Ductless Mini-Split Heat Pumps — No Ductwork Needed

Mini-split systems consist of two components: an outdoor condenser unit and one or more indoor air handler heads. The two are connected by a small bundle of refrigerant lines, electrical wiring, and a condensate drain line that runs through a single 3-inch hole in the wall. No major demolition, no new duct runs, no suspended ceilings opened up.

In Burnaby and the Lower Mainland, mini-splits are increasingly common in older homes built before forced-air HVAC was standard. Ranchers, bungalows, and character homes from the 1940s through 1970s often have no ductwork at all — or they have undersized gravity furnace ducts that aren't suited for modern heat pump air handlers. For these homes, a ductless mini-split is not just an option — it's often the only practical heating and cooling upgrade.

Mini-splits are also popular for additions, laneway homes, coach houses, basement suites, and detached garages in Burnaby. These spaces are often heated with expensive electric baseboard heaters or not adequately heated at all. Adding a mini-split gives the space independent, efficient heating and cooling without tapping into the main home's HVAC system.

Single-zone mini-splits condition one room or open area. If you have multiple spaces to heat and cool, multi-zone systems allow a single outdoor unit to connect to two, three, four, or more indoor heads — each with its own thermostat. This gives you independent control of each space, which is useful for rental suites, home offices, and multi-storey homes where temperature needs vary by floor.

During installation, we mount the indoor head unit at the optimal height on the wall, run the refrigerant lines through the wall core to the outdoor unit, mount the condenser on anti-vibration pads or a wall bracket, make the electrical connections, and charge the system. We test the heating and cooling operation fully before we leave.