An installation within a modern detached house in Devon is demonstrating how the Unico Small Duct High Velocity (sdHV) cooling, ventilation and heating system can be retrofitted into an existing property of this type to provide year round comfort from a single all-in-one system.

The Litchfield family has owned their Bloor Homes property since it was built some seven ago. Its original design included a Daikin Altherma Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP) installation to offer a renewable energy source for the home’s radiator central heating and hot water system. It has worked faultlessly since its installation and fulfilled all the family’s requirements.

Recent summers, however, have been marked by significantly higher temperatures with more uncomfortable nights in the bedrooms on the first floor of the well insulated, airtight property. Like so many other owners of similarly designed homes, Brian Litchfield investigated the options to address both the heat issue and the build up of humidity. Opening windows, investing in fixed air conditioning or temporary portable air units had many disadvantages.

“We had been very happy with the performance of our heat pump for central heating. We therefore wanted to address our air conditioning requirements from a similar angle with a solution that could also the use the energy efficiency and low environmental impact of heat pumps,” says Brian. “The technology we chose also had to be relatively easy to retrofit and not cause too much disruption to our daily lives when being installed.”

In his professional capacity as the owner of Climate Controls and Spares, which covers Devon and Cornwall, Brian had extensive knowledge of air conditioning technology.  As a Unico Specialist partner his company was particularly familiar with the benefits of Unico’s sdHV system which uses forced air and a technique known as aspiration to provide a highly efficient means of heating and cooling properties via a central air distribution system. Originally developed in the United States, the Unico System has undergone significant development for the UK market and conforms to all relevant standards, including the new CA marking indicating conformity for products on the market in Great Britain.

“I think Unico is so good, I wanted to use it at home. Having lived in Canada, where forced air distribution systems in general are common, I knew they are efficient, versatile and can be easily retrofitted. I would always recommend them,” Brian says. He opened discussions and worked alongside Bell Plumbing Supplies, Unico’s Distribution Partner in the UK. Site visits were arranged and having acquired a full understanding of the installation, Bell Plumbing proposed and designed a system that took into consideration all the key parameters.

These included BTU heat output and heat loss calculations, room sizing and assessment of the performance requirements of the heat pump in relation to the heating and cooling demand. The system includes a Unico air handler which is conveniently located in the loft space. With the ASHP as the energy source, it provides heating and cooling to the upper floor of the home

Warmed or cooled air is distributed into the bedrooms via highly flexible sound deadening supply tubing which can be easily twisted and fed through the ceiling void and cavity walls. This culminates in 21 highly discreet room outlets which have been carefully positioned throughout the upper floor accommodation for maximum, even coverage. One outlet is also located at the top of the stairwell to cool hot air that rises from ground level.

The white outlets which deliver forced air into the rooms, using the aspiration principle, are typically positioned on internal walls, one metre below ceiling height. This configuration maximises performance through optimal air mixing by gently pulling the air in the room into the forced air stream. The result is even comfort throughout the space with minimal temperature variation whether in cooling or heating mode.

The homeowner comments “Having the Unico System adds a whole extra dimension to the air movement in the house and to the benefits of using the heat pump. Whether it’s heating, cooling, ventilation or the air filtration that the system provides, it is making a huge difference. This installation has moved us up to a whole new level of cooling, heating and comfort,” says Brian. “The unobtrusiveness of the system, its very quiet operation and ability to cool a bedroom very quickly are major benefits for the family. We can look forward to more comfortable nights as well as highly efficient indoor climate control for years to come.”

Bell Plumbing provides full support to Unico installers and Specialist Partners all around the country for this type of project. The installer network is fully qualified to undertake all types of installation after comprehensive training at the company’s West Midlands centre. Alan Carruthers of HPE Airflow South West was the main installer for the installation at the Litchfield family home and was supported by James McClennon of Concept Cooling.

Alan says, “Involvement with Unico’s technology is something new for us and there is a space in the market for it, due to its versatility and ease of installation. The support from Bell Plumbing is excellent and it has opened up a whole new market for our services and contracting expertise.”