If you’re considering a mini-split, it’s worth understanding how The Unico System offers a different approach. Designed for whole-home comfort, The Unico System addresses many of the challenges homeowners face when aesthetics, humidity control, and consistent temperatures matter most.

The Unico System vs. Mini-Splits: Key Differences

Both The Unico System and mini-splits can provide heating and cooling, but they take different approaches to delivering conditioned air throughout a home.

Indoor Unit Visibility

Mini-splits typically use wall-mounted indoor units that remain visible in each conditioned space. The Unico System uses small, discreet outlets installed in ceilings, walls, or floors, allowing the HVAC system to blend into the home’s design.

Whole-Home Air Distribution

Mini-splits are often designed around individual zones or rooms. The Unico System is designed to provide consistent whole-home comfort using aspiration, a process that gently mixes conditioned air with the existing air in the room.

Humidity Control

Humidity can have a major impact on how comfortable a home feels. The Unico System is designed to remove up to 30% more humidity than many conventional HVAC systems, helping create a cooler, drier indoor environment.

Installation in Challenging Spaces

Mini-splits do not require traditional ductwork, but they still require visible indoor units and refrigerant lines. The Unico System uses flexible small ducts that can be routed through existing walls, ceilings, attics, and floor cavities, making it well suited for renovations, historic homes, and custom homes.

Preserve the Beauty of Your Home

Your HVAC system should enhance your home’s comfort, not compete with its design.

Whether you’ve invested in custom finishes, restored a historic property, or built your dream home, visible indoor HVAC units can distract from the overall aesthetic. The Unico System was designed with this in mind.

Instead of large wall-mounted units, conditioned air is delivered through small, discreet outlets that blend seamlessly into ceilings, walls, or floors. Flexible small ducts remain hidden behind the scenes, allowing your home’s architecture and interior design to remain the focal point.

For homeowners who value clean lines and timeless design, this can make all the difference.

Enjoy Consistent Whole-Home Comfort

Heating and cooling should feel effortless.

Rather than creating noticeable temperature differences between rooms, The Unico System utilizes aspiration, a process that gently mixes conditioned air with the existing air in the room. This creates consistent temperatures throughout the home while minimizing drafts and reducing hot and cold spots.

The result is a more balanced and comfortable living environment from room to room.

Improve Indoor Humidity Control

Comfort is about more than temperature.

High humidity can leave your home feeling warm and uncomfortable even when the thermostat says otherwise. That’s why humidity control is one of the defining characteristics of The Unico System.

By removing up to 30% more humidity than many conventional HVAC systems, The Unico System helps create a cooler, drier indoor environment. Homeowners can enjoy improved comfort without constantly adjusting the thermostat.

Designed for Homes Where Space Is Limited

Not every home has room for bulky ductwork or visible mechanical equipment.

The Unico System uses flexible small ducts that can be routed through existing walls, ceilings, attics, and floor cavities with minimal disruption. This makes it an excellent solution for older homes, historic renovations, custom homes, and other projects where preserving the home’s structure and appearance is essential.

Instead of designing your home around your HVAC system, The Unico System is designed to fit your home.

Go Beyond Heating and Cooling

Today’s homeowners expect more from their HVAC system.

The Unico System can be paired with whole-home indoor air quality solutions such as advanced filtration, UV air purification, ERVs, and HRVs. Combined with humidity control and consistent air distribution, it delivers a complete indoor comfort solution designed for modern living.

How to Choose the Right HVAC System for Your Home

The right HVAC system depends on the needs of your home, your comfort goals, and your renovation or construction plans.

A mini-split may be a good option when individual room or zone conditioning is the primary goal. The Unico System may be a better fit for homeowners looking for whole-home comfort, discreet outlets, hidden ductwork, and humidity control.

Your home’s layout, existing infrastructure, available space, and design goals should all be considered when choosing an HVAC system.

Get a Custom HVAC System Design for Your Home

Every home is different, which is why every HVAC system should be thoughtfully designed.

At The Unico System, our free design service helps contractors and homeowners determine the ideal system layout for each project. Our team performs load calculations and develops a custom design to help ensure your home receives the quiet, efficient, and comfortable performance The Unico System is known for.

If you’re researching mini-splits, take the time to explore another option. The Unico System delivers whole-home comfort, humidity control, and a discreet design that preserves the beauty of your home while providing lasting performance for years to come.

