systems. In colder climates where radiators are needed to deliver warmth after the temperatures drop below freezing, Unico efficiently improves comfort in the fall and spring. Plus, Unico also delivers the same home comfort in the summer when it’s time to turn on your air conditioner.

Draft-free. A small duct heating system eliminates drafts. That means no more chills down the back of your neck when your heat isn’t running. Air is heated inside the central system and is released at a higher temperature, creating a more even warmth than systems that draw air from the outside. Unwanted drafts are often caused by systems that pull in outdoor air and need to work harder to warm the cold air coming into the system.

Ultraviolet light. When installed with an ultraviolet (UV) light, The Unico System penetrates and kills harmful bacteria and viruses as it delivers clean air throughout your home. UV lights have been used in hospitals and water treatment plants for years, and now you can have the same benefits in your home.

Air filtration. Are allergies a concern? If so, The Unico System has an air filter rated MERV 13, which filters out particles as small as 3 microns, including pollen, dust and other allergens. Why is MERV 13 important? That’s the standard hospitals use when rating their air systems. Because Unico is a compact system with small air registers, it traps less dust and allergens in the system compared to traditional and mini split systems.

Even temperature. Radiators make the surrounding air warm but do little to circulate it, making the air hot near the heater and cool everywhere else. Small duct systems circulate air evenly throughout every room of the home. With The Unico System’s SMART Control Board, your HVAC system intelligently delivers consistent temperature to every room. That means the same temperature in every room—even rooms that always seem to be warmer or cooler than the rest of the house.

Fits in Your Space

Reclaim floor space. Old radiators can take up an inconvenient amount of floor space in a room, and newer versions still require a significant amount of space near the wall. Small duct outlets are only 2” to 2.5” in diameter and can be placed on the floor, wall, or ceiling—wherever it will be out of the way for the design of the room. Installing a small duct system would let you regain floor space in your home.

Works with boilers and hot water heaters. When installed with the Unico Hot Water Coil, The Unico System can bring ducted heating and cooling to homes with a boiler already in place. Hydronic heating is a modern solution to an old radiator heater. The Unico Hot Water Coil is designed to integrate with boilers, hot water heaters, and radiant systems, such as radiators, baseboard heating and in-floor heating.

Ideal for historic homes. Small ducts fit in most homes without requiring major renovation. Air supply tubing is flexible and can be inserted into existing tight spaces. This makes mini ducts the best choice for historic or older homes where you want to maintain the home’s character and want your heating system to have minimal visual impact. Plus, Unico has partnered with the National Trust for Historic Preservation since 2002 and has been installed at sites, such as President Lincoln’s Cottage.

Sustainable Heat

Reduce fossil fuels. Looking to reduce your home’s carbon footprint? Supplementing a radiant system with small duct heating helps you convert from burning fossil fuels to a more sustainable solution. When configured with a heat pump or electric duct heater, your Unico System generates heat from geothermal or electric sources.

Regulation compliance. The Unico System helps homes meet changing energy consumption regulations that are being adopted by state legislatures across the country. Most of these regulations are aimed at new home construction, but major renovations may also be affected. Fortunately, installing a Unico System requires little to no renovation and improves efficiency by delivering comfort at a lower thermostat setting. The Unico System’s airtight supply tubing means 100% of the warm air is used to improve home comfort.

To learn more, find your local contractor for more information.

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