Air Conditioning for Condos and Townhouses
Many Lower Mainland condos and townhouses were built without air conditioning. After recent summer heat waves, more owners want cooling. They also find out quickly that in a strata, you can’t just call an installer. You need permission first, the building has its own rules, and the system has to fit a balcony or a small yard. We help condo and townhouse owners in Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond, Surrey and across the region plan systems their strata will approve.
Step 1: check your strata bylaws
Before choosing equipment, read your strata’s bylaws and rules, or ask your property manager. Look for:
- Alterations to common property. Outdoor units on balconies, roofs or walls, and holes through exterior walls, usually need written approval from the strata council. You may also have to sign an alteration agreement.
- Location and appearance. Where the outdoor unit can go, whether it must be hidden from view, and whether wall brackets are allowed.
- Noise limits. Many bylaws cap equipment noise or set quiet hours.
- Electrical and building rules. Some buildings need sign-off from the building’s engineer or electrician before new circuits are added.
- Insurance and responsibility. Who pays for maintenance, leaks or damage later.
Portable units that vent through a window are often allowed without approval, but they are noisy and much less efficient.
Step 2: send the strata a clear proposal
Councils approve faster when they get everything in one package. We provide:
- Equipment spec sheets with the sound rating (dB) of the outdoor unit
- A marked-up photo or sketch showing where the outdoor unit, line set and wall penetration will go
- Electrical load details, so the building’s capacity can be confirmed
- Proof of licensing and insurance, and permit details
- How condensate water will be drained, so it never drips onto the balcony below
Which system works in a condo or townhouse?
| Option | Best for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ductless mini-split (heat pump) | Most condos and townhouses | Quiet, efficient, heats and cools; small outdoor unit. See ductless mini-splits |
| Slim-duct (concealed) unit | Units with a dropped ceiling or bulkhead | Hidden indoors; serves 1–2 rooms through short ducts |
| Ducted heat pump | Townhouses with an existing furnace and ducts | Replaces or pairs with the furnace. See heat pumps |
| Through-wall / window-free portable | Rentals or when approval isn’t possible | Easy to install but noisy and less efficient |
A ductless heat pump is usually the best fit. It’s quiet, it heats as well as cools, and in baseboard-heated suites it can lower your winter heating bills too. It may also qualify for heat pump rebates.
Buildings with central heating and cooling
Some concrete towers have a building-wide hydronic or fan-coil system. In those buildings, cooling may depend on the building’s own system and season. You may only be able to add an approved in-suite unit that connects to the building loop. We can look at your suite and the building’s mechanical setup to tell you what is possible.
Installation day
Most single-zone condo installs take one day. We protect floors and furniture, make one small wall penetration, seal it, route the line set neatly (often in a paintable cover), and test heating, cooling and drainage before we leave. For work above ground floor, we plan safe access with your building manager in advance.
Get help with your strata application
Send us your building address, suite layout and a photo of your balcony or yard. We’ll tell you what’s realistic and prepare the documents your strata will ask for. AC installation · Vancouver · Richmond · Surrey · Burnaby