Case Studies

THE PROBLEM: A family relied on window air conditioners to cool their split-level home. The units were noisy, comfort varied from room to room, and the kitchen windows couldn’t accommodate a traditional window AC. The family wanted a quieter way to make the spaces they used most comfortable.

THE SOLUTION: A three-to-one Mitsubishi Electric mini-split system with standard heat pump technology gave the family independent heating and cooling in three key areas: the lower-level sitting room, the open living area, and the kitchen. They chose to address those spaces first and leave the bedrooms for a future phase that could be planned around their home and budget.

THE PROBLEM: An aging HVAC system with recurring problems was becoming less reliable, while uneven temperatures left the second floor uncomfortable. Household allergy concerns created an additional need for better filtration and cleaner indoor air. 

THE SOLUTION: The homeowners chose a Ruud two-stage gas furnace with a variable-speed blower, a Ruud 2-ton air conditioner, an electronic air cleaner, UVC air treatment, and an Ecobee thermostat with a room sensor. The complete system was designed to provide reliable heating and cooling, more balanced temperatures, and improved indoor air quality.

THE PROBLEM: An aging air conditioner with a small refrigerant leak was struggling to cool the home evenly, leaving the third floor noticeably warmer. An undersized return-air opening was restricting airflow and making it harder for the system to keep up during hot weather. 

THE PROBLEM: The homeowner’s approximately 30-year-old, 80% efficient boiler had shut down while she was traveling during previous winters. Although the system was still operating, its age and history made reliable home heating a growing concern whenever she was away.

THE SOLUTION: The aging boiler was replaced with a 96% high-efficiency Lochinvar condensing boiler. A new water heater and Honeywell T10 smart thermostat completed the upgrade, giving the homeowner efficient heating, remote temperature monitoring, and greater peace of mind while traveling.

THE PROBLEM: A historic home built in several stages had never had air-conditioning. Conventional ductwork would have required significant alterations, while a newer addition lacked the attic space needed to connect with the rest of the home.

THE SOLUTION: A customized system combined high-velocity air-conditioning in the original home with a two-zone Mitsubishi Electric mini-split system in the newer addition. The design provided efficient, targeted cooling while protecting the home’s historic character.

THE PROBLEM: After nearly 35 years of living with one of their bedroom's that was too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter, the homeowners needed a better solution as their family continued to grow. Because the bedroom was located far from the central HVAC system in a multi-level split-level home, it did not receive enough airflow to remain consistently comfortable.

THE SOLUTION: A single-zone ductless mini-split gave the bedroom its own dedicated source of heating and cooling. The homeowners can now control the room’s temperature independently without replacing the central HVAC system or making extensive modifications to the home’s existing ductwork.

PROBLEM: An older Chestnut Hill home had a 5–10°F temperature difference between the first and second floors. Cooling the upstairs at night meant making the first floor uncomfortably cold, and the home's approximately 80% efficient furnace no longer aligned with his comfort or energy-efficiency goals.

SOLUTION: A two-zone hybrid heating and cooling system paired a fully modulating Ruud RD18 heat pump with a 96% efficient, two-stage variable-speed Ruud furnace. New ductwork and independent controls for each floor gave the home more precise comfort, improved humidity control, quieter operation, and less reliance on fossil-fuel heating.

THE PROBLEM: An older air-conditioning system stopped working during the August heat after its blower motor failed. Although the immediate repair restored cooling, the home's 1997 furnace, 2004 air conditioner, and aging R-22 system made long-term reliability, efficiency, and future repair costs growing concerns.

THE PROBLEM: An aging window air conditioner had failed, leaving the homeowners looking for a more permanent cooling solution. Their biggest concerns were noise and comfort, as the old window unit could be loud enough to interfere with conversations when family and friends were visiting. 

THE PROBLEM: An aging HVAC system was becoming more expensive to repair, while the homeowner was also dealing with high first-floor humidity and uneven temperatures throughout the home. They wanted better comfort and reliability, but they also had another goal: reduce their reliance on natural gas and use less fossil fuel without completely giving up the comfort of gas heat during a Pennsylvania winter.