The History of Mt. Airy
Philadelphia is commonly known as "The City of Brotherly Love," but it is also referred to as "The City of Neighborhoods". And one if its neighborhoods, Mt. Airy, actually started as a getaway for Philadelphians to relax in their large estates and summer retreat homes.
In the late 1870's, Henry Howard Houston began to purchase large quantities of undeveloped land in Mt. Airy and Chestnut Hill, which was originally known as Wissahickon Valley. The land, which consisted of over 3,000 acres, was just north of Allen's Lane and west of historic Germantown Avenue.
Houston went on to lead the Pennsylvania Railroad's freight division after the Civil War, and he was in charge of the Philadelphia, Germantown, and Chestnut Hill Railroad, which was built in the 1880's to link downtown Philadelphia with the wealthy and growing suburbs to the northwest. By bringing the railroad to the Chestnut Hill and Mt. Airy areas, vacationers were able to escape the summer heat of Center City and relax in a more peaceful environment.
Houston also built streets and houses in the area that were eventually leased out to tenants.
Then, in 1894, a doctor by the name of George Woodward married Houston's daughter, Gertrude. Woodward expanded upon the family's interests and started rehabbing old Revolutionary War-era houses and replacing them with much nicer twin homes. According to the George Woodward Co. website, the houses were so popular that they had to implement a waiting list, which is still in effect today.
He then began building houses in the general vicinity of train stations, with his biggest peak of building in the early 1920's when he built about 400 houses around the Allen Lane Train Station.
Installing a High-Velocity System in an Old Woodward Home
Our homeowner's house by the Allen Lane Train Station was owned by Woodward's son until 1964, and they're only the fourth owners since the house was built. The house has been kept in completely original condition.
That's why Allen Krantz was worried that installing an air conditioning system would "muck up" the original look and historic charm of the home. Not to mention, window air conditioners were too loud, too expensive, and didn't always get the job done. Allen's fingers would literally stick to his guitar sometimes when he practiced.
Fortunately, we were able to install Unico High-Velocity Air Conditioning, a system that is perfect for older homes.
High velocity versus conventional AC
While both types of systems take care of your cooling needs, there are some big differences to take note of.
Smaller footprint
The system uses small ducts and vents that are easily hidden and can be altered to match the current materials in the home. No bulky ductwork or large soffits are needed for installation, and the vents are barely noticeable...or audible!
quieter cooling
For a classical guitarist, silence is golden. When Allen spends hours practicing delicate passages and soft pieces, he wants to hear every note.
That's tough to do with noisy window units (or even central air). Luckily, that's no longer a concern with high velocity. Allen said that the noise from the system is nothing more than a quiet "whoosh" and that they are so much more comfortable overall.
"I'm a musician and I could barely work. I was sticking to my instrument," Allen said. But now with the low level of noise and newfound comfort, Allen is able to work on his music in peace.
better humidity control
Another big difference between the Unico system and regular central air is humidity control. Removing moisture from the air is an essential part of air conditioning; the more humid it is, the hotter you feel. And for this home, it’s even more critical. Too much moisture can damage musical instruments.
The high velocity system we installed removes a third more humidity than even the best conventional AC’s. Instead of setting the thermostat to maybe 70 degrees in the summer, our homeowner gets away with 74. This way, he uses less electricity to keep his home comfortable.
Better air circulation
With a conventional system, one vent pushes cool air into a room while another sucks out the warm air. It works, but there are better ways to do it. See how a central air system distributes air below.
A high velocity system, on the other hand, does a better job of mixing the incoming air with the warmer air that's already in your home. As a result, it distributes the air throughout the room much more evenly.
Clearly, a high velocity system comes with many benefits. Allen and Susan's historic home was a perfect match for a Unico system -- no loud noises and no intrusive installation to mess with the home's charming look. Even his neighbors were pleasantly surprised that an air conditioning system could be put in the old home with little disturbance.
ECI Comfort specializes in installing Unico High-Velocity Systems into older homes. Interested in getting this type of system in your home? Click the button below to schedule a free consultation or give us a call at 215-245-3200.
