Heating and cooling in Richmond, from a Richmond company
We're based in Richmond, and we know its houses: the slab floors, the downflow furnaces, and the City's rules for where a heat pump can go.
Downflow furnaces and ducts under the slab
Some older Richmond homes are built on a concrete slab, with a downflow furnace: one that blows warm air down into ducts cast into the slab, which feed the floor vents. When those ducts crack, sand and water can get into them.
We don’t know of a local fix for cracked slab ducts. You can live with it and change the furnace filter more often, or switch to ductless, which heats and cools each room directly and leaves the old ducts out of the picture. We’ll tell you which way we’d go for your house, and why.
Richmond’s rules for heat pumps
Richmond has its own heat pump guideline for houses and duplexes, last revised in July 2025. The outdoor unit needs at least 1.2 metres from the property line, can’t sit on a porch, in a driveway or on a right-of-way, and the City strongly discourages side yards because of noise.
Under Richmond’s Noise Bylaw, the unit’s sound should stay under 55 dBA during the day and 45 dBA at night, and the guideline puts responsibility for that on the homeowner. That’s why we choose the location and the unit together, not one after the other.
The electrical permit for a heat pump comes from Technical Safety BC. Richmond is one of the few cities that issues its own gas permits, so when a heat pump replaces gas heat, the City’s gas permit covers capping the gas line. We pull the permits.
A Richmond company
Our office is in Richmond, so a Richmond estimate or service call is close to home for us. Estimates are in English, Cantonese and Mandarin, so you can talk through your options in the language you’re most comfortable with. Repairs and tune-ups are in English.
What we install and service in Richmond
Rebates for homes in this area
Which programs apply depends on your home, how it's heated now and who supplies your electricity. We check what fits at your free estimate.
What our customers say
Rated 5 out of 5
I recently had a new heat pump installed by Jolly, and the entire experience was truly exceptional from start to finish. Every person I interacted with gave me confidence that I’d made the right choice.
From the very beginning, Thomas, the sales rep, stood out.
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While other companies left me feeling either overcharged or unsure about their expertise, my conversations with Thomas were clear, respectful, and genuinely helpful. He made me feel valued as a customer, and that made a huge difference in my decision.
Jason, who coordinated the project, kept everything running smoothly behind the scenes. Scheduling, communication, permits, calculations, and follow-through were all seamless.
Wilson, the project manager, went above and beyond. He provided a thorough walkthrough of the entire system, showed me how to use all of the features, and made sure every detail met my expectations before wrapping up. His professionalism and patience were outstanding.
The quality of the work speaks for itself, everything was done to the highest standard. I couldn’t be happier with the final product, and I’m grateful to the whole Jolly team for making the process so easy and stress-free.
Highly recommended
Rated 5 out of 5
We recently hired Jolly Heating & Cooling to install a new heat pump system, replacing our gas furnace. After collecting quotes from four different companies, we confidently chose Jolly Heating & Cooling based on their exceptional transparency and professionalism.
Our initial experience with Thomas set the standard: he was honest, professional, and delivered completely transparent pricing, which we truly appreciated.
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The outstanding service continued throughout the entire process; Jason was professional and efficient, quickly answering all our follow-up questions.
What truly impressed us and provided immense peace of mind was the final stage: Wilson, the project manager, personally attended the post-installation walk-through. He ensured we understood exactly how to operate the new system. This level of dedication is rare.
I will enthusiastically and without reservation recommend Jolly Heating and Cooling to anyone in need of quality HVAC installation and service!
Rated 5 out of 5
We recently had our A/C installed by Jolly Heating and Cooling, and I couldn’t be happier with the experience. Since our house is over 30 years old, the installation was definitely a challenge, but their team handled everything perfectly and professionally.
They not only completed the installation smoothly, but also took the time to explain and answer any questions we had along the way.
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Whenever an issue came up, they responded quickly and solved it without delay.
Special thanks to Jason, Thomas, and Wilson for their hard work and dedication — you truly made the whole process stress-free for us.
Now we’re so happy to be able to enjoy a cool and comfortable summer with our new A/C! Highly recommend Jolly Heating and Cooling to anyone looking for a reliable and professional team!
Questions from Richmond homeowners
My furnace blows air down into ducts under the floor. Is that a problem?
It's a downflow furnace, common in older Richmond homes on a slab. If the ducts under the slab crack, sand and water can get in. We don't know of a local fix, so the options are more frequent filter changes or switching to ductless.
Where can a heat pump's outdoor unit go in Richmond?
The City's guideline asks for at least 1.2 m from the property line, not on a porch, driveway or right-of-way, and strongly discourages side yards because of noise. We plan the spot with you at the estimate.
Who issues the permits for a heat pump in Richmond?
The electrical permit comes from Technical Safety BC. If you're replacing gas heat, the City of Richmond issues the gas permit to cap the gas line. We pull both.
Can I talk to you in Chinese?
Yes. Estimates are in English, Cantonese and Mandarin. Repairs and tune-ups are in English.
Book a free estimate in Richmond
We come to your home, look at what you have, and give you a written quote with options. No pressure to decide on the spot.