RESIDENTIAL HVAC · DANVILLE, CA
Time to retire the gas furnace and the twenty-year-old AC? We design heat pump systems for Danville’s two-story homes, from the load calculation and duct design through permit, install and commissioning.
Remodels · Retrofits · Heat Pumps · Multi-Zone Systems
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Danville services
The most common job here is converting an aging furnace-and-AC pair to a heat pump. Remodels, additions and design-only calculations come next.
Most common
Remove the furnace and condenser, install a variable-speed heat pump, and correct the ducts that limited the old system.
Replacement & conversionUp and down
Separate or zoned equipment for upstairs and downstairs, chosen from each floor’s own Manual J.
Heat pump installationEfficiency
Replacing brittle flex duct and sealing leaks in hot attics so the cooling you pay for reaches the room.
Replacement & conversionRemodel
Load updates and duct reroutes when walls move, ceilings open up or new glass goes in.
HVAC for remodelsCalculation
An independent load report for your Danville house, useful for permits or for checking another contractor’s equipment size.
Manual J load calculationsSmall system
Compact heat pumps for backyard units and garage conversions.
ADU heating & coolingA published East Bay project
High-end residential remodel
A recent multi-zone heat pump remodel we completed in Berkeley, not Danville. It shows how we handle equipment placement, refrigerant routing and builder coordination on an existing home.
The six-zone Fujitsu ductless system was installed, permitted, inspected, and completed as part of the home’s remodel-for-sale scope — delivering zoned heating and cooling without a conventional ducted retrofit.
Representative published remodel scope — location, photos, and full details on the project page.
View projectLocal projects
Recent installs by the 3rdGen crew that serves Danville: ducted and ductless heat pumps, air handlers and ductwork.
The Danville house
Much of Danville’s housing is two-story single-family construction from the 1960s through the 1990s, usually with ducts running through the attic. The equipment may be failing, but the ducts are often the bigger issue.
Before choosing a heat pump, we calculate loads for each floor, check static pressure on the existing ducts, and decide whether to reuse, repair or replace them.
The right answer can be as simple as swapping the outdoor and indoor units, or as involved as consolidating two systems into one zoned layout.
Ducts that run through a hot attic lose cooling on the way. Sealing and insulation can matter as much as the equipment.
Upstairs and downstairs have very different loads. We design for each rather than copying the old split.
Many Danville neighborhoods have design review. We locate and screen outdoor units to meet the association’s requirements.
Where lots are narrow, compressor placement affects the neighbors and your bedrooms. We pick locations deliberately.
Danville is an incorporated town, so HVAC permits come from the Town of Danville Building Division. If your neighborhood has an HOA, outdoor equipment may also need design-review approval.
Danville HVAC design
Many Danville homes are suburban two-story houses with an attic furnace upstairs, a second system downstairs, and an air conditioner paired with each. After fifteen or twenty summers those systems are at the end of their lives. The question is no longer which gas furnace to buy. It is which heat pump layout fits the ducts you already have.
ACCA lists no Danville station, so we use Alamo, a few miles away at similar elevation: 31°F winter and 96°F summer design. Summers drive the sizing. Winter lows are mild enough that a cold-climate heat pump is not required, though we still check low-temperature capacity.
ACCA Manual J design data · Alamo, CA (nearest ACCA micro-climate station)
A lot of the housing is two-story single-family built from the 1960s through the 1990s, with attic air handlers and ducts running over bedrooms. Attic ducts in a 100°F attic lose a lot of cooling before it reaches the room, so duct sealing and insulation matter as much as the equipment.
Downtown Danville and nearby streets have older and smaller homes, some with crawlspace ducts or wall furnaces. Those call for a different approach than the large tract houses in neighborhoods like Blackhawk, which have their own design standards.
Homes in HOA communities may have rules about where outdoor units can go and how they are screened. We check those early so the layout does not get stuck at approval.
Two-story homes often split into upstairs and downstairs systems. We calculate both floors separately and decide whether keeping two systems, zoning one, or consolidating them gives the better result.
Our duct designs account for attic temperatures. When existing flex duct is brittle or poorly sealed, replacing it is often a bigger comfort gain than changing the outdoor unit.
Manual J gives us cooling and heating loads. We select equipment that handles the summer peak and confirm it still delivers enough heat at the 31°F design point, without leaning on backup heat.
Side yards on Danville lots can be tight. Compressor location affects neighbors and bedrooms, so we choose sites with sound and clearance in mind, not only convenience.
Replace the gas furnace and condenser with a heat pump, reusing or rebuilding the existing ducts as the design requires.
Replacement & conversion →Variable-speed equipment and sealed, insulated ducts for upstairs systems with attic handlers.
Heat pump installation →A Manual J report for your house that you can use to compare quotes or satisfy the building department.
Manual J load calculations →Revised loads and duct changes when a remodel opens up walls and changes how the rooms behave.
