Even with all the advantages of a high-velocity HVAC system, these units have their drawbacks. That’s especially so in a coastal town. Fortunately for the owner of a single-family home in Ventnor, NJ, Comfort Now By Bob McAllister overhauled and upgraded his home’s heating and air conditioning before any problems occurred.

Problem: Homeowner wanted to upgrade from electric baseboard heat and an aging high-velocity air conditioner.

Solution: Installed a new Carrier Performance natural gas system, new ductwork, and ductless panels.

Unlike traditional, low-velocity set-ups, high-velocity HVAC systems constantly push air through very skinny, flexible tubing instead of sending intermittent blasts of air through eight-inch-deep ducts. Rather than building a small room for a furnace or making the difficult decision to remodel in order to accommodate ductwork, homeowners can place these tubes in existing spaces and even in the walls. That’s a big advantage to a town with as many historic, pre-war homes as Ventnor.

A high-velocity system cools a room faster than low-velocity, because it’s constantly pushing the air. It also removes more moisture from the air, than normal, low-velocity systems. For homes in Ventnor, the latter is especially attractive. The city sits on a skinny strip of land with the Atlantic Ocean on one side, and is broken up by inlets coming in from Lakes Bay on the east. As a result, there’s always a lot of moisture in the air.

However, excessive moisture can damage a system like this faster than in less humid places. Also, high-velocity systems generally don’t last as long as traditional ones because of the extra strain they put on the condenser to push so much air so much faster. That made the 15-year-old Space Pak air conditioning system in this Ventnor home ancient by local standards.

Fortunately, Comfort Now upgraded the entire system without any intrusive work.

The first, and biggest, step was to replace the old system with a new Carrier Performance series natural gas system. These energy-efficient models are sleek enough that the technicians could hang the furnace in the attic. From there, they removed the old high-velocity tubes and carefully placed new, properly-sealed ductwork that didn’t get in the way of any of the home’s character.

To play it safe, they also installed a float switch. If excessive moisture beings to build up around the unit, the float switch alerts the compressor to turn off until the pan drains it. This prevents water damage or mold from overflow. Since an area like Atlantic County is prone to excess moisture in general, and this unit was located in a very out-of-the-way spot in the house, the extra precaution offered the homeowner extra peace of mind.

Meanwhile, outside the house, Comfort Now technicians installed a new Carrier Coastal condenser specially made for areas with salt water in the air. They placed it on a Flood Protection Platform, suspending it a few feet in the air to prevent water damage and also keep it in line with city codes.

Finally, Carrier replaced the old heating baseboards with Mitsubishi ductless panels. They sit high up on walls and require only small, three-inch holes through which to run tubing.That requires a lot less work than installing new baseboard ducts or carving out room for a wall unit air conditioner. Since each panel works independently, they cool or heat rooms faster than traditional HVAC systems — just like this home’s old high-velocity one. 

Overhauling the entire HVAC system was a lot of work, but not a strain on the homeowner’s wallet. Since the new system is energy-efficient, he qualified for a no-interest loan with small monthly payment through the South Jersey Gas program. And, the system itself is much cheaper to run. Now, his old energy bill that averages $500 a month is only $275.