Cooling with the windows shut
Hot and smoky at once is a different problem.
On those days, opening a window to cool the house lets smoke in. A heat pump can cool and heat from one system, so the windows can stay shut.
A furnace home with no cooling
We can add a heat pump or air conditioner to the ducts you have, if the ducts can carry it.
A home with ducts that don't reach
A ductless unit serves one room or a few without new ductwork.
A heat pump already in place
We check the filter, the airflow and the settings so the cooling works with it.
At the visit
How we decide what your house can use.
- 01
Step 1: Walk the house
Which rooms get hot, which face the sun and where the ducts end.
- 02
Step 2: Size it
A load calculation, not a rule of thumb, so the unit isn't too big or too small.
- 03
Step 3: Check the air path
Filter, cabinet, returns and duct leaks, since they set what the system can do.
- 04
Step 4: Write the scope
The equipment by model, what it does, what it doesn't and what's included.
Two ways in
Ducted heat pump or ductless unit.
| Ductless mini-split | Ducted heat pump | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Ductless mini-splitRooms the ducts don't reach | Ducted heat pumpA house with ducts in good shape |
| Filter | Ductless mini-splitA small washable filter in each indoor unit | Ducted heat pumpOne central filter that can be upgraded |
| Smoke days | Ductless mini-splitCools the room without drawing in outside air | Ducted heat pumpRun the fan with a sealed filter slot |
| Install | Ductless mini-splitNeeds a small hole for the line set | Ducted heat pumpUses existing ducts or adds them |
What drives the cost
What moves the price of adding cooling.
Ducted or ductless
The equipment type, and how many rooms it serves.
Ducts
Their size, condition and where they run.
Electrical
Whether your panel and wiring can take the new unit.
Line sets and drains
How far the outdoor unit sits from the indoor one and where the water goes.
Permits and rebates
Permits where required. Ask us what your state or utility offers.
Cooling questions
Questions about adding cooling
Will a heat pump clean the smoke out of the air?
No. A heat pump moves heat. Its filter, if it has a ducted system, traps particles. A ductless unit's filter is basic.
Do heat pumps work in our winters?
Cold-climate models are built for it. We'll tell you if your house wants a backup.
What rebates exist?
Ask us what your state or utility offers. We don't promise one on this page.
Can my old ducts take cooling?
Sometimes. We check the size and the leaks before we say yes.
Ready to keep the windows shut?
We'll walk the house and say what we'd put in, and what we wouldn't.