Owners adding a second storey
A new upper floor can add a lot of heat loss and cooling load. We size the new system for the finished house and plan duct routes with your builder.
Etobicoke · West Toronto
Adding a floor? The furnace needs to hear about it too.
Many Etobicoke bungalows in the Kingsway and Islington Village are getting a second storey or a full gut renovation, and the HVAC is often the last thing anyone plans. We design heating and cooling for additions, add ductless heat pumps to finished basements and replace original furnaces and air conditioners. Every quote is in writing, and the price holds.
Voted Best Company 2019 to 2021 · Authorized Midea, Lennox, Kepler & Rinnai dealer, plus Goodman · 20+ years






From the lakeshore to Rexdale, the housing changes block by block. These local facts shape what we recommend.
The Kingsway and Islington have lots of post-war bungalows. Mimico and Long Branch add older lakeshore homes, and Rexdale has many 1960s houses.
Near the water, summer humidity is the bigger complaint. Further north the afternoons get hotter and drier, so cooling capacity matters more.
An addition often means a bigger electrical service anyway. That's a smart moment to add a 240V circuit for a heat pump.
Additions need building permits, and the duct layout should be drawn alongside the framing. We work from your drawings so the runs fit.
Most of our work west of the Humber falls into one of four groups.
A new upper floor can add a lot of heat loss and cooling load. We size the new system for the finished house and plan duct routes with your builder.
A ductless heat pump gives a new rec room, office or suite its own heat and cooling, without stealing airflow from upstairs.
If your furnace or AC goes back decades, we replace it with a matched, high-efficiency system and check the ducts while we're there.
In Mimico, New Toronto and Long Branch, damp summer air is the usual issue. A properly sized AC or heat pump, plus an HRV or ERV, keeps it in check.
Tell us about your house and we'll recommend the right system, with a guaranteed price and your rebate estimate.
These come up again and again on renovation jobs and older homes in the west end.
The old furnace and ducts were sized for a one-storey house, and pushing air up through a single new riser rarely works. We size a system for both floors, add dedicated supply and return runs upstairs, or put in a separate system for the addition.
Then the ducts get squeezed into whatever space is left. Call us at the framing stage instead. We mark duct chases, return paths and the outdoor unit spot so the other trades can build around them.
Basement rooms sit against cold, damp ground, and one or two old registers can't keep up. A ductless heat pump heats, cools and dehumidifies the space on its own controls.
More square footage means more heat loss. We redo the load calculation and size a two-stage, high-efficiency furnace or a cold-climate heat pump for the new layout.
Adding space without adding cooling capacity leaves the far rooms warm. We match a new condenser or heat pump to the new load and to the furnace blower, so the two work as one system.
Older bungalows often have small panels. Our ESA-licensed electrical work covers panel upgrades and the 240V circuit a heat pump needs, ideally timed with the renovation's own electrical work.
Good news: a 96% or 97% furnace doesn't need a chimney. It vents through PVC pipe out a side wall, and a condensing tankless water heater does the same. We plan both vent terminations on the drawings so they clear windows, the neighbour's property line and the new addition, and the chimney can come out with the rest of the demolition.
Describe the problem and we'll tell you what it usually is, what it costs to fix, and whether it's worth fixing.
Equipment for the finished house, a ductless head for the basement and any duct rough-in are quoted as separate lines, so your builder's budget can carry each one. Starting points are below.
| Service | Typical price in Etobicoke |
|---|---|
| High-efficiency furnace, installed Lennox ML296V or Midea MGH96, 96% to 97% AFUE, two-stage variable-speed | From $3,300 |
| Cold-climate heat pump, installed Midea EVOX G3 or Kepler, 2 to 5 ton, rated to -30°C | From $5,500 |
| Ductless mini split, one zone Midea or Kepler wall unit with outdoor unit and line set | Written quote |
| Central air conditioner, installed Lennox or Midea, sized from a heat-gain calculation | Written quote |
| 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.
Recent Ontario installs, from furnace rooms to outdoor units on wall brackets. They show the finish you can expect on an Etobicoke renovation.






