What We Do — Berkshire Ductless

Our process sets us aside. By far.

There are three steps to creating the perfect solution for your home regardless of what you’re looking for. For 20 years this process has solved hundreds of problems for customers of varying needs.

What does the home currenty have?

There are a ton of variables here. No two houses are identical. Some people assume they need to remove their existing system. This is not true. A lot of times your existing system opens the door the lower upfront costs and higher rebates. A home with electric heat can take advantage of Mass Save’s maximum rebates. A person with gas or oil can use the Mass Save Fuel Optimization rebate.
What does it actually need?

This is our favorite part. This is where math meets creativity. We know Daikin. We work the numbers and create the options. With hundreds of these systems installed, we know all the options. We prove it by using software by various companies to match the perfect system to your house. We calculate how many btus of heating/cooling and select the equipment with Daikin’s software.
How do we pay for it?

This is where it all adds up. We know what the house already has. We know what the house actually needs. Now we complete the process by figuring out the most value for your money. Our relationship with Mass Save helps make this happen. You will have access to all of their rebates. From $250-$15,000 with 0% financing. Our process uses actual costs to calculate the ideal option for the fastest return on your investment.

What does the home currently have?

This step tells us about the current system in your home that we can build upon. At some point, a significant investment was made to install the infrastructure that provides heating and cooling. We can save you money by integrating your existing system with new mini splits. Additionally, Mass Save offers a fantastic rebate program when both systems are combined. Our process uses precise calculations to ensure you get the best value while optimizing your home’s heating and cooling efficiency.

An important factor in your overall cost is the removal of your existing system, which can be a significant expense. For homes with baseboard heating, the floor moldings would need to be removed, and the walls patched afterward. Homes with steam heat may require floor and wall repairs where radiators once stood. In homes with forced air, the ductwork would need to be removed, with holes in the floors and ceilings patched. We recognize that this process can be costly, and we take the full impact of these changes into account when making our recommendations to you.

Electric Heat

Electric heat is very expensive but reliable. It has a low rate of failure, needs very little service, and provides a zone for each room. Unfortunately it is one of the most expensive ways to heat your home. Mass Save will allow you to keep the electric heat in place while adding mini splits. This way you can keep the electric heat for emergencies and get up to a $10,000 rebate from Mass Save.
Hydronic Heating

Massachusetts is full of boilers. They have been a staple of heating homes for many years. Unfortunately they do not move air or offer cooling. A lot of times we are able to leave the boiler in place and add mini splits to the home. These boilers can burn propane, oil, or natural gas. You can combine mini splits with your boiler to obtain up to a $10,000 Mass Save Fuel Optimization rebate.
Steam

Steam heat dates back to 1850 when coal was burned to produce heat. Steam has a unique comfort level that cannot be obtained with other heat sources. Unfortunately it is also the most expensive way to burn a fuel to heat your home. Removing a steam system can be invasive to the home and leave the home in need of major repairs. A lot of people enjoy the look of the radiators and would like to keep them when possible. Adding mini splits to a home with steam can save money. Each room with a mini split can have the radiator shut off to save money in the winter.
Forced Air

The most common complaint we get about forced air is lack of balance. A room or two that can never keep up in the summer. Most houses with forced air only have a single zone. Adding mini splits do more than solve the individual problems of the room. We can shut the rooms with mini splits off from the forced air system and use the mini splits to heat and cool those rooms. Adding air conditioning to an existing furnace can be costly. Most of the ductwork is undersized, not balanced, uninsulated, and sealed poorly if at all. Those things don’t matter as much in a unit that only provides heat but become crucial when using air conditioning.

What does the home actually need?

The way we size equipment for homes has changed dramatically over the years. In the past, contractors relied on general rules of thumb, often basing system sizes on what they had installed in similar homes. However, with advancements in heating and cooling technology, the approach to sizing and designing systems has become much more precise and tailored to each home’s unique needs.

Mass Save plays a crucial role in accurately determining the right system size for your home. Consider a house built in 1950: at that time, heating systems were sized using rough estimates, often based on a standard number of BTUs per square foot. Homes typically had drafty wooden doors, loose-fitting screen doors, and single-pane windows with heavy lead counterweights. Insulation was sparse—sometimes just torn newspaper—and with low energy costs, efficiency wasn’t a major concern.

Wrightsoft Manual J Heat Loads

Wrightsoft is an industry leader in calculating how many btus a home needs. We have in house trained staff that understand the importance of being accurate. For smaller scale projects we use the Daikin applications app for accuracy. The start of efficiency starts with the heat load.
Daikin Xpress Equipment Selection

We know what your house needs for btus (the heat load is done). We know what type of equipment we want to use in your house. Now we need to pick the perfect equipment. Daikin Xpress is precise system selection software that takes installation into account when choosing. It tells us exactly what to expect for performance in your unique home.
AHRI and Energy Star Compliance

The standard for getting the Mass Save rebates aligns with our standards. AHRI is a third party testing and verification of equipment performance. Think of it as MPG for a car. This certification is a requirement. A lot of systems sold by other companies don’t meet the standard. All of ours do. It’s our minimum standard.

How do we pay for it?

Now fast forward to today. In 72 years the windows have been updated, door have been replaced, insulation has been added, the house has been sealed up, and energy saving measures have been put in place. That means the amount of heating and cooling you need is a fraction of what was originally installed. That math is the most important part of figuring out what your home actually needs. How many btu’s does this house currently gain in the summer and lose in the winter?

We perform the detailed calculations that others often overlook. Unlike many, we don’t rely on a supply house or third party—we handle it all in-house. Once the calculations are complete, we use advanced tools to select the ideal system for your home. Return on investment (R.O.I.) is a key factor for us. We take into consideration the cost of this installation, cost attributed to replacing your existing equipment, your actual loaded utility costs, and any rebates and financial incentives available to you.

Mass Save ASHP Rebates

The 2022 rebates are the highest they have ever been. The rebates are easy to get. No pre approval needed. We will help you fill out the forms to get your money as fast as possible. These rebates are strategically planned to give you enough money to upgrade your equipment. A lot of times the math works out to get you a free additional unit.
Mass Save Heat Loan

To make energy saving solutions more accessible to all Massachusetts residents, the Sponsors of Mass Save are offering HEAT Loan financing with generous payment terms. You may be eligible for up to $25,000 toward qualified energy efficient home improvements with terms up to seven years at 0% interest.
Energy Savings

Energy Star sets the standards for what is considered Energy Efficient. They do this by comparing old/current high energy systems to modern and advanced systems. The reality is that utility payments are wasted money. Money you can never get back. In a typical home we can heat and cool for less that you are paying for only heating.