AC-only vs. heat pump: the 60-second version.
An air conditioner and a heat pump are mechanically the same machine — a heat pump just runs in both directions. That has a money consequence most quotes skip: AC-only earns no rebates; heat pumps can earn up to $16,000 for qualifying households. If your heating comes from gas, oil, or baseboards, the heat pump option often costs less after rebates than the air conditioner alone, while also cutting your winter bills.
When does AC-only make sense? Newer high-efficiency gas systems you're keeping, certain strata constraints, or pure budget timing — and when it does, we'll say so and install a quality unit, right-sized from a real load calculation (an oversized AC short-cycles and dehumidifies poorly; the island's cheap-quote special).
What we install
- Ductless cooling/heat pumps — single or multi-zone, ideal for island homes without ducts
- Central systems — ducted heat pumps or AC paired to air handlers and existing ductwork
- Condo-friendly units — quiet equipment with the strata paperwork handled (condo guide)