The post The Unico System vs. Mini-Splits: Which HVAC System Is Right for Your Home? appeared first on The Unico System.

One of the charms of owning an older home is enjoying the period craftmanship that went into its construction. The old cliché, “they don’t build them like they used to” is readily evident in older homes that have structural and finishing details that are no longer seen in modern homes.

However, an HVAC solution that fits with and doesn’t disrupt the artistry of these homes can be a challenge. Let alone one that provides lasting comfort and energy efficiency. This is exactly why The Unico System small-duct high velocity solution was created.

Many older homes relied on steam systems for heat or were built before the inclusion of ductwork for air conditioning. These homes often lack the necessary space to run traditional ducts without major renovations or compromises to the living space’s architectural aesthetics. In many of these homes, plaster and lathe walls reduce the interior wall cavity space, and floor joists weren’t built to modern sizing standards.

Small Ducts for Tight Spaces

The Unico System was designed with the space limitations of these homes in mind. Unico ducts are engineered to fit within small areas in existing walls and ceilings. Unico System supply ducts are only 2 inches in diameter, making it easy to work them into almost any older home structure. They’re also flexible, which gives HVAC contractors the ability to thread them through spaces that can’t fit traditional ducts.

Compact Equipment

Another advantage The Unico System has for older homes is the air handling unit (AHU). With traditional HVAC systems, the AHU is often large and box-shaped, which makes it difficult to find space to accommodate it. The Unico System AHU is small and compact enough to fit in tight attics, crawlspaces, cubby holes, or even small closets. And the system’s main trunk ducting, or plenum, is one-third the size of traditional forced air ducting, allowing it to fit in cramped areas. It’s just another way Unico makes older homes more comfortable without the need for extensive renovations.

Made to Match Your Older Home’s Style

Lastly, The Unico System uses discreet outlets rather than conventional rectangular registers. They are available in round and slotted configurations that can easily be further customized and can be painted, stained, or wall-papered to match the aesthetic style of your older home. The unique look of your older home will remain unchanged since Unico outlets virtually disappear in the existing decor.

So, whether your home is Colonial Revival, Queen Anne, Federalist, Victorian, or Mid-Century Modern, The Unico System is the perfect HVAC solution. Since its inception, The Unico System has been installed in all these home styles and more, including many properties listed on national, state, and local historic registries.

Supported by Old House Journal and Arts & Crafts Homes as a premier choice for small-duct HVAC in historic and home preservation.

Old House Journal helps you restore, repair, update, and decorate your home. Find how-to stories, design ideas, and hard-to-find products.

Click here to learn more

The post From Victorian to Mid-Century Modern: How Unico Fits Any Older Home appeared first on The Unico System.

Where The Unico System Excels

1. Limited Space Applications- The Unico System is ideal for homes where space for traditional ductwork is scarce.

2. Superior Comfort- Compared to traditional HVAC systems, Unico delivers enhanced comfort through better humidity control, elimination of drafts, and consistent temperatures throughout the home. While every homeowner values superior comfort, the space-saving aspect makes Unico the best solution for specific home styles.

Best-Suited Home Styles

Our system is particularly beneficial for:

1. Older Homes- Built before modern forced-air ductwork was common, these homes often lack space for bulky HVAC components.

2. Custom Homes- Designed with unique architectural elements like open floor plans and vaulted ceilings, these homes present challenges for traditional HVAC systems.

a. It also extends to architect-designed homes, as well as modular, log and timber, and low-load or passive and Net Zero homes.

The Unico System Stands Out

The Unico System’s compact, modular components-including smaller plenum ducting, flexible supply tubing, and discreet air distribution outlets-make it the best HVAC solution for homes where space is at a premium.

Beyond space efficiency, our system delivers:

· Better Comfort- Reduced humidity, draft elimination, and even temperatures from floor to ceiling

· Better Aesthetics- Small, unobtrusive outlets that seamlessly blend into any décor.

What About Traditional Homes?

If your home was originally designed with space for a traditional HVAC system, can The Unico System still be option? Absolutely! While our SDHV system was created to solve space constraints, its flexibility allows it to enhance comfort in any home.

That’s the beauty of The Unico System-adaptable, efficient, and designed for ultimate comfort, no matter the home.

The post Small-Duct, High-Velocity (SDHV) vs. Traditional Ductwork: Which is Right for Your Home? appeared first on The Unico System.

