Air Source Heat Pumps & Ductless Systems

Air Conditioning in Waterloo and Listowel, Air source heat pumps in Waterloo and Listowel, Ductless Air Conditioning in Waterloo and Listowel

When it comes to figuring out the best way to keep cool this summer, your options can be overwhelming. You’re probably already familiar with centra...

Posted by Brad | July 28, 2025

When it comes to figuring out the best way to keep cool this summer, your options can be overwhelming. You’re probably already familiar with central air conditioning, but what if it’s out of your budget, or you live in a building that's not conducive to installation?

Don’t worry! In today’s blog, our cooling experts will go over our heat pump and ductless AC options, so you’ll be better prepared to make the ideal equipment choice for your unique needs.

A Cross technician carefully works on the internal components of a heat pump. This image introduces a blog about air source heat pumps.

What is an Air Source Heat Pump?

Air source heat pumps are systems that transfer air from outside to the inside of your home. Essentially, they’re an air conditioner and furnace all in one. A dual-function, environmentally-friendly option for homeowners.

Here’s how they work:

In cooling mode the refrigerant in your heat pump absorbs heat from the indoor air. Then it passes through the compressor where the refrigerant, which is now a warm gas, is compressed and it’s temperature continues to rise. This warm refrigerant is then passed through the heat exchanger where it’s transferred outside.

Once this cycle is complete, the refrigerant cools back down and heads back inside to repeat the process.

The best part of this process? It can be reversed, to help increase your indoor temperature in the wintertime. Having the ability to heat and cool your home with one compact piece of equipment helps keep appliance and operation costs down.

What Are The Other Benefits of an Air Source Heat Pump?

Air source heat pumps are misunderstood, but can be a great option for homeowners for a number of reasons:

Quiet Operation

While many people are under the impression that these systems are noisy, in fact, today’s models can be as quiet as a whisper and aren’t audible by your neighbours.

Year Round Operation

Air source heat pumps can be used in the winter. They have to work a bit harder to warm up the air, but they work well in temperatures as cold as -25 degrees Celsius — and they’re still a cheaper option than oil furnaces.

Flexible

Air source heat pumps can be used in combination with all types of systems, including whole home, one-room and ductless heating and cooling systems.

A Cross technician works on a ductless AC unit. Introduces the section of the blog about ductless air conditioners.

What is a ductless AC?

Ductless air conditioning, sometimes referred to as a mini-split, is a type of cooling system that doesn’t rely on ducts to transfer cooled air throughout your home. Cooled air is distributed by an outdoor compressor unit and multiple indoor units in various rooms within your home.

Ductless AC’s are a great option for older homes, where central AC retrofitting might not be possible, or condos and apartments. Or any home where you might want to increase efficiency and reduce your energy usage.

Ductless AC’s are more efficient as you are able to individually control the temperature in the various zones of your home.

Which System Should I Choose?

With a furnace and central AC system combo, some homeowners may experience uneven heating and cooling throughout their home. While the main floor may be a comfortable temperature, upstairs may be a different story.

Switching to an air source heat pump in combination with a ductless system is a highly efficient option. For every unit of electricity you pay for, you could get upwards of 3.5 units of cooling.

The main benefit is that every area in your home will be comfortable. Each room in your home will be zoned differently, so you have total control over the climate in different areas of your home. You’ll even have the option to stop heating and cooling rooms you’re not occupying. You turn your light switches off when you leave a room, so why not do the same with your heating and cooling?

Best of all, installation and maintenance is easy. Without ducts, there’s no need to tear apart your home for the installation. You also won’t need to invest in duct cleaning every season, nor will you need to worry about heat loss throughout the ducts in your home — and this will save you money.

No Matter The System, Make Regular Maintenance A Priority

Whether you have central AC, a heat pump or a ductless air conditioner, you need to prioritize regular maintenance to ensure they’re running smoothly. So trust your tune-ups to the experts at Cross.

We’re proud to offer comprehensive, multi-point AC tune-ups that include:

A thorough inspection of the interior and exterior components of your air conditioner including wire. connections, motor, compressor, coils and dampers.
Tune-up and troubleshooting potential issues to ensure optimal functionality.
Refrigerant level check.

After the tune-up is completed, we’ll check in to ensure you’re delighted with the service and your system is running perfectly.
At Cross Heating and Air Conditioning in Waterloo and Listowel, we will work with you to find the best heating and cooling option for your home, including determining whether air source heat pumps and ductless systems are the right choice for you. Contact us to chat with one of our knowledgeable staff!