Add efficient heating and cooling without installing a central duct system. Climax Energy installs single-zone and multi-zone ductless heat pumps designed around room layout, comfort requirements and practical indoor and outdoor equipment locations.
Ductless systems can be especially useful for homes with electric baseboards, older homes without central ducts, additions, suites and spaces that need independent temperature control.
A ductless heat pump connects an outdoor unit to one or more indoor units and delivers conditioned air directly to the space — without building a complete central duct network through the home.
Unlike a central ducted system — which heats and cools from a single air handler distributing air through the whole home — a ductless system conditions each space or zone directly. This makes it well-suited to specific project types where central distribution is impractical, undesirable, or simply not needed.
The same technology provides both heating in winter and cooling in summer. It runs on electricity and is eligible for the same CleanBC and federal rebate programs as ducted heat pump installations.
Interested in a whole-home ducted system instead? See the Ducted Heat Pump Installation page. For homes in colder areas of Metro Vancouver, see Cold Climate Heat Pumps.
Refrigerant lines, electrical and condensate drain — not duct runs through walls and ceiling cavities
Each indoor unit has its own temperature setting — no whole-home thermostat forcing a single temperature everywhere
Year-round comfort without a separate air conditioner — the same unit heats in winter and cools in summer
The number and location of indoor units should be based on layout, room loads and how air can move through the home — not simply one head per room.
A single-zone system is useful for a specific room, floor, open-plan area, suite, or addition. It's the most straightforward ductless installation: one outdoor unit connected to one indoor head.
Commonly used for: a primary living area replacing baseboard heat, a detached suite, a home office addition, or a bedroom floor in a split-level home.
One thermostat, one space — the simplest and lowest-cost ductless configuration.
A multi-zone system uses one compatible outdoor unit to serve two to five indoor heads — each in a different area of the home. Each head operates independently, maintaining its own set temperature.
Appropriate where several areas need conditioning but a ducted system is impractical. Equipment is sized to the combined and individual zone loads, not to the unit count.
Each zone controlled independently — different temperatures in different rooms simultaneously.
Indoor heads should be positioned where they can distribute air effectively while remaining practical for condensate drainage, refrigerant piping, electrical connections and future service access.
Placement chosen only because it's easiest to install often produces a system that works poorly — air distribution limited to one side of the room, inadequate reach into adjacent areas, condensate problems, or difficult service access. A brief placement review at the start of the project avoids these issues.
Most ductless installations use wall-mounted indoor heads. Ceiling cassette and floor-console units are also available where wall mounting is not suitable for the space.
The head should reach the area being conditioned — typically the centre or end of the primary occupied space, not tucked into a corner where airflow is restricted
Indoor heads produce condensate during cooling. The drain line must route to a suitable drain or exterior — placement must allow a gravity or pumped condensate path
Refrigerant lines and electrical must route from the indoor head through the wall to the outdoor unit — the line-set path and wall penetration location are part of the placement decision
The indoor unit requires periodic filter cleaning and occasional service — placement must allow a technician to access the unit without removing permanent fixtures
Outdoor-unit placement, clearances, service access, drainage, noise and the route between indoor and outdoor equipment should all be reviewed before installation begins.
Clean line-set routing and proper wall penetrations are part of a professionally finished project. Line sets run in lineset cover (surface-mounted) or through walls — the route is chosen for appearance, protection and the shortest practical path between equipment.
Clearances and airflow: outdoor units require unobstructed intake and discharge — placement too close to walls, fences or vegetation limits performance and may affect warranty
Service access: the unit needs to be reachable for future maintenance — not mounted where a technician can't access the service panels
Drainage: defrost water must drain away from the unit and building foundation — drainage path is confirmed before mounting location is finalised
Noise: outdoor units produce operating sound — placement near bedroom windows or shared property lines should be considered before selecting the location
Line-set route: the path of refrigerant lines, electrical and condensate drain from outdoor to indoor unit affects appearance and protection — it's planned before the first hole is drilled
Installing new central ductwork in a finished home can be invasive and expensive. Ductless heat pumps can provide heating and cooling while preserving more of the existing interior.
The best configuration depends on how many areas require conditioning and whether air can circulate between rooms. A multi-zone system covering an open-plan home may need fewer heads than a home with many closed rooms — this is reviewed during the assessment.
Every ductless heat pump installation follows the same sequence — from the initial review of the home to the final operational walkthrough with the homeowner.
We review the layout, existing heating, room loads and comfort objectives before recommending any equipment. The configuration follows the home — not a default product.
Equipment selection, zone count and indoor unit type (wall, ceiling cassette, or floor-console) are confirmed before the project is quoted. No equipment is ordered until the scope is agreed.
Airflow coverage, condensate drain path, line-set routing and wall penetration locations are confirmed — before any drilling or mounting begins.
