High-Velocity HVAC Systems in Chicago (SpacePak & Unico)
Central Comfort for Older Homes, Without Tearing Out Your Walls
If you love your vintage Chicago home but it has no room for bulky ductwork, a high-velocity HVAC system is the answer. These small-duct systems weave flexible 2-inch tubing through your existing walls, ceilings, and floors, delivering whole-home heating and cooling without a major remodel.
Browns Heating & Cooling installs, repairs, and maintains the two most trusted high-velocity brands, SpacePak and Unico, across Chicago. We’ve kept the city’s homes comfortable since 2016 with a BBB A+ rating and hundreds of five-star reviews.
Whether you’re adding central air to a radiator-heated greystone, cooling a finished attic, or fitting out new construction, our EPA-certified technicians design a system that disappears into your home.
Why Chicago homeowners choose high-velocity:
- No wall demolition: flexible mini-ducts fit existing wall cavities
- Even, draft-free comfort: no hot or cold spots, floor to ceiling
- Superior humidity control: removes up to 30% more moisture than standard AC
- Whisper-quiet operation: sound-dampened ducts and air handler
- Preserves your home’s character: small 5-inch outlets blend into any room
- Heating and cooling in one system: year-round comfort
Want central comfort without the renovation? Get a free design consultation. Call (708) 536-8134 or book online.
CONTACT US Today TO GET THE BEST QUOTE!
The techs arrived exactly on time at the start of the appointment window, and quickly found the issues (dirty condenser coils, refrigerant top-off, and system sealant to address the small leak). Ramond clearly explained the impact of each along with the cost to fix, then confirmed which services I wanted and what my total would be before starting the work. I also appreciate that Ramond answered all my dumb questions about how air conditioning actually works; he's a great science teacher 🤓.
The cost was less than I expected for a next-day service (coil cleaning $239, sealant $285, and a few pounds of refrigeratant was $370).
During the payment process, the tech didn't prompt for a tip, unlike most companies. So don't forget to ask them for their Zelle/Venmo if you want to send a tip
Angelique on the phone gave clear instructions on what I needed to do before the service guys showed up. Ramod & Eric were courteous and wore shoe covers as they entered the house. They took a quick look and knew what needed to be done immediately.
As a Realtor, I’ve changed many an AC units and their prices were very fair. We ended up repairing instead of a new AC unit. The repair was less than what he originally quoted. How is that for honest service?! Amazing!
They will have to come back for a service ($99) as we ran out of time.
I can highly recommend Browns Heating & Cooling without any hesitation.
What Is a High-Velocity HVAC System?
A high-velocity HVAC system is a small-duct, high-velocity (SDHV) central heating and cooling system that uses narrow, flexible tubing instead of large rigid ducts. SpacePak pioneered the technology, and it remains the go-to solution for homes where traditional ductwork won’t fit.
Instead of bulky metal ducts, the system runs pre-insulated 2-inch flexible tubes through wall cavities, ceilings, and floors, connected to a compact air handler that tucks into an attic, closet, basement, or crawlspace. Only small round or slotted outlets are visible in each room.
The system works on a principle called aspiration: air is delivered at higher speed through the small outlets, creating a gentle, continuous mixing of room air. The result is uniform, draft-free temperature throughout the home, typically with less than a two-degree difference from room to room.
Perfect for Chicago’s Older Homes
High-velocity HVAC is uniquely suited to Chicago because so much of the city’s housing was never built for ductwork. Greystones, brownstones, vintage bungalows, two-flats, and historic condos were designed around radiators and boiler heat, with solid plaster walls and no room for modern duct runs.
Adding traditional central air to these homes usually means tearing open walls and ceilings, an expensive and disruptive renovation. A high-velocity system avoids all of that: the flexible tubing snakes through the existing structure, so you get whole-home cooling without losing your home’s original character.
