We had a heat pump/AC unit installed by EHI, on time, on budget, great workmanship. Julian and team were knowledgeable and courteous. Dustin communicated well and is managing our government rebate for the new efficient system. Thank you Team!
Cambridge · Waterloo Region
Cambridge HVAC Contractor Who Works With Old Ducts and Stone Walls
Modern comfort for houses built long before central air
Good HVAC in Cambridge often starts with a house that was built long before anyone planned for central air. Stone homes in Galt, brick houses in Preston and Hespeler, and post-war bungalows all came with ductwork (or none at all) sized for a very different era. We fit ductless heat pumps where ducts can't go and match new furnaces and heat pumps to the ducts you already have, with a written, guaranteed price before any work starts.
- Ductless heads for rooms the old ducts never reached
- Airflow tested before we size new equipment
- Gas work by TSSA-certified techs, cooling by licensed refrigeration techs
- Guaranteed written quote, rebate paperwork included
- 96 to 97%AFUE on our gas furnaces
- -30°CCold-climate heat pump rating
- Up to $7,500Heat pump rebate, if eligible
Our Brand Partners
Furnace repair in Cambridge and the old-house issues behind it
Older homes here tend to send us the same handful of complaints. Most trace back to ducts, walls or equipment that were never meant to work together.
The back bedrooms get only a trickle from the vents
Many pre-1960 houses have small round ducts and a single central return, a layout left over from gravity furnaces. We test static pressure, check each run, and then add returns, upsize the worst trunk sections or bring in a ductless head for the rooms that never get enough air.
A new furnace went in and the vents started whistling
A modern variable-speed blower pushing into undersized ducts gets loud at the registers and works harder than it should. We set blower speeds to what your ductwork can actually carry, and we size the furnace from a heat-loss number instead of copying the old nameplate.
The stone walls feel cold no matter what the thermostat says
Solid masonry soaks up heat slowly and gives it back slowly. We size for the walls you really have, and in many Galt homes a ductless head on an inside wall gives steady heat where the furnace struggles to reach.
The finished attic is unbearable from June to September
Attic rooms in older brick homes often have one small supply duct or none. A single-zone ductless heat pump cools that floor in summer and adds efficient heat in winter, with only a small opening for the refrigerant lines.
The central air keeps the basement cold and the bedrooms warm
Old ducts were sized for heating, and cooling needs more airflow. When a heat pump or AC goes in, we confirm the ducts can move enough air per ton and adjust or supplement them if they can't.
Your furnace is 25 years old and every repair costs more than the last
Our TSSA-certified gas technicians price the repair and a replacement side by side. If the heat exchanger, inducer or control board is near the end, you see both numbers and choose.
Sound familiar?
Describe the problem and we'll tell you what it usually is, what it costs to fix, and whether it's worth fixing.
Galt, Preston and Hespeler pricing for old ducts and stone walls
Older homes often need ductless or extra airflow work. The table shows starting prices before any duct repair is scoped.
| Service | Typical price in Cambridge |
|---|---|
| Ductless mini split, one zone Midea or Kepler wall unit with outdoor unit and line set | Written quote |
| Cold-climate heat pump, installed Midea EVOX G3 or Kepler, 2 to 5 ton, rated to -30°C | From $5,500 |
| High-efficiency furnace, installed Lennox ML296V or Midea MGH96, 96% to 97% AFUE, two-stage variable-speed | From $3,300 |
| Furnace repair Diagnostic visit plus common parts such as ignitors, flame sensors and capacitors | Quote after diagnosis |
Installed pricing depends on size and installation requirements, and every job gets a written, guaranteed quote. Qualifying cold-climate heat pumps can bring back up to $7,500 through the Home Renovation Savings Program, and financing runs 0% for 3, 6 or 9 months on approved credit.
Heating and cooling in Cambridge across three old towns
Cambridge grew out of three older towns, and each one has its own building stock. Newer edges of the city add a fourth. Here's what shapes our advice.
- HomesStone, brick and newer builds
Century stone and brick in Galt, Preston and Hespeler, post-war bungalows in between, and newer subdivisions around Fiddlesticks and the city's edges.
