Ductless Heating and Cooling FAQs

You control it with a simple remote that adjusts temperature and switches between heat and air conditioning. Want something built into the wall instead? We can set that up too.

Ductless systems work well anywhere you're dealing with inefficient electric baseboard heat, old forced air, wood stoves, or propane and kerosene space heaters. In a smaller home, one system can often heat and cool the main living area, while baseboards stay in place in bedrooms and bathrooms.

Homes using propane as a primary heating source
Ductless heat pumps run on electricity, not propane. That matters because propane is one of the priciest ways to heat a home, in some areas costing five to six times more than heating with a ductless heat pump. If propane is currently your main heat source, switching to ductless is usually the better move.

Room additions
Adding a room or converting an attic into living space? A ductless system is a great fit. You won't need to extend any ductwork or pipes, just efficient heat and cooling without tearing into your walls.

New construction
Ductless heat pumps are a smart choice for new construction too. We can design zones throughout the house that keep installation simple and refrigerant lines short, while still giving you full control room by room.

For a full breakdown of how these systems work, see our guide to ductless heat pumps.

You can absolutely run a ductless system as your main heat source. That said, we usually recommend keeping your existing heaters as backup, especially for extreme cold snaps or hard-to-reach corners of the house. We'll walk through all of this with you during your free in-home consultation.

Yes. Ductless systems use 25 to 50 percent less energy than electric resistance heat or forced air, which makes them one of the most efficient options out there. Most modern systems have Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratios (SEER) between 20 and 27, and Heating Seasonal Performance Factors (HSPF) between 10 and 12.5. Some newer units go even further, with SEER ratings over 30 and HSPF above 14. A few years ago, numbers like that would have been unheard of.

Heat only where you need it
You control each zone on its own, so you're not paying to heat or cool rooms nobody's using.

Ductless means no energy leaks
Central air can lose up to 30 percent of its efficiency to leaks and conduction inside the ductwork. Ductless systems skip the ductwork entirely and deliver air straight to each zone, which is why they run about 25 percent more efficiently.

Advanced technology
Ductless systems run on inverter-driven, variable speed compressors that hold a steady indoor temperature. They run continuously instead of cycling on and off, which is where electric resistance and forced air systems lose so much efficiency.

Ductless technology's been around since the 1970s. With good maintenance, a system can last 20 years or more, and several manufacturers now back that up with warranties as long as 12 years. Plenty of units installed back in the 1980s are still running strong today.

Ductless systems come in a range of sizes, and we'll help you find the right one for your home or business. Common indoor unit sizes run 6k/7k, 9k, 12k, 18k, and 24k BTUs. If you're heating and cooling multiple zones, you may need more than one outdoor unit.

We serve homeowners and businesses across Thurston, Mason, Lewis, South King, and Pierce counties, including Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater, Tenino, Yelm, Rainier, Rochester, Chehalis, Centralia, Shelton, Puyallup, Tacoma, Parkland, Lakewood, Federal Way, and Renton. See our full list of service areas, or give us a call if your town's not listed.

Ductless systems are a smart long-term investment. They run for years with very little maintenance, and most units come with a manufacturer warranty of 7 to 12 years. On top of that, every Alpine install includes our own Three-Year Gold Service Guarantee, a service plan covering repairs and labor if anything ever goes wrong.

Want even more peace of mind? Our Peace of Mind Plan starts at $24.95 a month and covers two service visits a year, priority scheduling, and 15% off future work.

Most homeowners go with a wall-mounted unit since it's the most cost-efficient installation option. If you'd rather go a different route, floor and ceiling-mounted units are available too.

We install Daikin, Mitsubishi, and Hisense ductless systems. We chose these three because they're reliable, efficient, and well-built, and each one backs that up with a strong manufacturer warranty. Want more detail on a specific brand? See our Brands We Install page.

We keep our overhead low. No big storefront, no fancy showroom, just a local team focused on doing the job right. That's how we keep prices fair without cutting corners. Plus, most ductless installs qualify for utility rebates and tax credits, which can bring your cost down even further. See our current rebates to find out what you might qualify for.