This makes it the ideal pairing for homes that already have boiler and radiator heat but no air conditioning. It’s also why high-velocity is a natural fit for our older-home HVAC upgrades and new construction projects across the city.
SpacePak vs. Unico: Which Brand Is Right for You?
We install both leading high-velocity brands and recommend the right one based on your home, not a one-size-fits-all default.
SpacePak is the original SDHV system, known for flexible installation, longer duct runs, and an optional PurePak module that filters pollen, smoke, and other contaminants for cleaner indoor air. Its larger air-handler options make it a strong choice for bigger homes.
Unico is prized for whisper-quiet operation and excellent dehumidification, and its adaptable air handlers and filter housings make it a favorite for tight or unusual layouts. Both deliver the same core benefit: even, hidden, draft-free comfort. Our team assesses your space and walks you through the trade-offs in plain English.
High-Velocity vs. Mini-Split vs. Traditional Forced Air
Choosing between systems comes down to your home and your priorities. Here’s how high-velocity compares.
Versus traditional forced air: Conventional systems are cheaper to install when ductwork already exists, but retrofitting them into an older home means major wall and ceiling demolition. High-velocity fits where big ducts can’t, and dehumidifies better, though it costs more on materials.
Versus ductless mini-splits: Mini-splits are efficient and great for zoning individual rooms, but they require visible wall-mounted heads in each space. High-velocity stays completely hidden behind your walls, delivering whole-home comfort that preserves your home’s look, which matters in a period property.
In short, high-velocity wins when you want discreet, even, whole-home comfort in a home without existing ductwork. If you’d rather explore other options, we also handle traditional AC installation and heat pump systems.
Benefits of a High-Velocity System
High-velocity systems offer comfort advantages that conventional HVAC can’t match in an older home.
They remove up to 30% more humidity than standard central air, so your home feels cooler at a higher thermostat setting, which saves energy. The aspiration effect eliminates the hot and cold spots common with forced air, and the sound-attenuated ducts keep the system remarkably quiet.
Just as importantly, the compact design preserves your home’s architecture and resale value, and pairs well with whole-home indoor air quality upgrades for cleaner, healthier air.
What Does a High-Velocity System Cost?
High-velocity systems are a premium investment, typically costing more than conventional forced air because of the specialized tubing and labor involved. The exact price depends on your home’s size, the number of outlets, and the complexity of routing the ducts.
For many older Chicago homes, though, it’s the more affordable path overall, since it avoids the demolition and reconstruction that retrofitting traditional ducts would require. We provide upfront, flat-rate pricing after assessing your home, with no surprises, backed by our responsive customer service.
Our High-Velocity HVAC Services in Chicago
We handle every stage of high-velocity ownership, from first design to long-term care.
Our installation service starts with a detailed assessment of your home’s layout, then a custom system design that routes tubing with minimal disruption. For existing systems, our repair and maintenance technicians service air handlers, tubing, controls, and humidity performance to keep everything running quietly and efficiently.
If your system’s airflow ever feels off, our airflow testing and balancing service fine-tunes performance room by room. And to make a new system affordable, we offer flexible financing on qualifying installations with approved credit.
Why Choose Browns Heating & Cooling?
- 24/7 Emergency Assistance & Same-Day Scheduling: help when you need it
- Punctual Service Team Dispatch & Arrival Times: we respect your time
- Competitive Pricing, Coupons & Discounts: flat-rate, no surprises
- Background-Checked & Drug-Free Technicians: professional and clean
- Fully-Stocked Trucks: most issues handled on the first visit
With 10+ years serving Chicago’s homes, a BBB A+ rating, and EPA-certified technicians experienced in the city’s older housing stock, we install high-velocity comfort that lasts, every job backed by our satisfaction guarantee.
Get a Free Consultation Today
Ready to experience the benefits of a high-velocity HVAC system in your home? Contact us at (708) 536-8134 today for a free consultation. Our team is here to answer your questions, assess your needs, and provide expert recommendations for the best heating and cooling solution.