- DuctworkOften older than the furnace
Plenty of older homes still run on duct layouts from the coal or gravity era, so we test airflow before we pick any equipment.
- ClimateNo lake buffer
Away from the big lakes, January nights run colder and July afternoons hotter than on the lakeshore, so both heating and cooling need real capacity.
- RebatesBased on your heat source
Homes on electricity, oil or propane may qualify for up to $7,500 toward a cold-climate heat pump. Enbridge gas-heated homes get a smaller amount, commonly up to $2,000.
Heat pump installation in Cambridge when the ducts are the question
In an older Cambridge house, the first question isn't which brand of heat pump to buy. It's whether the ducts can carry what a heat pump needs. A heat pump delivers a steadier, gentler stream of air than a furnace, and it needs roughly 400 cubic feet per minute of airflow for every ton of capacity. Ducts sized decades ago for a hot-air furnace often come up short.
So we measure. A static pressure test shows how hard the blower is working against the ducts. If the reading is reasonable, a ducted cold-climate heat pump, or a hybrid system with a high-efficiency furnace, can go on the existing ductwork. If it isn't, we either fix the worst sections or split the job: ducted heat for the main floor and ductless heads for the rooms the ducts can't serve.
In stone and double-brick homes with no ducts at all, ductless is usually the cleanest answer. Each indoor head needs a short refrigerant line through the wall, and we core that opening neatly and seal it so water stays out of the masonry.
- Static pressure and airflow test on your existing ducts
- Manual J heat-loss calculation, room by room
- Ducted, ductless or a mix, priced side by side
- Masonry openings cored, sleeved and sealed
From first call to finished install in a Cambridge home
Older houses reward planning. This is the order we work in.
- 1
Walk us through the house
Reach us by phone or through the form. Let us know roughly when the home was built, what heats it now and which rooms bother you most.
- 2
Measure before we recommend
A technician checks the ducts, airflow, electrical panel and gas line, and looks at the walls where equipment might go.
- 3
See your options priced
You get a written quote with model numbers, any duct or electrical work spelled out, and your rebate estimate.
- 4
Install day, then a walk-through
We install, test airflow at the registers, clean up, register the warranty and file the rebate paperwork if you qualify.
Book an HVAC technician in Cambridge for a guaranteed quote
A replacement in an older home should fix the comfort problem, not just swap the box in the basement. We price the furnace, heat pump or ductless system together with any duct changes, so the number you approve is the number you pay. Installed pricing depends on size and installation requirements.
- Lennox and Midea furnaces at 96% to 97% AFUE
- Midea EVOX G3 and Kepler heat pumps rated to -30°C
- 0% financing for 3, 6 or 9 months, or open loans from 2.99% OAC
- Up to 12 years parts and labour on select systems
Recent heat pump and furnace work from our crews
Here's a handful of recent Ontario jobs from our crews. They weren't taken here, but they show the line work and finish a Hespeler or Preston home can expect.
What it costs, and how we keep it lower
Guaranteed pricing
Your quote is your final price. No surprise extras on the agreed scope of work.
Rebates up to $7,500
Cold-climate heat pumps may qualify through the Home Renovation Savings Program. We confirm eligibility and file the paperwork.
0% financing
Interest-free for 3, 6 or 9 months, or open loans from 2.99% on approved credit.
Up to 12 years parts and labour
Extended warranty on select systems when registered.
Want the real number for your home?
A guaranteed quote takes one visit. Rebate and financing options come with it.
What Cambridge homeowners can expect: our customers in their own words
Rated 4.5 on Google and voted Best Company 2019, 2020 and 2021 on HomeStars.
4.5Google rating from verified customers
Replaces our AC with a new heat pump in Ottawa and the whole experience was outstanding. From the first call, Dustin was incredibly responsive and communicated clearly every step of the way. He cut through all the usual sales fluff and got straight to what mattered — options, costs, timelines, and what made the most sense for our home. They addressed every concern I had, explained the details discussed my technical questions, and handled the installation quickly and professionally. The quality of the work is excellent, everything was done cleanly, and the system has been running perfectly since. Pricing was fair and transparent, and there were no surprises. It’s rare to find a company that combines speed, honesty, and solid workmanship like this. Highly recommended.
