CUSTOM HOMES • MECHANICAL SYSTEMS • BUILDERS • HOMEOWNERS • TORONTO & THE GTA
Build the mechanical system your forever home deserves.
A custom home should not end up with a mechanical system assembled one trade at a time. DAVESDUCTS works with homeowners, custom home builders, architects and design teams to plan and execute heating, cooling, hydronics, ductwork, ventilation and indoor-air-quality systems as one coordinated mechanical package.
FOR THE HOME YOU PLAN TO KEEP
Don’t spend years designing the house and treat HVAC as an afterthought.
The mechanical system affects how the home feels every day: room-to-room comfort, noise, humidity, fresh air, floor temperatures, equipment visibility, ceiling heights and how easily the system can be serviced years from now.
Comfort
Plan heating, cooling and air distribution around the architecture, room loads, glazing and how the family will actually use the home.
Quiet Operation
Equipment location, duct velocities, grille selection, zoning strategy and mechanical-room planning all influence sound.
Clean Architecture
Mechanical planning early in design can reduce avoidable bulkheads, awkward grilles, routing conflicts and compromises to finished spaces.
Indoor Air Quality
Plan filtration, ventilation and humidity control as part of the system instead of adding disconnected accessories after construction.
Serviceability
A forever home should be designed so filters, coils, valves, pumps, drains, controls and major equipment can actually be maintained and replaced.
Long-Term Flexibility
Thoughtful mechanical rooms, distribution systems and controls can make future equipment replacement and upgrades less disruptive.
ONE MECHANICAL PARTNER
Design the systems together. Build them together. Commission them together.
DAVESDUCTS can coordinate multiple parts of the mechanical scope instead of treating the furnace, heat pump, boiler, ductwork, radiant system, ventilation and filtration as unrelated installations.
Heating & Cooling
Furnaces, central heat pumps, hydronic air handlers, air conditioning and ductless systems selected around the project requirements.
Hydronics
Boilers, radiant-floor heating, hydronic air handlers, domestic-hot-water integration and applicable snow-melting systems.
Custom Ductwork
Supply and return systems, custom sheet metal, trunk and branch routing, transitions, grilles and airflow distribution.
Ventilation
HRV/ERV systems and applicable exhaust or make-up-air requirements coordinated with the rest of the mechanical design.
Indoor Air Quality
Whole-home HEPA filtration, humidity control and appropriate air-treatment options designed around the actual concern.
Controls & Commissioning
System startup, airflow and operational checks, balancing as applicable, control setup and a final review of how the mechanical systems operate together.
THE ADVANTAGE
Fewer gaps between trades.
When the mechanical scope is coordinated as a system, decisions about equipment, ductwork, piping, ventilation, controls and service access can be resolved together instead of becoming field conflicts later.
HOMEOWNERS
Your forever home should be comfortable in February and August — not just beautiful on possession day.
Many of the most important mechanical decisions disappear behind drywall. This is the time to decide how you want the house to feel, sound and operate for the next 10, 20 or 30 years.
Tell Us How You Want to Live
Do you prefer warm floors? Very quiet bedrooms? Strong filtration? Independent temperature control? Minimal visible grilles? A cooler primary bedroom? Better humidity control? These objectives should influence the design before equipment is ordered.
We’ll Translate That Into Mechanical Decisions
Those priorities can affect system type, equipment location, duct routing, radiant zones, ventilation, filtration, controls and the amount of space the mechanical system needs within the architecture.
THIS IS THE RIGHT TIME TO ASK QUESTIONS
You do not need to know which furnace, boiler or heat pump you want.
Bring us the plans and tell us what matters to you. The objective is to develop a mechanical strategy around the home rather than force the home around a predetermined piece of equipment.
CUSTOM HOME BUILDERS
A mechanical contractor who understands that the HVAC system has to fit the build.
We work with builders and project teams during planning and construction so mechanical decisions can be coordinated with structure, ceiling details, millwork, electrical, plumbing and architectural priorities.
Pre-Construction Review
Review available plans, proposed equipment locations, mechanical-room requirements and major distribution routes before construction makes changes expensive.