Clearances, drainage, noise, service access and line-set length are reviewed. The outdoor unit is mounted on a manufacturer-approved pad or wall bracket at the confirmed location.
Dedicated circuit requirements, panel capacity and any electrical work within project scope are confirmed before installation. Our licensed electricians handle electrical work in-house.
Equipment installation, refrigerant line brazing or flaring, line-set routing, wall penetrations with appropriate flashing and covers, and electrical connections within scope.
Condensate drain is routed and tested. System is commissioned — refrigerant charge verified, operating pressures and temperatures checked, controls tested. Homeowner is walked through operation, filter maintenance and warranty documentation before the team leaves.
Each indoor zone should be selected according to the load and characteristics of the space it serves — not a rule-of-thumb BTU-per-square-foot estimate.
An oversized indoor head reaches set temperature quickly, then shuts off before completing a full refrigeration cycle. This short-cycling reduces dehumidification in summer, increases wear on the compressor, and often leaves the room feeling clammy even when "cool enough."
Equipment selected too small for the zone's actual heat gain or loss may run continuously during peak summer or winter conditions without reaching set temperature. On a multi-zone system, an undersized individual head also draws too much from the shared outdoor unit.
Layout, insulation levels, window area and orientation, ceiling height, adjacent unconditioned spaces, internal heat sources, and air movement between rooms all affect the required zone capacity. A proper zone-by-zone load calculation determines the right equipment for each space.
A ductless system requires dedicated electrical provisions according to the equipment. The specific requirements depend on the unit's amperage, configuration and the home's existing service.
Whether a panel upgrade is needed depends on existing service capacity, current panel load, available breaker slots, and the selected equipment's amperage. Many ductless installations — particularly single-zone systems — are completed on existing 100A panels without an upgrade. This is confirmed during the project assessment before any commitment is made.
A ductless heat pump requires a dedicated 240V circuit from the main panel. On a multi-zone system, the single outdoor unit typically requires one dedicated circuit; each indoor head is supplied from that outdoor unit's wiring. Circuit size depends on the outdoor unit's minimum circuit ampacity.
Our licensed electricians review electrical requirements and carry out circuit and panel work within project scope — no separate electrical contractor to coordinate. Any work required beyond the standard scope is identified and quoted before installation begins.
Cost varies significantly between a single-zone installation and a multi-zone whole-home project — they are not the same product and should not be presented as such. Actual cost depends on several project-specific factors.
Single-zone vs 2, 3, 4 or 5-zone systems carry different equipment and labour costs
Higher BTU and higher-efficiency cold climate models have different price points
Longer line sets, complex routing through walls or attics, and line-set cover add installation time
New dedicated circuits, panel review, and any panel upgrade required are separate scoped line items
Gravity drain vs condensate pump; routing distance to a suitable drain location
Concrete, masonry, or unusual wall assemblies affect penetration difficulty and time
A free in-home assessment produces a written, fixed-price quote covering all equipment, installation and applicable rebates. You know the full cost before any work begins — no estimates that grow mid-project.
Qualification depends on program rules, existing heating fuel, number and type of indoor heads, qualifying equipment specifications and household requirements. We confirm eligibility before installation begins.
Ductless systems deliver air directly from indoor units and are often the right choice where central ducts do not exist. Ducted systems distribute air through central vents and can provide a more concealed whole-home solution where suitable ducts are available. The choice should follow the building and comfort goals.
Both configurations use heat pump technology and can qualify for CleanBC rebates when installed to program specifications. Our free assessment covers both options — we'll tell you which is genuinely the better fit for your home. See the Ducted Heat Pump Installation page for the central system option.
Equipment is recommended based on the home's actual layout, room loads and comfort goals — not a default configuration or model with the best margin. If ducted is genuinely the better fit, we'll say so.
TECA-certified and Red Seal technicians with experience in single-zone, multi-zone and cold climate ductless installations across Metro Vancouver — from straightforward baseboard replacements to whole-home multi-zone projects.
Our licensed electricians handle the dedicated circuit and any panel work required — eliminating the need to separately manage an electrical contractor for a project that already involves refrigeration and mechanical work.
Clean line-set routing, properly sealed wall penetrations, correct refrigerant charge and a tested, commissioned system before the team leaves. Not an install-and-leave approach.
We confirm rebate eligibility before equipment is ordered, install to CleanBC program specifications, and manage the paperwork for qualifying CleanBC and federal incentive applications on your behalf.
Serving Vancouver, Burnaby, North Shore, Richmond, Coquitlam, Surrey and Langley. Licensed and insured. Licence #LEL-0098231.
We serve all major communities across the Lower Mainland — same certified team, same standards, same upfront pricing.
Book an in-home assessment so the existing system, property layout, electrical requirements and comfort goals can be reviewed before equipment is recommended — and before you commit to anything.