Heat Pump & HVAC FAQs for the Adirondacks and Lake Champlain
Plain answers to the questions homeowners from Ticonderoga to Lake Placid and across the lake in Addison County ask us every week: whether a heat pump really works at -20°F, what a Mitsubishi system costs, how NYS Clean Heat and Efficiency Vermont rebates work, what happens to the electric bill, and what it is like to have us install and service it. Can't find yours? Call (518) 812-1958.
- Mitsubishi Diamond Contractor ELITE
- 12-year parts & labor warranty
- 180-Day Comfort Guarantee
- Veteran-owned · Ticonderoga, NY
Heat pumps in the cold
Do heat pumps really work in Adirondack winters?
Yes, if you buy a cold-climate model and size it right. Mitsubishi Hyper-Heating INVERTER (H2i) systems deliver 100% of their rated heating capacity at 5°F and keep operating down to -13°F; the newer H2i Plus models run to -22°F. Ticonderoga's winter design temperature is about -10°F, so a properly sized system carries the whole load most of the winter. We have whole-home conversions running in Lake Placid and Saranac Lake, where -20°F to -30°F mornings are normal.
What happens below -13°F or -22°F?
The unit does not shut off at that number; it keeps running with reduced output as it gets colder. On the handful of -25°F mornings a year in the High Peaks, a system sized from a real load calculation still holds the house, and some homeowners keep a woodstove or the old boiler as backup for those nights. We size for your town's design temperature, not a statewide average.
Why does my heat pump blow cool air sometimes in winter?
Two normal reasons. In cold, damp weather the outdoor coil frosts and the unit runs a 5–10 minute defrost cycle, pausing the indoor fan. And a Mitsubishi unit modulates: as the room nears setpoint the fan slows and the air feels warm rather than hot. A furnace blasts 120°F air and shuts off; a heat pump delivers steadier, lower-temperature air for longer. If it is cool for more than 15 minutes, see the no-heat checklist.
What does "Hyper-Heat" mean?
Hyper-Heating INVERTER, or H2i, is Mitsubishi Electric's cold-climate technology: a variable-speed inverter compressor and a flash-injection circuit that keep refrigerant flow up when it is far below zero. It is the difference between a standard heat pump that loses most of its capacity at 20°F and one rated for 100% at 5°F. Read more at Mitsubishi Hyper-Heat.
Do I need to keep my oil or propane furnace as backup?
Usually not. A whole-home Hyper-Heat system sized from a load calculation does not need backup in most Essex County homes, and decommissioning the fossil-fuel system earns the highest NYS Clean Heat rebate tier. Some homeowners keep a boiler for peace of mind and accept the partial-load rebate. We go through both options at the estimate.
Does the outdoor unit need to be covered or protected from snow?
It needs to be above the snow line, with 18 inches of clearance on all sides and nothing dripping on it from the roof. We install on wall brackets or a raised stand, often with a snow cover, so a two-foot storm does not bury it. Never wrap the unit; it has to breathe to heat.
Will a heat pump cool the house in summer too?
Yes. The same system reverses to air-condition and dehumidify, which is why so many lake camps and village homes that never had AC add one. Mitsubishi wall units run as quiet as 19 dB. See air conditioning.
Cost, rebates & financing
How much does a Mitsubishi heat pump cost installed?
It depends on how many zones, which indoor unit styles, how the line sets run and whether it is a single room or a whole-home conversion. We publish what drives the number on the Mitsubishi heat pump price page and give you a written price after a free in-home load calculation, with the rebate already subtracted.
What rebates are available in the North Country in 2026?
In New York, NYS Clean Heat rebates paid through NYSEG (most of Essex, Clinton and Franklin counties) or National Grid (parts of northern Warren and Washington counties) on qualifying cold-climate heat pumps. The amount depends on whether you fully convert off fossil fuel and, since September 1, 2026, on your home's weatherization for the top tier. In Vermont, Efficiency Vermont plus Green Mountain Power or Vermont Electric Co-op bonuses. We confirm your figure at the estimate and file everything. Details on the rebates page.
Do I have to apply for the rebate myself?
No. We are a participating contractor. We confirm what you qualify for, apply it as a discount on your invoice and submit the paperwork to the utility. You do not front the money and wait for a check.
What financing do you offer?
18 months at 0% interest through Synchrony on approved credit, with no prepayment penalty. Rebates come off first, so you finance the smaller number. A $12,000 system over 18 months at 0% is about $667 a month. See financing.
Will my electric bill go up?
Yes — you are moving heating energy from the oil or propane bill to the electric bill. The point is that the total goes down: a Hyper-Heat system delivers two to three units of heat for every unit of electricity it uses, where oil, propane and electric baseboard deliver one or less. How much you save depends on your fuel price and your NYSEG or National Grid rate. The savings calculator estimates it for your home.
How does the $250 calculator offer work?
Run the savings calculator before your estimate. The report it generates includes a $250-off code. Bring it to the in-home visit and the $250 comes off your invoice, on top of any rebate.
Is there still a federal tax credit for heat pumps?
No. The federal residential energy-efficiency tax credit for heat pumps expired December 31, 2025 and does not apply to 2026 installations. The utility rebates and 0% financing above are current.
Installation
How long does installation take?
A single-zone ductless system is usually one day. A multi-zone or whole-home conversion with a ducted air handler is two to four days. Lead time from signed proposal to install day depends on the season and equipment availability; we tell you the date before you sign and have met tight year-end rebate deadlines when it mattered.
What is a load calculation and why do you insist on one?
