A mini-duct heating and/or cooling system is a different than the traditional system with large ducts that you may have seen in many homes. You may not know what it is, but a “mini-duct” system can solve several heating and cooling problems.
Many homes in Cincinnati – especially Hyde Park and Oakley, where I often operate – were built before AC systems were installed in homes. A lot of these homes have hot water heat, which is the kind that uses the large radiator units we’re all familiar with. It can be very difficult to put AC in homes with this kind of heat because there is no ductwork. (A normal AC unit would utilize the home’s pre-existing heating ductwork.)
I talked to Jamie Gerdsen, President of at Cincinnati’s reputable Apollo Heating and Cooling. His company has been working with this kind of system — called a mini-duct system — for over 20 years.
Apollo has been involved with the board of advisors and has been a distributor of these mini-duct systems. They have even taught classes to professionals on how to sell the systems to others. Jamie gave me some good tips about mini-duct.
Jamie pointed out that, especially in an older home, you actually have to change the house to install a traditional AC. “The ductwork isn’t there, so you have to physically change the architecture by cutting into 100-year-old plaster and adding soffits.”
That does not sound appealing. The mini-duct system is just that. It uses flexible tubing that is only a couple inches in diameter. It can me much more easily installed in your home — especially an older house.
These systems can be expensive (of course, the cost varies.) But Gerdsen pointed out that you offset the higher cost of the system considerably with lower labor costs, because it’s a lot easier to install the small flexible tubing than the big, heavy ducts. “The system is more expensive because it’s more unique,” he said. “But it takes a lot less time to install.”
A standard system can take about 7 business days. These mini-duct systems take about 4 or 5 business days. That’s a lot less disruptive, too.
These units can actually be a lot more efficient. The traditional systems move about 400 cubic feet of air per minute to cool. A mini-duct system only needs to move about 200 cubic feet per minute, but it pushes the air through a lot faster. There’s actually a high velocity cotton product worked in to keep the air from whistling as it moves through the hoses.
“Some people think these systems are loud, but if you get a whistling sound it means that it wasn’t installed correctly.”
These systems also have a greater ability to de-humidify the air, thereby making it more comfortable at a warmer temperature than a traditional system. That’s another thing that improves upon the efficiency.
Gerdsen says these systems are used a lot on older homes. He has also been involved with installations in new construction, when perhaps a shoddy system isn’t planned well and doesn’t heat or cool an entire home properly. He recently added a system onto a homeowner’s second floor to cool it more effectively when the home’s main system wasn’t doing the trick.
Gerdsen stresses the extreme importance of hiring a trusted contractor. A company like Apollo takes a lot of time and care when installing new systems in a home. They will study a blue-print and send out trained, licensed employees to complete your job, as well as professionals to spend a lot of time checking it out.
He explains that it’s especially important in relation to cost. With expensive new systems, homeowners may try to cut corners by getting better offers. But it’s really best to do your research and ask a lot of questions as with this or any major home project. Even after you buy or sell a home, as your Realtor I can always try to help you find trusted contractors like Gerdsen. As you know, your home is one of your most important investments!\
More info:

• Watch a demo by Unico systems, one of the major suppliers of the mini-duct system, and one Apollo has worked with.
• Read an interesting story about Apollo’s work installing a mini-duct system in a 12,000 square foot dairy barn home conversion!
• Review a list of “26 questions to consider for your HVAC solution” by Unico.

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