Cold-climate ducted heat pump
Midea EVOX G3
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
AC Repair · Ottawa
AC Repair in Ottawa for Humid Summers and Hard Winters
Licensed refrigeration techs, a written quote, and an honest word on repair versus replace
AC repair in Ottawa gets busy the first week the humidex passes 35, which is exactly when a tired air conditioner gives up. Our licensed refrigeration technicians find what failed, quote the repair in writing and fix most faults on the first visit. When the unit is past saving, we show you why a cold-climate heat pump is the modern replacement for a central AC in a city that sees both ends of the thermometer.
- Licensed refrigeration technicians, every brand of central AC and ductless
- Written quote after diagnosis, before any part is replaced
- Emergency AC repair evenings, weekends and holidays
- Honest repair-or-replace advice, with a heat pump option priced beside it
Voted Best Company 2019 to 2021 · Authorized Midea, Lennox, Kepler & Rinnai dealer, plus Goodman · 20+ years
Our Brand Partners
Air conditioner problems we fix in Ottawa
Ottawa air conditioners live a hard life: baked in July, buried in February. These are the calls we take most once the humidex climbs.
The AC runs all afternoon and the upstairs never drops below 26°C
In the big two-storey homes in Barrhaven and Stittsville, the second floor carries the attic heat and the afternoon sun. The unit may be low on charge, the coil may be dirty, or the ducts may be starving the upstairs. We check the refrigerant circuit, measure the temperature drop across the coil and look at the returns before we blame the equipment.
The outdoor unit won't start after sitting under snow all winter
Five months under a drift is hard on an air conditioner. We find corroded contactors, swollen capacitors, bent fan blades and wiring chewed by mice looking for a warm spot. Most of it is a one-visit repair once we've tested each part.
The air is cool but the house feels clammy
Ottawa's summer humidity is the real enemy. An oversized or single-stage AC hits the setpoint fast and shuts off before it has pulled the moisture out. We check airflow and charge first. If the unit is simply too big for the house, we'll say so and show you what a right-sized inverter system does differently.
Ice on the copper line or the indoor coil by mid-afternoon
Ice means low airflow or low refrigerant. A clogged filter, a matted evaporator coil or a slow leak will do it. We thaw the system, find the cause and fix it, because running a frozen AC can flood the furnace and kill the compressor.
Water pooling around the furnace in the basement
The condensate drain is plugged with slime, the pan has cracked, or the line was never trapped. We clear or replace it, add a trap and a float switch, and make sure the water reaches the floor drain instead of your finished basement.
The AC needs a refrigerant top-up every single July
That's a leak, and topping up is an expensive habit. We pressure test with nitrogen, find the leak with an electronic detector, repair it, pull a vacuum and weigh in a fresh charge. On an old R-22 unit, the honest answer is often replacement.
A compressor quote that's close to the price of a new system
A seized compressor on an air conditioner past twelve years is where repair stops making sense. We put the repair, a new central AC and a cold-climate heat pump on the same sheet so you can see the gap. Our province-wide AC repair and maintenance page explains the repair-or-replace rule in detail.
Window units rattling in every room of your Glebe or Westboro home
Older homes without ducts don't have to sweat through summer. A ductless mini split with one or more wall heads cools quietly, dehumidifies, and in a cold-climate model heats as well. We quote it alongside the repair.
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.
What AC repair costs in Ottawa
AC repairs are quoted in writing after diagnosis. If the unit is past saving, a new central air conditioner is a written quote and a cold-climate heat pump starts at $5,500 installed, with up to $7,500 back for eligible homes.
| Service | Typical price in Ottawa |
|---|---|
| AC repair Diagnostic visit plus common parts such as capacitors, contactors and refrigerant leak repair | Quote after diagnosis |
| Central air conditioner, installed Lennox or Midea, sized from a heat-gain calculation | Written quote |
| Cold-climate heat pump, installed Midea EVOX G3 or Kepler, 2 to 5 ton, rated to -30°C | From $5,500 |
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.
How an AC repair call in Ottawa works
Most faults are fixed on the first visit from parts on the truck.
- 1
Book and describe what you see
Warm air, ice, water, noise or nothing at all. Check that the thermostat is on cool and the breaker hasn't tripped. If anyone in the home is at risk in the heat, tell us, and you'll get a straight answer on timing.
- 2
Diagnosis by a licensed refrigeration tech
We test the capacitor, contactor and motors, measure pressures, superheat and subcooling, and check the temperature drop across the coil.
- 3
Written quote before any part is replaced
You see the price first. If the unit is old and the part is major, you see the replacement options next to it.
