Forced Air Or High Velocity Systems - Which Air Conditioning System Should You Choose?

Cooling a home can happen any number of ways. Opening windows on cooler days can help some, but most homeowners turn to air conditioning. Most consumers are only aware of conventional forced air systems, but not many understand the high velocity system.

Conventional systems are the most common a/c units. The process of diffusion explains how they work. The cool air gently flows from a larger duct and ceiling vent and drops to the lower area of the room. Once the cool air reaches the floor, an intake vent in each room will draw the air back out again. The distribution of air is dependent upon where the vents are placed throughout the home. This is the most common type of HVAC system found throughout the majority of homes today.

High velocity air conditioning systems deliver air through much smaller ducts or insulated tubing. More air is kept moving by a more powerful air handler than is required by a conventional air conditioning system. This higher velocity air creates more currents and air circulation, much like a convection oven would. With a high velocity system, it is only necessary to have one air return or intake for the average size home.

When choosing a system, there are other considerations other than airflow. If the homeowner is upgrading or installing an air conditioning system in an existing home, it would be much more costly to opt for a conventional forced air system. This is due to the fact that the duct work for these forced air systems is much larger than a high velocity system. Additional wall sections may need to be built or closets eliminated in order to accommodate the newly installed duct work.

Another consideration is aesthetics. High velocity units have smaller vents and typically do not appear as frequently throughout the home as forced air vents. The duct work is smaller and is not as limited with location in the home. The small vents and insulated tubing for high velocity systems fit almost anywhere with minimal loss of space or removal of wall board.

Noise is a drawback. Most homeowners are used to little to no noise from traditional systems, but high velocity air conditioning systems do result in some wind noise. New methods have reduced some of the noise, but some homeowners may still find the noise of rushing air a turn off. A qualified professional should install whichever unit suits the homeowner's needs the best. The homeowner will gain more value and efficiency from their unit when professionals are consulted.