Replacing boiler and old forced air AC with Heat Pump in Chicago

[Brandon Brown]

My wife and I own a two-flat in Chicago, and we're planning to upgrade our heating system. Currently, we have boilers and radiators that we want to remove to create space in the basement for a future conversion into another dwelling unit. The basement meets all the criteria for a dwelling unit in Chicago, but we need to go through the re-zoning process.

In addition, we have old R22 forced air units that we want to replace with a heat pump. Chicago winters can be harsh, so we're curious if anyone has had a good experience using a heat pump with an ancillary heat strip for those extremely cold days when the heat pump can't keep up. We know that a dual fuel system would be more optimal, but the cost of running a gas line and venting is likely higher than adding another circuit for the heat strip.

Furthermore, we are looking for recommendations for an HVAC installer in Chicago. We plan to provide all the HVAC equipment ourselves, so we need someone who is willing to install it. Unfortunately, none of the larger HVAC companies in Chicago are willing to install equipment they haven't sold.

Any advice or recommendations would be greatly appreciated!

[John Warren]

@Brandon Brown if you are serious about the ADU, then you will want to talk to an architect before embarking on this journey. @Samuel Pavlovcik has added a great deal of value in the past to folks looking to add units. It is expensive. I would plan for 75-150k, which normally shocks people. 

In terms of your HVAC question, I have a client who has installed heating pumps. The technology is there, but it is hard to find hvac installers in Chicago who "get it" since heat pumps are not common here yet. 

Which neighborhood are you in? I have a few good hvac vendors I have worked with who would install equipment they didn't provide.