Tips and Facts for a Cooler Lifestyle

So you’ve been up every night because of the high humidity and record high temperatures. Rumor has it that with your steam and/or hot water heating system you can’t have air conditioning. Well, that’s a total falsehood! Air conditioning is available to all, regardless of your current heating system.

By having a boiler type (hot water and/or steam) heating system, you can still have air conditioning. There are three main types of air conditioning systems that can be used.

1. Unico
2. Ductless Cooling
3. Conventional Ducting

Before deciding which of these systems to choose, first select a contractor. Be sure to review their years in business, get referrals and talk with other satisfied customers. Get copies of their licenses and certificates of insurance to make you feel totally comfortable with your selection. Make sure of your decision because they will be in your home for over one week and will be cutting holes in your walls and ceilings.

After you’ve selected a contractor, get their opinion and cost estimate on each of the three types of systems. The Unico is a “high pressure” system typically setting a blower coil in the attic and running specially designed R-8 trunk lines throughout the attic. Then off of each trunk line are 4” diameter supply lines to the individual rooms. The outlet termination of the supply lines looks similar to a mini port hole that is virtually invisible. These are usually located in the ceiling. At the same time, one central cold air return will be installed in the ceiling. This is normally located in a main hallway.

With a conventional duct system, all of the ductwork will be sheet metal with insulation placed on the inside or outside of the duct. This system has conventional supply registers located in the ceiling. These registers will be of a size larger than the “port holes” of the high-pressure systems, more typical with a forced air system. This means that with the conventional duct system you have the potential in the future to add humidification, air purification and even forced air heating.

A ductless system consists of a wall mounted blower unit designed to cool a certain space or room and has a remote outside unit. Similar to convention air conditioning. These are very useful when there are no spaces to run the high pressure tubing. They are very practical for a one or two room application.

Make sure to discuss all of these with your contractor and get his/her recommendation as to which would be best for you.

If you have any questions at all regarding these systems or anything at all relating to your heating and/or cooling systems, please feel free to call FLAME Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical toll free at 1-888-234-2340 or visit our website at www.ffold.awcsite.info.