- 4
Repair, test and clean-up
We fit the part, run the system and confirm the temperature split is back in range before we pack up.
The modern replacement for a central AC in Ottawa
A heat pump is an air conditioner that can also run in reverse. It cools and dehumidifies exactly like a central AC in July, then heats your home through most of the winter with your furnace as backup for the deep cold. These are the cold-climate models we install when an Ottawa AC isn't worth fixing.
Ducted heat pump
Kepler cold-climate
1.5 to 5 ton, rated to -30°C, quiet operation
Registered warranty
Single and multi-zone
Midea ductless
18,000 to 60,000 BTU outdoor units, wall-mounted heads
Registered warranty
What an Ottawa AC repair visit covers
Each repair call includes the checks that catch the next failure before it happens.
- Electrical test of the run capacitor, contactor, fan and compressor motors
- Refrigerant pressures, superheat and subcooling measured, with a leak check if low
- Outdoor coil inspected for winter damage, debris and cottonwood fluff
- Indoor coil and filter checked for airflow, temperature drop recorded
- Condensate drain, pan and trap cleared and tested
- Written quote before the repair, with replacement options if the unit is near the end
- System run and tested after the fix, with the readings left with you
Why we price a heat pump next to every big AC repair in Ottawa
When an AC repair in Ottawa involves a compressor or a coil on a unit older than twelve years, we price a cold-climate heat pump beside it. Not as an upsell. In a city with -25°C winters and sticky summers, it's the one piece of equipment that earns its keep twelve months a year.
Here's the logic. A heat pump cools exactly like a central air conditioner: same outdoor unit, same indoor coil, same ducts. The difference is a reversing valve that lets it pull heat from outside air in winter. A Midea EVOX G3 or Kepler unit is rated to -30°C, so it carries most of the heating season on Hydro Ottawa rates and hands off to your Enbridge gas furnace below the balance point we set. Your furnace drops to a supporting role for the deep freeze.
The money works too. The install starts at $5,500, and qualifying units can bring back up to $7,500 through the Home Renovation Savings Program, commonly up to $2,000 for a gas-heated home. A plain AC replacement gets no rebate. If you'd rather repair, or replace like for like, we do that without a sales pitch. Either way the numbers sit on one sheet, and our Ottawa heating and cooling page covers the full picture.
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 Ottawa 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.
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.
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!
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.
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 Ottawa, 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 Ottawa, with a written, guaranteed quote before any work starts.
- ServingOttawa, 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.
More HVAC help in Ottawa and nearby
Other cities in Eastern Ontario we serve
Every city gets the same licensed crews, guaranteed pricing and rebate paperwork. Pick yours for local details.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does AC repair cost in Ottawa?
Every AC repair in Ottawa gets a written quote once our technician has found the fault, and before any work. Capacitors, contactors and drain repairs sit at the low end, while compressors, coils and major leak repairs cost more and are the point where we show you replacement options. A new cold-climate heat pump starts at $5,500 installed, with a guaranteed quote.
Why won't my air conditioner start after the Ottawa winter?
An AC that won't start in spring most often has a failed capacitor, a corroded contactor, a tripped breaker or wiring damaged by rodents over the winter. Check the breaker and the outdoor disconnect first, then call a licensed technician rather than running it with ice or debris in the fan.
How soon can you look at an AC that isn't cooling in Ottawa?
We take AC repair calls seven days a week, with emergency service evenings and holidays, and when you call we give you a straight answer on when a technician can come. If someone in the home is vulnerable to heat, say so, and we'll treat the call as an emergency.
Should I replace my old AC with a heat pump in Ottawa?
If your air conditioner is past twelve years old and needs a major repair, a cold-climate heat pump is usually the better buy. It cools the same, heats through most of the winter, and a qualifying unit can return up to $7,500 through the Home Renovation Savings Program, commonly up to $2,000 for Enbridge gas-heated homes. Pre-approval must be in place before installation, and we confirm eligibility first.
Why is my AC cooling but the house still feels humid?
An air conditioner that cools without dehumidifying is usually oversized, running at too high a fan speed, or short cycling because of a dirty coil or a control fault. The unit shuts off before it has run long enough to pull moisture from the air. We check airflow and charge first, then talk sizing if that's the real cause.
Do you repair ductless mini splits in Ottawa?
Yes. Our licensed refrigeration technicians repair ductless mini splits in Ottawa as well as central air conditioners and heat pumps, including wall-head faults, drain issues, refrigerant leaks and outdoor unit failures, on every brand sold in Ontario.
Page reviewed and updated October 27, 2026. Prices, rebates and program terms are checked at each update.