HVAC for remodels →Ways to spread out the cost of a whole-home heat pump project.
Financing options →Danville is an incorporated town and the Town’s Building Division handles HVAC permits. If you live in an HOA community, you may also need design-review approval for the outdoor unit. We prepare the load report and equipment documents for both.
Danville is in MCE’s service area, with PG&E delivering electricity. Incentives such as TECH Clean California, BayREN and utility programs change over time. Ask us what is open and what the equipment qualifies for before you buy; we never assume an amount.
Downtown Danville, Blackhawk, Diablo, and neighboring Alamo, San Ramon and Walnut Creek.
Homeowner reviews
207 Google reviews
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Mitsubishi mini-split installed with outstanding care. Indoor and outdoor units done right. High efficiency meant a meaningful federal tax credit too.
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Devin and his crew did a fantastic job installing AC for our whole house. High quality Mitsubishi equipment and a clean installation throughout.
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Devin is meticulous, methodical, and knowledgeable. Professional crew and a heat pump install we trust completely.
Photos from the installs above
Read all 207 reviewsThe process
For Danville houses with existing systems, the order matters: measure first, select second, install third.
We look at your equipment, attic ducts, thermostat locations and any rooms that run hot or cold.
Loads for each level based on the actual windows, insulation and orientation of your house.
Manual S picks equipment from the loads. Manual D checks the ducts and shows what to keep or rebuild.
We submit to the Town of Danville Building Division and prepare the outdoor-unit details if your HOA needs them.
Old gas equipment out, new heat pump and ducts in, with electrical and condensate work done as part of the job.
We verify refrigerant charge, airflow and duct leakage, then show you how the new thermostat works.
What the job includes
Switching from gas to a heat pump touches several systems. We list each item up front so you can see what is inside the scope.
After installation, we check duct leakage and airflow, and walk you through the thermostat and the new equipment.
Tell us about the projectFurnace and AC removed, gas line capped and flue closed.
Attic ducts replaced or sealed and insulated to match the Manual D.
Dedicated circuits and any panel work included in the permit.
Airflow, charge and duct leakage checked before inspection.
Cost
On a typical two-story house, duct condition, whether you keep one system or two, and the electrical work matter more than brand. A good Manual J and duct check before quoting keeps the number honest.
Complex whole-home and design-build projects can exceed these ranges. Rebates and incentives may reduce your net project cost.
Project inquiry
Send us your house size, what is installed now, and what is bothering you. We will tell you what we would calculate first.
Project Inquiry
Thanks — your project details are on their way to 3rdGen. We’ll review them and follow up about the next step.
Builders and architects
If you are remodeling in Danville, we get involved before the drywall goes up, so duct routes and equipment locations are settled while changes are still easy.
We work with builders and designers in Danville, the San Ramon Valley and the wider East Bay, or directly with homeowners.
Mechanical systems coordinated around architecture, ceiling conditions, equipment locations, routing, and finish requirements.
Explore HVAC for architectsClear scope, scheduling, rough-in coordination, submittals, inspections, startup, and project handoff.
Explore HVAC for builders & GCsField execution, equipment selection, controls coordination, submittals, installation, and commissioning aligned with the mechanical design.
Explore engineering coordinationAlready assembling your own project team? We can take ownership of the mechanical scope and coordinate directly with the other professionals involved.
Start a residential projectMitsubishi Electric
As a Mitsubishi Electric Diamond Contractor, we design and install ducted, ductless, and multi-zone systems for Bay Area homes, with factory-trained crews and longer warranty options on qualifying residential installs.
Mitsubishi is not automatically the answer to every home. We start with what the project requires and recommend the system that makes sense.
12 Year Parts &
Compressor Warranty
Extended parts & compressor coverage on qualifying Diamond installations.
Ongoing manufacturer training on the latest hyper-heat systems.
Direct factory escalation if anything ever needs attention.
FAQ
Common questions from Danville homeowners about heat pump replacement.
It depends on the loads and the ducts. We calculate each floor separately. Some homes work best with two right-sized systems, others with a single zoned unit. We show you the reasoning before you decide.
Yes, but the ducts should be sealed and insulated or replaced if they are in poor shape. A heat pump is only as good as the air path it pushes through.
Yes. Design temperature is about 31°F. Modern variable-speed heat pumps deliver full heating output at that point, and we confirm it in the equipment selection.
A mechanical permit from the Town of Danville Building Division. If you are in an HOA, you may also need approval for the outdoor unit location. We handle the submittal.
PG&E delivers your power and MCE is the default generation provider. Programs like TECH Clean California and BayREN change frequently, so we check current eligibility rather than quote you an amount.
Possibly. It depends on the panel, your other electric loads and the size of the heat pump. We run the numbers during design.
Yes. ADUs usually need a small single-zone system sized to their own load and Title 24 requirements.
Nearby service areas
Project Inquiry
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