Heat Pump Ductwork & Duct Retrofits
I modify and retrofit ductwork for ducted heat pumps: resizing returns, reworking plenums, and correcting runs so the system delivers even heating and cooling.
What I do
- Duct modifications for ducted heat pump retrofits
- Resized returns and supply trunks for higher airflow
- New plenums and transitions at the air handler
- Re-routing runs to suit the new equipment
- Sealing and balancing the modified system
Common problems I fix
- Old ducting too restrictive for a heat pump's airflow
- Undersized returns causing noise and poor performance
- Rooms that won't heat or cool evenly after a swap
- Plenums and transitions that don't fit the new unit
Good-fit projects
- Furnace-to-heat-pump conversions
- Ducted heat pump installations
- Electrification and efficiency upgrades
- Homes with comfort problems after a heat pump install
Heat pumps are only as good as the ducts that distribute their air, and they generally need more airflow than the furnaces they replace. When a ducted heat pump is installed on ducting built for an old furnace, the result is often noise and uneven comfort. I modify and retrofit ductwork so heat pumps perform.
Will existing ducts work with a heat pump?
Sometimes, but frequently not without changes. A heat pump moves more air at lower supply temperatures than a traditional furnace, so returns that were marginal before become a bottleneck. I measure the existing system and rework the returns, trunks, and transitions that restrict the new equipment.
Why a home feels uneven after a heat pump swap
The usual cause is ducting that was never updated for the new unit. Starved returns and restrictive runs leave some rooms short on air. I resize the limiting sections, rebuild plenums and transitions to fit the air handler, then seal and balance the modified system.
Planning the ductwork with the retrofit
The cleanest results come from addressing the ducting at the same time as the heat pump, not after comfort complaints appear. I coordinate the duct modifications so the system is right the first time.
Where I provide this service
I serve Squamish, Whistler, Pemberton, and nearby Sea to Sky communities. See service areas.
Related services
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my existing ducts work with a new heat pump?
Sometimes, but often not without changes. Heat pumps generally move more air at lower temperatures than older furnaces, so undersized returns and restrictive runs cause noise and uneven comfort. I assess the ducting and resize or rework the parts that limit airflow.
Why is my home uneven after a heat pump was installed?
Usually the ducting wasn't updated for the new equipment. The heat pump needs more airflow than the old ducts were built for, so some rooms starve. I correct returns, trunks, and transitions so the system can deliver even heating and cooling.