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Complete AC system design & installation ensures your equipment, ducts, and controls work together for maximum efficiency. We engineer systems, not just install boxes.
Most contractors just replace your AC unit and call it a day. A complete system approach means engineering every component to work together - equipment, ducts, controls, and airflow. It's the difference between guessing and knowing your system will work.
Engineering calculation that determines exactly how much heating and cooling your home needs based on insulation, windows, orientation, and Chicago's climate. No guessing, no rules of thumb - actual engineering.
Proper duct sizing and layout to deliver the right CFM to each room with static pressure under 0.5" W.C. Many Chicago homes have undersized ducts that choke airflow and waste energy.
Selecting equipment that matches your calculated load and duct design. Not just grabbing whatever's in the truck - matching tonnage, airflow, and efficiency to your home's actual needs.
Multi-story Chicago homes often need different temperatures on different floors. Zone controls with dampers let you heat and cool each floor independently without running two separate systems.
Smart thermostats that actually talk to your equipment and adjust staging, humidity control, and fan speeds. Not just a programmable timer - actual system integration.
Every component engineered to work together. Equipment matched to ducts, ducts matched to home, controls matched to equipment. The whole system optimized, not just individual parts.
The difference between a basic install and a complete engineered system is significant. Here's what you get with each approach.
Result: A system that might cool your home, but wastes energy and creates hot/cold spots
Result: A system that delivers consistent comfort and maximum efficiency for 15-20 years
You can have the best AC unit money can buy, but if your ducts can't deliver the air properly, you're wasting money. Duct design matters as much as equipment selection - sometimes more.
Your AC needs 400 CFM per ton to work correctly. Undersized ducts restrict airflow, causing poor cooling, frozen coils, and compressor damage. We measure and verify actual CFM.
High static pressure means your system is working too hard to push air through the ducts. It's like breathing through a straw - technically possible, but exhausting. We design ducts to keep static pressure low.
Old homes built with gravity furnaces or steam heat often have ducts added later that are too small for modern AC. We identify these problems and fix them as part of the complete system.
Required airflow for proper AC operation and humidity removal
Target static pressure - any higher wastes energy and strains equipment
Typical efficiency reduction from poor duct design alone
Chicago's old housing stock means many homes need complete system design, not just equipment replacement. Here are the most common situations.
Your 1920s bungalow has steam heat or a gravity furnace. There are no ducts. Adding central AC means designing and installing ductwork from scratch - crawl space, attic, or creative routing through walls. Complete system design is the only option.
We design ductwork that works with your home's architecture without destroying historic features
New construction or gut rehab means you're starting with an empty shell. This is the perfect time for complete system design - no compromises, no working around existing problems. Design it right the first time.
Best opportunity to optimize duct routing and minimize static pressure
You finished your basement and now it's too hot in summer, too cold in winter. The existing ductwork wasn't designed for conditioned basement space. You need additional supply and return runs calculated into the total system.
We calculate the basement load and add ductwork without overloading your system
Your second floor is always 10 degrees warmer than the first floor. That's not a broken AC - it's poor system design. Multi-story Chicago homes often need zone controls or careful duct balancing to maintain even temperatures.
Zone dampers or separate systems designed into the complete system approach
Complete system design takes time and expertise. Here's exactly what we do and how long it takes.
Measure your home, calculate heat gain/loss for every room. Determines exact heating and cooling capacity needed.
Day 1
Design ductwork to deliver proper CFM to each room while keeping static pressure low. Size every supply and return.
Days 1-2
Select equipment that matches your load and duct design. Not just tonnage - airflow, staging, efficiency.
Day 2
Review complete design with you. Explain choices, options, and costs. Make any requested adjustments.
Day 3
Install equipment and ductwork exactly to design specs. Test airflow and static pressure to verify performance.
3-5 Days
Design work happens first - we won't order equipment or schedule installation until you approve the complete system design. Installation time depends on ductwork complexity - simple replacement is 3 days, ductwork from scratch is 5 days.
Complete system design costs more upfront than slapping in an AC unit, but saves money over the system's 15-20 year life through higher efficiency and fewer repairs. Here's the real cost breakdown.
Load calculations, duct design, equipment selection, and system optimization. One-time engineering cost that ensures everything works correctly.
Outdoor unit, indoor coil, refrigerant lines, condensate pump. Price depends on tonnage (2-5 ton) and efficiency (14-21 SEER). Most Chicago homes need 3-3.5 ton.
New ductwork installation, modifications to existing ducts, supply/return runs, registers, dampers. Cost depends on home layout and accessibility.
Complete system including design, equipment, and ductwork. 15-20% more efficient than basic install, pays for itself in 3-5 years through energy savings and fewer repairs.
Complete system design isn't necessary for every AC replacement. But in these situations, it's absolutely worth the investment - and sometimes the only viable option.
You're building from scratch. There's no existing system to work around, no compromises. This is the perfect time for complete system design - build it right the first time and never worry about it.
You're down to studs and joists. Old system is completely ripped out. This is your chance to design a modern, efficient system without working around old problems. Don't waste this opportunity.
Your old Chicago bungalow has steam heat or radiators. No existing ductwork. You want central AC. Complete system design is the only option - we're designing and installing ductwork from scratch.
First floor is freezing, second floor is sweltering. You need different temperatures in different areas. Zone control requires careful system design to avoid short-cycling and maintain efficiency.
Your AC is relatively new but some rooms are always hot, others freezing. High humidity even when it's cooling. That's not a broken AC - it's a poorly designed system. Time to fix it properly.
A complete AC system includes Manual J load calculations to size equipment correctly, Manual D duct design for proper airflow, Manual S equipment selection, zone controls if needed, thermostat integration, and a total system approach where every component is engineered to work together - not just an AC unit slapped on existing ducts.
Design work costs $500-$1,000 and includes Manual J heat/cool load calculations, Manual D duct design, and Manual S equipment selection. Total system cost ranges from $8,000-$18,000 including equipment ($4,000-$8,000), ductwork ($3,000-$8,000), and design. Takes 3 days design plus 3-5 days installation.
Manual J is the engineering standard for calculating exactly how much heating and cooling your home needs. It accounts for square footage, insulation, windows, orientation, and Chicago's climate. This ensures your AC is sized correctly - not guessed based on square footage rules of thumb. Proper sizing prevents short-cycling and humidity problems.
Many Chicago homes have undersized ducts from older systems. Proper duct design ensures correct airflow (400 CFM per ton) and static pressure under 0.5 inches W.C. Poor duct design can reduce system efficiency by 20-30% even with a great AC unit. Airflow matters as much as equipment quality - you can have the best AC money can buy, but if the ducts can't deliver the air, you're wasting money.
Complete system design is worth the investment for new construction, gut rehabs, adding AC to homes without existing ducts, multi-story homes that need balancing, and multi-zone needs. Old Chicago homes retrofitting central AC almost always need ductwork designed from scratch. The 15-20% efficiency improvement pays for itself in 3-5 years.
Get a free complete system design consultation. We'll perform a Manual J load calculation, review your existing ductwork, and provide a detailed proposal with upfront pricing.