A Manual J load calculation measures the house — square footage, insulation, windows, air leakage, orientation — and works out how many BTUs each room needs at your town's design temperature. It is how we pick the right size. An oversized system short-cycles and leaves rooms clammy; an undersized one cannot keep up at -15°F. Square-foot guesses are how heat pumps get a bad name. More at load calculations.
Which indoor unit styles are there?
Wall-mounted (the most common), floor-mounted for rooms with low knee walls or big windows, ceiling cassettes that sit flush in the ceiling, ceiling-concealed ducted units that serve two or three rooms through short duct runs, and multi-position air handlers that replace a furnace on existing ductwork. See indoor units.
Can one outdoor unit heat the whole house?
Often. A Mitsubishi multi-zone outdoor unit can run up to eight indoor units. Larger homes sometimes get two outdoor units, which also gives redundancy. We decide from the load calculation, not a rule of thumb. See outdoor units.
Can you install a heat pump in a house with no ductwork?
Yes — that is what ductless was designed for. Most 1800s farmhouses, lake camps and village homes in our area have boilers and radiators, no ducts. Wall or floor units go in the main rooms with line sets run outside or through closets. See ductless mini-splits.
Do I need to upgrade my electrical service?
Sometimes. A whole-home system needs dedicated circuits, and a 100-amp panel in an older camp may need an upgrade. We check the panel at the estimate and include any electrical work in the written price so there is no surprise.
Do you install furnaces and central AC, or only heat pumps?
Both. We install RUUD propane and gas furnaces, RUUD central AC, boilers and hybrid heat pump water heaters when that is the right answer for your house or budget. Heat pumps are our specialty, not our only tool. See traditional HVAC services.
Service, repair & maintenance
How often does a Mitsubishi heat pump need service?
Rinse the indoor mesh filters monthly during heavy use. Have the outdoor coil and indoor fan wheel professionally cleaned once a year, twice if it is your primary heat. Mitsubishi requires documented annual maintenance to keep the parts warranty valid. Per-visit pricing is $169 for the condenser and $69 per indoor head; see maintenance pricing.
What warranty comes with a Mitsubishi install?
As a Diamond Contractor ELITE, we register qualifying systems for Mitsubishi's 12-year parts and compressor warranty. The Adirondack Shield Elite Care Plan adds 12 years of labor, trip charges and refrigerant on covered failures plus two maintenance visits a year, from $28/month for a single zone. New installs also carry our 180-Day Comfort Guarantee.
Do you repair heat pumps and furnaces you didn't install, or other brands?
Yes. We service and repair heat pumps, furnaces, boilers, central AC and water heaters of any brand across our service area. Only the Shield's $0-repair coverage is limited to Mitsubishi systems we installed.
My heat is out. What do I do?
Check for a gas smell or CO alarm first and leave the house if either is present. Then: breaker, HEAT mode on the remote, snow cleared 18 inches around the outdoor unit, filters rinsed, wait 15 minutes for a defrost cycle. Then call (518) 812-1958 any hour. The full checklist is on the no-heat page.
Why does my heat pump smell?
A musty or sour smell is almost always mildew on the indoor coil, fan wheel or in the drain pan, especially after a humid summer of cooling. A professional coil jet cleaning removes it. An electrical or burning smell means shut it off and call. More at causes of heat pump odor.
Can I control the system from my phone?
Yes. Mitsubishi's kumo cloud and the Mitsubishi Comfort app connect wall units and ducted systems to your phone for scheduling, remote adjustment and alerts. Our Comfort Consultant can often diagnose an issue remotely through the app without a visit. See controllers.
Company & service area
Where is Adirondack Heat Pumps located?
15 Montcalm Street, Ticonderoga, NY 12883 — the former Champlain Valley Heating & Plumbing building, with a showroom of live Mitsubishi units. Office hours Monday–Friday 8–5; the phone, (518) 812-1958, is answered 24 hours a day.
What areas do you serve?
Essex County (Ticonderoga, Crown Point, Port Henry, Westport, Elizabethtown, Keene, Lake Placid, Wilmington, Schroon Lake, Newcomb), Clinton County (Plattsburgh, Peru, Keeseville), Franklin County (Saranac Lake, Tupper Lake), northern Warren County (Hague, Bolton Landing, Lake George, Chestertown, Warrensburg), northern Washington County (Whitehall, Putnam) and Addison County, Vermont (Middlebury, Vergennes, Bridport, Shoreham). Full list on the service areas page.
What does "Mitsubishi Diamond Contractor ELITE" mean?
It is the top tier of Mitsubishi Electric's contractor program, earned through factory training, install quality and customer satisfaction. ELITE status is what lets us register systems for the 12-year parts warranty and gives us direct access to Mitsubishi technical support. See why choose us.
Is Adirondack Heat Pumps veteran-owned?
Yes. Owner Gerald Davis is a veteran, as are several members of the team. Meet them on the team page.
Can I come see a system running before I buy?
Yes. The Ticonderoga showroom has live Mitsubishi wall, floor and ceiling units you can stand under and listen to. Stop in during office hours or call ahead and we will have a Comfort Consultant there.
Can I book after hours?
Call (518) 812-1958 any time. During office hours a live person books you. Nights and weekends our assistant takes your details and the office calls back first thing the next business morning to confirm a time. You can also use the online request forms any hour.
One number, answered any hour — no voicemail
Call (518) 812-1958. A live person in our Ticonderoga office answers Mon–Fri 8–5. Nights, weekends and holidays our assistant takes your details, and the office calls you back first thing to confirm a time.
- Free estimates
- Service & repair calls
- Annual cleanings
- No heat / no cooling
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Ask a Comfort Consultant, free
Every home in the North Country is different. Tell us about yours and we'll tell you straight whether a heat pump fits, what it costs, and what you qualify for.
Or run the savings calculator first and get $250 off your install.