What is a centrally ducted heat pump?
A centrally ducted heat pump is a whole-home heating and cooling system that connects to your existing ductwork. It replaces your furnace and air conditioner with a single unit that delivers conditioned air through the same vents you already have, so there's no need for visible wall units or new pathways through your home.
The indoor unit typically installs right where your furnace used to sit. Outside, a heat pump unit handles the heat transfer, pulling warmth from outdoor air in winter and removing heat from your home in summer. Because the system moves heat rather than generating it by burning fuel, it uses significantly less energy than a gas furnace and provides both heating and cooling from one piece of equipment.
For homeowners who want modern performance without changing the look or layout of their home, a ducted system is usually the most seamless option. Everything happens behind the scenes, through the ducts and vents you're already familiar with.
How does it compare to ductless systems?
Ductless heat pumps (often called mini-splits) are a good option for homes that don't have existing ductwork. They install individual wall-mounted units in each room, each with its own controls and refrigerant lines.
If your home already has a central duct system in place, though, a ducted heat pump is usually the simpler and more practical choice. It uses the infrastructure you already have to deliver even heating and cooling to every room, without adding visible hardware to your walls or running new refrigerant lines through the house. You keep the consistent airflow pattern you're used to, and the whole system operates from a single thermostat.
What makes Jetson's ducted system different?
Every ducted system we install is a cold-climate unit rated to operate efficiently down to –22°F (–30°C). These aren't warm-weather systems with a cold-weather setting added on. They're built for serious winters from the start.
The systems use variable-speed compressors, which means the output adjusts continuously to match what your home actually needs at any given moment. That translates to smoother, quieter airflow and more consistent temperatures room to room, without the temperature swings you get from older single-speed equipment that cycles on and off at full blast.
Every Jetson system also comes with remote monitoring, smart scheduling, and built-in air quality sensors. And because we're working with your home's existing ductwork, most installations are completed in a single day.
Will it heat my whole home?
Yes. That's the core advantage of a ducted system. A properly sized heat pump distributes heating and cooling evenly through your central ductwork, reaching every room in the house through the vents that are already there. You don't end up with hot spots in the living room and cold bedrooms down the hall, which is a common issue with systems that aren't centrally distributed.
Getting the sizing right is the most important part of making this work well. An oversized system cycles on and off too frequently, wasting energy and creating uneven temperatures. An undersized one can't keep up on the coldest days. Our quoting process uses thermal analysis software to calculate exactly what your home needs based on its layout, insulation, windows, and local climate conditions.
What if my ducts are old or undersized?
In most cases, existing ductwork can be reused with only minor modifications. Homes that already have a functioning central heating system usually have the basic airflow pathways in place, which keeps the project simpler and more cost-effective.
Before any installation, we assess your duct size, layout, and condition to make sure the system will run efficiently and deliver comfort evenly throughout the house. If any modifications are needed, we'll explain exactly what's involved and why before any work starts. There are no surprises on install day.
Is installation complicated?
We handle the entire process from start to finish: permits, load calculations, equipment, installation, and final inspection. Most systems are up and running in a single day, and because we're using your existing ductwork, there's no drywall repair or major disruption to your home.
Can it replace my gas furnace?
In most homes, yes, completely. A cold-climate ducted heat pump delivers the same reliable, even heat you'd get from a gas furnace, without fuel deliveries, open flames, or combustion happening in your home. The indoor unit typically fits right where the old furnace was, and your existing vents keep distributing heat the same way they always have.
The same system also provides efficient cooling in the summer, which means you're replacing both your furnace and your air conditioner with one piece of equipment. Fewer systems to maintain, fewer things that can break, and no fossil fuels involved.
How long do ducted heat pumps last?
With regular maintenance, a centrally ducted heat pump typically lasts 15 to 20 years, which is right in line with a gas furnace or traditional air conditioner. The difference is that your heat pump is handling both heating and cooling, so you're getting more value out of a single piece of equipment over that same lifespan.
Every Jetson system comes with a 10-year parts and labor warranty and built-in remote monitoring through our Care Plus plan, so we're keeping an eye on things even when you're not thinking about it.
