A high-velocity system delivers central air through small, flexible tubes instead of large metal ducts — perfect for older homes without existing ductwork.
This setup provides even cooling without the need for bulky renovations or soffits. If your home was built before central air became standard, high velocity may be the ideal solution.
High Velocity is something of a niche marketplace. There are not a lot of companies that really understand the difference between a high velocity system and a regular AC system. Institutional knowledge is likely the most critical aspect of the installation and servicing of these systems.
If you are interested in a new High Velocity system, contact us and we will have our design professional out for a free consultation.
If you have an existing High Velocity system and you’re looking for qualified professionals who understand these systems, we are here for maintenance, repair and replacement.
How does a High Velocity System work?
Much like a standard system, air is drawn through a duct by the fan. There’s a coil that is cold and that “conditions” the air as it passes over it. Heat and humidity are removed and cold, less humid air flows through the supply ducts to each room.
High Velocity differentiates in a few ways.
#1: The air is colder. Usually by about 5-10 degrees. The colder coil creates colder air and removes more humidity than a standard system. This is both more comfortable for you and a sneaky way to gain efficiency. Think about it: 72 degrees feels a lot different when the humidity is 55% vs 65%. With less humidity, you can keep the thermostat set a little higher and have the same real feel. This saves you on your utility bill.
#2: The system has a higher static pressure. This means it moves air with more purpose than a standard system. The critical part to consider is expert system balancing (our job). If you have that right, the higher pressure give you:
#3: More even temperatures. That higher pressure at the outlet where the cold enter enters the living space forces the warm air in the room to mix with the colder air. That air then spreads evenly throughout the room, eliminating the hot and cold spots you might get with a traditional system.
#4 The system is smaller. The air handling unit is compact. The main channel is usually 9” round (versus 24×10 rectangular ductwork many conventional systems require). The take-offs, or supply ducts that go to every room, are 2” inner diameter, about 3.5” outside diameter with the insulation jacket. Usually they are run through closets and you don’t have to sacrifice much space at all compared to the 6-8” behemoth supply ducts a conventional system requires.
#5: High Velocity vents look a lot like small recessed lights. They blend nicely with the interior aesthetic, much more so than the bulky registers and vents you see from a regular system.
Here are a few FAQs if you’re considering adding it to your home
Not if it’s installed correctly! Most issues of noise are novice installations or companies cutting corners. As long as the system is balanced, the supply runs are at least 10 feet long and the sound attenuators are installed, you can expect a system that sounds like a ceiling fan.
Very rarely do we come up against a house where we can’t configure a high velocity system to work. We have multiple ways we can install it: Attics, basements, closets. Call us for a free evaluation and our expert designer will be able to tell you if it’s possible and what the layout would look like.
The investment varies depending on the size of the system. If you have a smaller home or are only conditioning 1 floor, generally speaking a safe number is around $23,000-$28,000. If you have a bigger home and we are doing multiple floors, you can expect the numbers to be in the $35,000 up to $50,000 range.
Yes! We can install the high velocity system with a heat pump to provide heat through the vents as well. It can be either a secondary heat source you use in milder temperatures or a full replacement of your existing heating. For the latter, it’s not a fit for every home so call us and we’ll walk you through your options.
This is a great question that we get a lot. It depends on how you use them. If you are using them frequently in the winter for heating, we’d recommend twice a year. If you use them primarily for cooling and not at all or sparingly for heat, one maintenance a year is sufficient.