Recently got a shiny new heat pump installed. Went very well, nice unit and it works soooo quietly. These fine folks were very easy to deal with, professional and thourough. Would highly recommend.
Efficient Home Improvements truly went above and beyond. Our furnace failed on Christmas Eve in Ottawa, and their team stayed up late (3:00am) that night to replace it. Their responsiveness, professionalism, and dedication during the holidays were exceptional. The work was completed efficiently, and everything was explained clearly. It’s rare to find a company willing to sacrifice their own holiday time to ensure a customer’s home is warm and safe. I highly recommend Efficient Home improvements to anyone in need of reliable and compassionate service.
I recently had a new furnace and tankless water heater installed by this company. Excellent service by both office and technicians , I highly recommend!
The Installers were great.. Got in and got the job done..the furnace works amazing compared to the old one !!! Need a furnace..A/C water tankless system..there your guys!!!!
Had a tankless water heater installed and couldn’t be happier. The installation was quick, professional, and the system works great — endless hot water and more efficient than my old tank. Highly recommend!
Dustin and his team were really responsive and helpful in getting us a new heat pump to replace our broken AC unit. The team went above and beyond helping us through the process and answering other questions about the house we recently moved in to. I would highly recommend Efficient Home Improvements for any of your HVAC needs.
Licensed HVAC Contractor · Serving Ontario for 20+ Years
Proudly Serving Cambridge, Ontario
EHI Heating And Cooling has kept Ontario homes and businesses comfortable for more than 20 years. Our licensed crews come to your home or business anywhere in Cambridge, with a written, guaranteed quote before any work starts.
- ServingCambridge, Ontario
- Phone1-647-694-5845
- Emailefficienthomecomfort@gmail.com
Business Hours
- Monday8:00 AM to 8:00 PM
- Tuesday8:00 AM to 8:00 PM
- Wednesday8:00 AM to 8:00 PM
- Thursday8:00 AM to 8:00 PM
- Friday8:00 AM to 8:00 PM
- Saturday8:00 AM to 8:00 PM
- Sunday10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Emergency service available evenings, weekends and holidays.
We also serve communities near Cambridge
Other cities in Southwestern Ontario we serve
Every city gets the same licensed crews, guaranteed pricing and rebate paperwork. Pick yours for local details.
- Kitchener-WaterlooHVAC services
- GuelphHVAC services
- BrantfordHVAC services
- WoodstockHVAC services
- StratfordHVAC services
- LondonHVAC services
- St. ThomasHVAC services
- SarniaHVAC services
- Chatham-KentHVAC services
- WindsorHVAC services
- LeamingtonHVAC services
- TillsonburgHVAC services
- IngersollHVAC services
- Owen SoundHVAC services
Frequently asked questions
Can a heat pump use the ductwork in my older Cambridge home?
Often it can, but only after an airflow test. Heat pumps need more airflow per ton than old furnaces did, so we measure static pressure first and fix or supplement the ducts if they fall short.
What's the best option for a stone house in Galt with no ducts?
A ductless or multi-zone heat pump is usually the best fit. Each indoor head needs only a small opening through the wall, and the system heats and cools without new ductwork.
Is furnace installation in Cambridge affordable for an older home?
A high-efficiency gas furnace from us starts at $3,300 installed. Installed pricing depends on size and installation requirements, and you get a guaranteed quote before we start.
Is there still a rebate if my Cambridge home heats with Enbridge gas?
Usually a smaller one. Enbridge gas-heated homes commonly qualify for up to $2,000, while homes heated by electricity, oil or propane may reach $7,500, and we confirm eligibility before installation because program terms can change.
Can I reach emergency HVAC in Cambridge on a Saturday night?
Yes. We take emergency calls evenings, weekends and holidays, and we'll give you a straight answer on when a technician can reach your home.
Why did my vents get louder after a furnace replacement?
Usually the ducts are too small for the airflow the new blower is set to move. Lowering the blower speed, opening up restrictions or adding a return typically quiets it down.
Page reviewed and updated October 27, 2026. Prices, rebates and program terms are checked at each update.