In this final installment of our HVAC replacement series, we’re going to focus on small-duct, high-velocity (SDHV) systems. The Unico System is the leader in this HVAC technology. However, the SDHV system is a newer technology in the HVAC industry and knowing when a unit needs to be replaced isn’t always easy.

The Unico System is here to help. Let’s get into more detail about how to tell when it’s time to swap out an SDHV system and what options you should consider replacing it with.

When is it Time to Replace an SDHV HVAC System?

SDHV systems are known to have smaller outlets that are less noisy than traditional HVAC systems. With many traditional units, hearing the fan or motor straining to operate is a textbook sign that the system needs to be replaced. With SDHV systems, the replacement signs are often more subtle. You’ll want to be on the lookout for:

• A Decline in Energy Efficiency: Small-duct, high-velocity HVAC systems have tight joints and insulated tubing for increased energy efficiency. If you notice that your home’s heating and cooling bill has increased, it could be a sign that the HVAC unit needs to be replaced. SDHV systems at the end of their life cycle are more likely to lose air velocity, making the whole unit work harder to keep rooms at an even temperature.
• The Age of Your HVAC System: Even though SDHV units are efficient and provide optimal comfort, no system can last forever. Core elements of these systems, like the heat pump, blower coil and air handler, all have shelf lives. Many of the key components have estimated life spans provided by the manufacturer. If your HVAC system is more than 10 years old, it’s time to pay close attention to how it’s operating.
• Longer Heating and Cooling Cycles: SDHV units don’t just dump air into rooms like traditional HVAC systems. The SDHV system has fairly uniform heating and cooling cycles. If you notice that these cycles have gotten longer, it’s a sign that the system isn’t running as efficiently—that the unit is struggling to keep up with the temperature set by the thermostat. If this issue persists, call a professional to inspect the system and see if you might need to replace it.

Why The Unico System is the Best Replacement Option for Small-Duct, High-Velocity HVAC Systems

Once you have the comfort and efficiency that a small-duct, high-velocity HVAC system provides, it’s hard to go back. Luckily, you won’t have that problem when choosing The Unico System as your HVAC solution. To create a draft-free environment with even temperatures, The Unico System takes advantage of a process called aspiration. The small, high-velocity ducts placed throughout each room create a gentle suction that draws air into their streams. You can expect a temperature differential no more than 2 degrees from what the thermostat is set to.

Unlike some other small-duct, high-velocity HVAC systems, Unico has a wide selection of outlet choices designed to match any décor. Unico outlets can also be painted or stained to perfectly match the interior design. Plus, the small outlets are less invasive and can be installed in ceilings, sidewalls and floors so that they’re hardly even noticeable.

Get Free Designs Services with The Unico System

When you’re replacing an existing SDHV system, Unico is here to do the hard part. When you submit plans to our Design Services team, they’ll figure out the best system configuration for your home and provide an estimated materials list. When it comes to indoor comfort, there’s no better HVAC option than The Unico System. Contact our Design Services team today to get started.

The post HVAC Replacement Series Part 3: Your Guide to Replacing a SDHV HVAC System appeared first on The Unico System.

In part two of our HVAC replacement series, we’re going to identify the signs that it is time to replace a mini split system and some of the best upgrade options to consider.

When is it Time to Replace a Mini Split HVAC System?

Mini split systems have units that attach to a wall or window to condition the room. While it allows precise heating and cooling, mini splits require a unit present in each space that needs to be temperature controlled. Each unit requires routine maintenance, which can add up quickly. In fact, one of the key signs that a mini split system needs to be replaced is increasingly frequent breakdowns and repairs. Since mini split units can be costly to fix, it’s important to weigh those repairs against the cost of upgrading to a better HVAC system.

Other signs to look for include:

• Having an Older System: The lifespan of mini split systems averages 10 to 15 years. Any unit past this window will likely need to be replaced.
• Rising Energy Costs: If your mini split unit isn’t conditioning your home air efficiently, your monthly energy bills can increase. It’s a sign that the system needs to run more often to keep up with the temperature set by the thermostat.
• Units Making Noise: Usually, mini split systems are quiet while they’re conditioning rooms. If you hear any part of the system making noise, it’s a sign that it could be damaged.

Why You Should Choose The Unico System to Replace a Mini Split System

One of the biggest disadvantages of a mini split system is how the appearance of indoor units clash with the interior. Even when these units are designed to have a low visual impact, they still stick out. With The Unico System, you won’t have to worry about this issue. The air outlet vents are designed to match the décor of almost any home. The vents can be painted or stained to match a variety of interior design styles from modern homes to log cabins. Since The Unico System ducts are small, they can be installed into the floor, ceiling, and even sidewalls.

