Case Studies

THE PROBLEM: A Langhorne, PA homeowner was ready to replace an aging oil-heating system and move away from oil deliveries. Converting to natural gas required proper furnace sizing, an evaluation of the existing ductwork, and confirmation that the home’s gas service could support the additional heating equipment.

THE SOLUTION: A new Trane natural-gas furnace replaced the existing oil equipment after heating-load calculations, PECO gas-capacity verification, and the required permitting and approvals were completed. Removing the oil tank eliminated the need for future heating-oil deliveries, while the home’s existing ductwork provides a starting point for adding central air conditioning in the future.

THE PROBLEM: After more than 20 years in their early-1900s home, the homeowners were tired of installing, removing, and storing noisy window air conditioners every year. They wanted central air and more daylight through their windows, without extensive demolition or major changes to the home’s finished spaces.

THE SOLUTION: A high-velocity air-conditioning system was designed for the second and third floors. Its small, flexible supply ducts offered a way to bring central cooling to the homeowners’ priority spaces while working around the home’s existing structure.

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.