Services
Heat pumps and ventilation
A tight, well-insulated house needs a smaller heating system. So we do the house first and talk about equipment second.
We don't sell heat pumps. We make the house ready and write what the equipment has to do. A licensed Vermont HVAC installer sizes and installs it, and our report goes to them as written.
What's included
A report page for your heating installer
A room-by-room look at what each room loses
Ventilation planning for a tight house
Electrical panel and circuit notes, passed to your electrician
Coordination on site with the installer
A test after the equipment goes in
Cost
What changes the price
Fresh-air strategy
A simple exhaust fan, a balanced ventilator or a heat-recovery unit each cost differently.
Ducts or no ducts
Heat pumps with ducts need space; ductless units need wall positions.
Electrical capacity
A panel upgrade, if needed, is its own quote from a licensed electrician.
The state of the envelope
A leaky house needs a bigger system than a tight one.
Who installs
The HVAC installer's own quote is separate from ours.
How it goes
This work, in order
- 01The report
Step 1: The report
We write what the house needs: heating by room, the ventilation, notes on the panel.
- 02On site
Step 2: Make the house ready
Air sealing and insulation from the list come first.
- 03Their schedule
Step 3: The installer
Your licensed installer sizes and installs. We stay on site as needed.
- 04Last day
Step 4: The test again
We test the house and check the ventilation after the equipment is running.
Not included
What this work leaves out
Selling or installing equipment
A licensed installer does that; we don't.
A choice of brand
We don't take sides. The report says what the house needs.
Incentive amounts
Programs change; we don't print amounts here.
Before the work
Permits and rules
A heat pump install, any new circuits and a panel change involve permits and licensed trades. The installer and your electrician pull theirs. We tell you in the report which permits are likely and who holds them.
Tight houses need planned fresh air. Combustion appliances that stay in service are checked for safe venting before and after air sealing.
Questions about this work
Do I need new ducts?
Maybe not. The report looks at the house and says whether ducted or ductless suits it.
Will a heat pump heat a Vermont house in winter?
Modern cold-climate heat pumps are designed for it. Your installer sizes the system. A tight house with good insulation makes the job easier.
What about my oil boiler?
Some owners keep it as a backup. The report notes how the house would work either way.
Who helps with incentives?
Your electric utility and the state's efficiency programs. They change, so ask us for the current list when you book.
Get the house ready
Start with a blower door test and the report your installer will want.