Get Better Indoor Air Quality for Your Home

Most mini split HVAC systems feature a reusable filter that operates within each individual unit. Since these filters need to be small to fit inside the system, they provide less air filtration when compared to The Unico System. They also need to be cleaned or replaced more often, adding to more ongoing HVAC maintenance.

Air filters for HVAC systems often have a MERV rating. A higher rating means there’s more air restriction to help the filter and capture smaller particles. Mini split systems are often not designed or compatible with high MERV-rated filters. Thanks to its small-duct, high-velocity design, The Unico System can easily handle the high-pressure drops caused by air restrictions, which is why it can be outfitted with MERV 13 filters, offering exceptional protection against airborne particulates.

Since the ducts are smaller with The Unico System, it’s easier to incorporate a UV light cabinet into the system to help disinfect the air that circulates through your home. This offers peace of mind by reducing airborne bacteria and improves your overall indoor air quality.

Optimal Comfort While Being Whisper Quiet

Since there are individual units in every room, mini split systems have zone control. However, they cannot reach the same level of temperature control as The Unico System. Each mini split unit dumps air into a room and often causes uneven temperatures since the system has less power dedicated to circulating air. You do not run into this issue with The Unico System. Through an air principle called aspiration, the ducts create a suction that pulls air around the room into its stream of air. This creates a temperature differential of no more than two to three degrees from what your thermostat is set to.

Every HVAC system, including mini split units, makes noise while running. Even though mini split units are quieter than a traditional system, most of them are not insulated like The Unico System. The Unico air supply tubing uses a nylon inner core that is designed to absorb noise caused by air moving through the system. Even the air handler is designed to isolate noise and vibration to help ensure the entire system stays quiet. It works so effectively that you won’t even notice The Unico System running.

Upgrade Your Home HVAC with The Unico System

By replacing a mini split HVAC system, you could make your home more comfortable, energy efficient, and improve indoor air quality. Find a Unico Preferred Contractor near you to get the process started.

Photo Credit: Mike Casey, This Old House

The post HVAC Replacement Series Part 2: Your Guide to Replacing a Mini Split HVAC System appeared first on The Unico System.

Join us to learn about when it’s time to replace a traditional HVAC system, how their performance compares to other options, and more!

An Overview of Traditional HVAC Systems

With a traditional HVAC system, one of the biggest advantages they offer is being budget friendly. Homes due for a heating and cooling makeover will often go with a traditional HVAC unit because they know what to expect. Plus, if a home has existing ductwork built into the infrastructure, these systems can be installed with limited hassle and downtime.

Unfortunately, traditional HVAC systems have a few drawbacks as well. For starters, they’re not the most energy-efficient option for homes. These units don’t condition the entire room evenly since air is dumped into the space usually from one vent. This leads to uneven temperatures, which causes a traditional HVAC system to run longer as it works to catch up to the thermostat. It’s also important to note that these systems take up a lot of space, which can make adding on or upgrading them more challenging.

When Should You Replace a Traditional HVAC System?

One of the best ways to figure out if your HVAC system needs to be replaced is looking at how much is being spent per year on repairs and maintenance. If you’re spending $1,000 to $1,500 on upkeep in a year, it’s time to consider replacing the system. Other signs that indicate it’s time to swap out your system include:

• Seeing your monthly energy bills rise

• Rooms in your house have uneven temperatures

• The current HVAC system is always running

• Your HVAC system is more than 10 years old

At the start of the replacement process, you’ll want to take a close look at your home to see what other improvements need to be made to support a new HVAC system. For example, if your home still has the original windows, you may want to upgrade them to help reduce temperature loss.

What Goes Into Replacing a Traditional HVAC System?

When it’s time to replace a traditional HVAC system, there are a few essential steps you’ll want to take. First, knowing what type of new system you would like to replace it with is helpful. This will give you insight into whether existing ductwork or other aspects of a home’s infrastructure need to be upgraded or repaired. Older homes might need new electrical hookups installed to accommodate modern HVAC equipment, for example.

