What Is a SpacePak System and Why Are Homeowners Switching to It?
Traditional ductwork ranges in size from 6-inch round ducts to 12-inch rectangular ducts. In some homes, ductwork is too large to fit easily within walls. Instead, your home has unsightly ducts taking up space in closets or an unused corner of a room.
A SpacePak system is the perfect solution. It’s a small-duct, high-velocity system that heats and cools your home throughout the year. The 2-inch ducts are compact, flexible, and easily hidden in walls. You no longer have dead zones where baseboards and radiators don’t reach.
The Problem With Many Chicago-Area Homes and Traditional HVAC Systems
While residential buildings and single-family homes could have central AC going back to the 1930s, they were large, expensive units. It wasn’t until the late 1960s that central AC was affordable enough for homeowners to consider these systems.
A home’s design and structure influenced how easily it was to add ducts and outdoor HVAC units. An older brick or stone home has walls that are difficult to drill and cut. Adding the ducts and connectors between indoor and outdoor units is challenging. Instead, window AC units became popular after their release in the 1940s.
This is why many homes have forced hot water systems where a boiler sends hot water to radiators or hot water baseboards. A forced hot water system with a boiler and expansion tank doesn’t help when it comes to removing humidity and cooling the rooms all summer long.
Enter an original small-duct, high-velocity (SDHV) solution known as a SpacePak system. It’s the solution homeowners have been looking for. It has become one of the most popular HVAC systems among Chicago-area homeowners.
What Is a SpacePak System and How Does It Work?
SpacePak is an SDHV system that utilizes self-balancing plenums and 2-inch flexible ducts, which easily fit into spaces within walls and floors. It works well in any home, no matter the age or architectural style
These ducts connect to decorative 5-inch vents and outlet covers that you chose to match your décor. Choose from the following outlet cover options:
- Aluminum
- Brass
- Natural wood
- Paintable plastic
- Rectangular outlet of less than 1/8th inch
Those vents can be placed in the ceiling, on a wall, or on the floor. The choice of placement allows you to make them a highlight of your room’s décor or to put them in inconspicuous areas. It’s your choice.
A process known as aspiration actively mixes air around each room the vents are in, providing heat or cooling that covers the entire room. There are no dead zones.
A single vent per zone extracts air and returns it to the air handling unit, where it’s cooled or heated slowly over coils. Air flows slowly, which ensures the system removes heat or cold with less energy.
About 30% more humidity is removed than happens with a traditional HVAC system. Less humidity allows you to turn the heat higher in the summer, saving you more money.
This system is also whisper-quiet thanks to the muffling effect of built-in sound attenuators. Its sound is limited to 30 decibels. As far as decibels go, 30 decibels are comparable to leaves blowing in the wind or people whispering a few feet away from you. It’s quieter than most household refrigerators.
SpacePak vs. Other HVAC Options
How does SpacePak compare to other residential heating, cooling, and ventilation (HVAC) systems? Take a look at the pros and cons.
1. Traditional HVAC (Forced Air):
A traditional HVAC system is often less expensive, but its cost depends on the size of your home, its structure, how air-tight it is, and the number of people living within it. The system may seem affordable, but labor costs from the installation can quickly drive up the total price.
The installation of a traditional HVAC system is often disruptive. If there isn’t enough space, a bulkhead may be constructed to help hide the ducts. Sheetrock may be torn out to make room for ductwork, and then new walls can be installed once that work is completed.
This type of HVAC system is prone to developing air leaks. Sections of duct are connected using an adhesive that may wear out over time. SpacePak features a patented connector, ensuring no air loss.
Traditional HVAC removes some humidity, but not as much as a SpacePak system. Plus, a conventional HVAC system doesn’t circulate the air as well, which creates hot and cold spots. Add those to the noise, which is often 50 decibels or more.
2. Duct-Less Mini Splits:
Ductless mini-splits are growing in popularity. They’re a compact unit that’s installed on the wall, connecting it to the outdoor unit.
A mini split is in one room and only heats or cools that area. If you want to cool or heat multiple zones, you will need additional wall-mounted units for each room that requires AC or heat.
A SpacePak system is more efficient than a ductless system. Plus, it isn’t as visible. A mini split unit hangs on the wall, which impacts the aesthetics in an older, historic home.
SpacePak FAQs
We’ve compiled a quick FAQ to address the questions we hear most often from homeowners. If you have additional questions, give Air Blue Heating and Cooling a call.
1. Is SpacePak a zoned heating system?
If your home has multiple heating and cooling zones, or you want a system with different zones, SpacePak works well in zoned housing. Many people prefer having their bedrooms colder than their main living areas. It’s possible with SpacePak.
2. Does this HVAC system have a warranty?
SpacePak heating and cooling systems have a one-year warranty. If you have it installed by a registered, certified SpacePak contractor, a five-year extended warranty is offered. Make sure you register it using the online product registration form once it’s installed by a certified contractor.
3. How much does a SpacePak system cost?
It’s hard to provide a cost estimate as it comes down to the size of your home, insulation factors, and labor required to install the system throughout your home. Get a free estimate from Air Blue Heating and Cooling.
4. Can you connect it to a geothermal heating and cooling system? How about heat pumps?
If you have an existing geothermal heating or cooling system, SpacePak does have water coils that are compatible with geothermal. The system also works with heat pumps.
5. Can homeowners install SpacePak systems themselves?
This system seems simple and easily installed, which makes people think they could do it themselves. This isn’t advised. Installing SpacePak as a DIY project impacts the warranty. Plus, any error in the installation could lead to costly damage to the system and your home.
Have the full warranty for peace of mind. Contact us today for a free estimate from Air Blue Heating and Cooling, as you know you’re getting the right system for your home’s square footage and insulation quality. Invest in an efficient HVAC system that keeps you warm all winter and cool in the summer.