The earlier we're involved, the cleaner the result.
Plans from your architect or builder let us run a load calculation for the finished house, not the old one.
We walk the site with your contractor and mark duct chases, returns, the line set path and the outdoor unit location.
Ducts go in before insulation and drywall. Equipment follows once the space is ready, with permits and gas work handled by our TSSA-certified techs.
We commission the system, balance airflow to every room, set up the thermostat and register the warranty.
Sized for the finished house rather than the old one. Two-stage furnaces and cold-climate heat pumps for the main system, and ductless heads for basements and the rooms the ducts can't reach.

2 to 5 ton, inverter, R-454B, ENERGY STAR cold climate, rated to -30°C
Up to 12 years parts and labour on select systems

1.5 to 5 ton, rated to -30°C, quiet operation
Registered warranty

18,000 to 60,000 BTU outdoor units, wall-mounted heads
Registered warranty

96% AFUE, two-stage, variable-speed blower, 45,000 to 110,000 BTU
20-year limited heat exchanger warranty

97% AFUE, two-stage, variable-speed blower
20-year limited heat exchanger warranty
96.5% AFUE, two-stage, variable-speed, 60,000 to 120,000 BTU
Registered warranty, up to 12 years parts and labour on select systems
Up to 96% AFUE, two-stage, variable-speed ECM blower, 40,000 to 120,000 BTU/h input
10-year parts and unit replacement limited warranties when registered online
A renovated house near the lake is tighter than the one it replaced. New windows, spray foam and sealed rim joists cut the drafts that used to carry damp air out, and that's where the summer stickiness and the winter window condensation come from.
Two things fix it. First, cooling sized from a heat-gain calculation rather than the old label, so the system runs long enough to dry the air instead of short-cycling. Second, an HRV or ERV that brings in fresh air and pushes stale air out while keeping most of the heat. In a tight house that's not a luxury, it's the ventilation the building code expects.
We draw the HRV ducting on the same plan as the heating runs, so the fresh-air supplies reach the bedrooms and the exhaust pulls from the bathrooms and kitchen. Done at framing, it's a modest line on the renovation budget. Done after the drywall, it's a headache.

A renovation is the cheapest time to get your heating and cooling right. The walls are open, the electrician is already on site, and duct runs can go exactly where they should. Wait until the drywall is up and every fix costs more.
Send us the plans or a short description of the project. We'll come back with options and a guaranteed price for the agreed scope. For older semis and tight lots elsewhere in the city, our page on HVAC in Toronto covers those jobs.

Rated 4.5 on Google and voted Best Company 2019, 2020 and 2021 on HomeStars.
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!
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
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 Etobicoke, with a written, guaranteed quote before any work starts.
Emergency service available evenings, weekends and holidays.
Every city gets the same licensed crews, guaranteed pricing and rebate paperwork. Pick yours for local details.
Usually, yes. A second storey adds a lot of heat loss and cooling load, so most original bungalow furnaces and ACs end up too small, and a load calculation confirms it.
Call at the design or framing stage. That's when duct routes, returns and the outdoor unit location can be planned without opening anything up later.
A ductless heat pump is often the simplest choice, since it heats, cools and dehumidifies the basement on its own controls without changing the main ductwork.
Yes. We coordinate with builders and electricians on timing, duct chases and permits, so the HVAC fits the project schedule.
Ducted cold-climate heat pumps start from $5,500 installed, and furnaces from $3,300. The installed price depends on size and installation requirements, and we guarantee the figure we quote.
If the AC is old and the renovation adds space, replacing it during the project usually makes more sense. A unit sized for the old house will struggle in the new one.
Page reviewed and updated October 27, 2026. Prices, rebates and program terms are checked at each update.
Home or business, tell us what's going on with your heating, cooling or hot water. We'll size it right, price it once, and show you every rebate you qualify for.