It’s also common for the return and/or intake ducts to be resized to be compatible with modern equipment. With older homes, there’s a strong chance that the home itself was designed for heat only when it was first built. With a new system, consider whether there are any upgrades that need to be put in place to allow for better cooling. In fact, some HVAC brands can help with this through system design services. By reviewing your home’s plans, Unico offers a free service that includes a system design and estimated materials list.

The Unico System is the Best Choice for Replacing a Traditional HVAC System

Did you know that The Unico System fits in any space? No matter what the layout of your home, The Unico System can be installed without re-working the interior design and structure. In fact, it takes up roughly one-third the space of a traditional HVAC unit. Instead of dumping air into a room and creating uneven temperatures, The Unico System uses aspiration to create a more comfortable living environment. The small-duct, high-velocity outlets create a gentle suction that pulls the room air into its own air stream.

When you choose The Unico System to replace a traditional HVAC unit, you don’t have to worry about it clashing with existing décor. Outlets can be made specifically to match the interior design of your home. They can also be installed in ceilings, floors or sidewalls, making the outlets less invasive and barely noticeable.

Find a Unico Preferred Contractor to Replace Your Traditional HVAC Unit

If you need to replace a traditional HVAC unit, The Unico System is the perfect choice. You can put a Unico unit in almost any out-of-the-way space due to its modular and customizable design. Make the HVAC replacement process a breeze by finding a Unico Preferred Contractor in your area. Click here to get one step closer to having draft-free and even temperature comfort in every room.

Featured image TOH, Mike Casey

The post HVAC Replacement Series Part 1: Your Guide to Replacing a Traditional HVAC System appeared first on The Unico System.

If you want to save on monthly energy bills while lowering the risk of repairs, we’re here to help. Keep reading to discover HVAC maintenance tips that will help make your air conditioning run more effectively this year.

1. Check and Replace the Air Filter

Every residential HVAC system needs to have its air filters regularly changed to run efficiently. After the winter, it’s common for debris and dust to accumulate, making the system work harder to keep the set interior temperature. Ideally, you should be replacing the air filter for your HVAC system about once a month.

The next time you replace the filter, it’s a good idea to check on it every week. If you notice a high level of dust and debris accumulating, it’s often a sign that there’s a better filter option out there. Most HVAC unit companies have a recommended air filter for their systems. This will include the size and MERV rating that’s most compatible with your specific unit. Refer to your HVAC user manual to ensure you are using the right filter for your system.

2. Clear Out the Area Around Your AC Unit

Sometimes it’s easy to forget that your AC unit has been waiting patiently outside through the winter for the next cooling season. Over that time, leaves, sticks and other debris can pile up on and around the AC unit. Start the maintenance process by trimming any plants that are near the AC unit and check to make sure that no animals have made a nest. For the dust and debris, gently use a hose to spray the outside of the system and the cooling fins if there’s debris, like pollen, on them.

As you’re clearing the area, be careful not to damage any of the fans inside the AC unit. The grille that protects all the main components shouldn’t have any blockages. After all, your AC unit needs a clear path for the air to travel through to work effectively. Next, check all the wires that connect the system to the inside of the home. If you notice that any of these wires are frayed or damaged, call a professional to fix them.

3. Clean Out Your Home’s Vents and Ducts

It’s very common for debris to build up in vents and ducts over the course of the heating season. To start, grab a damp cloth and wipe down the outside of all the vents and ducts in your home. As you’re doing this, double-check to make sure all these outlets are unobstructed and can fully circulate the cold air the AC unit provides. If any of the vents or ducts are partially blocked, move the furniture to give the air a clear path. By taking all these steps, you’re helping your HVAC system be more efficient, resulting in lower energy bills.

For a more detailed cleaning, there are professionals who can vacuum out the interior of the vents and ducts. Most HVAC experts recommend that you do this once a year.

4. Have Your Air Ducts Inspected for Leaks

For many traditional HVAC systems, it’s a good idea to check all interior ducts for leaks. Ducts can develop leaks due to the small vibration that happens when the furnace runs. Every leak lets the cold air from your AC unit escape, which often leads to the system running more frequently. An HVAC professional can inspect all your ducts and seal any leaks they find throughout your home. This process helps ensure your HVAC system is running as energy-efficiently as possible.

5. Check Your Thermostat and Run the System

Your thermostat is designed to measure the indoor temperature and tell your HVAC system to match it. If the thermostat isn’t working, the entire system can’t work. To prepare for cooling season, you’ll want to make sure your thermostat is working as intended. It’s often easy to forget that many thermostats use batteries to operate. After you’re done checking the batteries, set the system to cooling mode and run it. Doing this ahead of time will help identify any potential issues before the warm weather hits.

