Once a Richmond homeowner decides on a heat pump, the next question is almost always the same: ducted or ductless? Both heat and cool your home efficiently from one system. The right choice comes down to how your home is built, what's already in your walls, and how you live in the space. Here's how to tell which one fits.
The short version
- Ducted suits homes that already have ductwork, like many Hamilton and Broadmoor houses.
- Ductless suits condos, character homes, and additions with no ducts, common in Steveston and City Centre.
- Ductless gives you room-by-room control. Ducted gives you even, whole-home comfort.
- Plenty of homes end up with a mix of both.
What a ducted heat pump is
A ducted (or central) heat pump connects to a network of ducts and pushes conditioned air through vents in every room, the same way a forced-air furnace does. If your home already has good ductwork, this is often the cleanest upgrade because we can reuse what's there.
When ducted wins
- Your home already has sound ductwork from a furnace.
- You want one consistent temperature across the whole house.
- You prefer the look of standard vents over wall-mounted units.
This is why a furnace-to-heat-pump conversion is so straightforward in a lot of east and central Richmond homes: the ducts are already in place.
What a ductless mini-split is
A ductless mini-splitskips the ducts entirely. A small outdoor condenser connects to one or more indoor heads mounted on the wall or ceiling, each heating and cooling its own zone. It's efficient, quiet, and doesn't need you to tear open walls for ductwork.
When ductless wins
- Your home has no ductwork and you don't want a major renovation.
- You're in a condo or townhome, common around City Centre and Brighouse.
- You have a character or heritage home, like many in Steveston, where running ducts is impractical.
- You added a suite, office, or room that needs its own comfort.
- Certain rooms are always too hot or too cold and you want to fix just those.
Cost, disruption, and noise
If your ducts already exist, ducted is usually the lower-disruption option. If they don't, installing ductwork is a big job, and ductless becomes both cheaper and cleaner. On noise, modern units of both types are quiet. We place outdoor condensers carefully so they don't bother you or your neighbours, which matters on the close lots you find in Thompson and similar neighbourhoods.
Zoning and efficiency
Ductless has a natural advantage for zoning: each head runs independently, so you're not paying to heat empty rooms. Ducted can be zoned too, but it takes extra equipment. For a whole home that's used evenly, ducted feels seamless and even. For a home where different rooms get used very differently, ductless can trim your running cost.
Why not both?
A lot of Richmond homes land on a hybrid: a ducted system for the main floor and a ductless head for a finished basement, addition, or bonus room. There's no rule that says you have to pick one.
How we help you decide
During a free in-home assessment we look at your existing ductwork, your layout, and how you actually use your rooms, then recommend the setup that gives you the best comfort for the money. Call (604) 332-1613 or get a free quote to talk it through.