As you’re going through this process, pay attention to how fast and accurate the thermostat is working. Keep in mind there are plenty of upgrade options that have modern features to help with efficiency, such as connecting to smart home systems.

Keep Your Home at Optimal Comfort with The Unico System

If you’re looking for optimal comfort year-round, consider upgrading your home with The Unico System. It’s an HVAC solution that offers draft-free, consistent temperatures, is whisper quiet, and uses less space than traditional systems. Don’t settle for having uncomfortable hot or cold spots throughout your home. The Unico System can maintain a temperature differential of within 2 degrees throughout the entire living space.

Get started on making your home more comfortable today by finding a Unico Preferred Contractor in your area.

Photo Credit: Mike Casey, This Old House

The post Tips for Transitioning Your HVAC System from Heating to Cooling appeared first on The Unico System.

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!

The post Woodwork Preservation: Why The Unico System is the Right Choice appeared first on The Unico System.

Are you ready to learn about how to keep your duct system running in good shape? In this blog, we will look at five essential tips to help you with air duct maintenance.

1. Make Sure Duct Leaks Are Sealed
Did you know that air leaking through ducts is one of the top causes of wasted energy in homes? Over time, the joints in many air ducts can become loose or get damaged, which causes air to leak out. Every leak in your ductwork makes it harder for your home’s HVAC unit to do its job. Plus, leaking air ducts can increase your monthly energy bills, cause more temperature variation, and lead to air quality issues.

How do you make sure your air ducts are sealed? It’s recommended to get a professional HVAC technician to perform an inspection at least once a year. They’ll be able to test for air leaks and even run a camera through your ducts to check for any damage or issues.

2. Keep the Vents and Ducts Clear
If you’ve noticed that certain rooms in your house are at a different temperature, this duct maintenance tip can help. Take a close look at all the vents and/or ducts around your house. Are there any obstructions like a piece of furniture, a floor rug or décor that’s blocking the flow of air? If part of the duct is blocked, it’s putting an added strain on the blower fan within the HVAC system. This not only causes the system to be less efficient, but it increases the risk of the blower within the unit having a shorter lifespan.

The easiest fix is to move any obstruction away from the duct so that the air can flow more freely. This will sometimes require rearranging furniture and décor, but it’s worth it for the efficiency of your HVAC unit.

3. Clean Your Home’s Ducts to Get Rid of Debris
Duct maintenance plays a direct role in the indoor air quality of your home. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), indoor air can be two to five times more polluted than outside air. One of the main causes behind this statistic is that dust and debris often accumulate in air ducts. High levels of dust, mold, and mildew often cause damage to air ducts over time and negatively impact indoor air quality.

At least once a year, you’ll want to schedule an air duct cleaning. Professional HVAC technicians use specialized equipment that uses negative pressure to break up dust and debris so it can then be cleaned up with a powerful vacuum.

4. Wash or Replace the Air Duct Vent Covers
Whether you have your air ducts cleaned by a professional or tackle it yourself, check the vent covers. Oftentimes vent covers need to be thoroughly cleaned or replaced. One of the easiest ways to clean your vent covers is to wash them. Unscrew the vent cover and let it soak in a soapy solution. Then, take a microfiber cloth and scrub off any dust or debris. The process of cleaning your vent covers regularly will improve the indoor air quality of your home.

5. Replace Your Air Filter
Even after the air ducts inside your home are cleaned, you won’t get the full benefit unless you’re keeping up with changing the air filter. A great tip is to also make sure that you’re using the most efficient filter for the specific HVAC system in your home. One of the easiest ways to check is to look at the model number on your system. The manufacturer will have a recommended filter that works best with the system. HVAC experts also say that you should replace the air filter for your system once a month for the best performance.

Improve Your Home’s Indoor Air Quality with The Unico System

The Unico System can keep your home comfortable, is more energy efficient than traditional HVAC systems, and improves indoor air quality. It’s a small-duct, high-velocity system that has the most effective air distribution of any HVAC system. Plus, the system can be upgraded to use UV light to disinfect the air entering your home.

Find out how The Unico System can make your home more comfortable and energy efficient. Contact our Design Services team for a free system design layout today.

The post 5 Tips to Help You with Duct Maintenance appeared first on The Unico System.

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!

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