Coordination
Identify duct, piping, venting and equipment requirements that need to be coordinated with framing and other trades.
Clear Scope
Develop the mechanical scope around the project requirements so responsibilities and major system components are understood before installation.
Field Execution
Install the mechanical systems with attention to the drawings, actual site conditions and the architectural intent of the home.
Problem Solving
Custom homes change. When field conditions differ from the plan, address the mechanical consequence instead of hiding a conflict behind drywall.
Startup & Handover
Commission applicable systems, verify operation and give the homeowner a mechanical system that can be understood, serviced and maintained.
ARCHITECTS & DESIGN TEAMS
Protect the architecture by involving mechanical early.
Large glazing areas, open plans, tall ceilings, finished basements, specialty ceilings and minimal grille details can all affect mechanical design. Early coordination gives the team more options.
Mechanical Rooms
Confirm realistic equipment footprints, clearances, piping, duct connections, drainage and service access.
Duct Routes
Plan major supply and return routes before beams, dropped ceilings and finished details remove the available pathways.
Registers & Returns
Coordinate air-distribution locations with ceilings, cabinetry and architectural features while preserving the airflow the system requires.
THE DESIGN PROCESS
Start with the house — then select the system.
01
Plans & Priorities
Review the architectural information, project stage and homeowner priorities.
02
Loads & Strategy
Establish applicable heating and cooling loads and determine the mechanical approach that fits the building.
03
Distribution
Coordinate ductwork, hydronic piping, ventilation and equipment locations with the architecture and structure.
04
Equipment
Select equipment around the required capacity, system configuration, controls, serviceability and project objectives.
05
Installation
Execute the approved mechanical scope and coordinate necessary field conditions with the project team.
06
Test
Perform applicable startup, pressure, drainage, airflow and operational checks before the project is considered complete.
07
Balance & Commission
Adjust applicable air and hydronic distribution and confirm that controls and equipment operate as intended.
08
Maintain
Continue with service and preventive maintenance after the homeowner moves in.
SYSTEM OPTIONS
There is no single “best” mechanical system for every custom home.
The right solution depends on the architecture, envelope, loads, utility strategy, comfort expectations, budget and homeowner preferences. A custom home may use one technology or combine several.
Central Heat Pumps
Ducted inverter heat-pump systems can provide heating and cooling through a properly designed air-distribution system.
Hydronic Air Handlers
Hydronic heating can be combined with forced-air cooling and air distribution where that configuration fits the project.
Radiant Floors
Hydronic radiant heating can provide floor-level comfort in appropriate areas or form part of a larger whole-home heating strategy.
Ductless Systems
Ductless or multi-zone equipment can solve specific architectural or zoning requirements where a conventional ducted approach is not ideal.
HRV / ERV Ventilation
Controlled ventilation can be designed alongside the heating and cooling system rather than added after the house is finished.
Whole-Home HEPA
Dedicated high-efficiency particulate filtration can be planned into the mechanical layout where enhanced filtration is a project priority.
THE DETAILS THAT GET MISSED
A premium appliance cannot compensate for a poorly planned system.
Custom-home mechanical performance depends on hundreds of details that never appear in an equipment brochure.
Return Air
Plan adequate return-air pathways instead of trying to solve them after framing and finishes are complete.
Air Velocity & Noise
Duct and grille sizing affects pressure, airflow and sound. Quiet operation has to be designed.
Mechanical-Room Space
Equipment needs more than enough room to physically fit. Connections, filters, valves, panels and future replacement need access.
Condensate & Drainage
Cooling, dehumidification, humidification and condensing equipment all introduce drainage requirements that should be planned.
Ventilation Balance
Outdoor air, exhaust and pressure relationships should be considered as part of the complete mechanical strategy.
Duct Leakage
Accessible defects should be corrected during construction, with testing and sealing strategies considered where appropriate.
AEROSEAL FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION
Test the duct system while you still have the opportunity to improve it.
New ductwork is not automatically airtight. Where appropriate, duct-leakage testing and Aeroseal can be incorporated during construction so leakage can be measured and addressed before the finished home is occupied.
Measure
Testing provides a quantified view of duct leakage rather than relying only on visual inspection.
Seal
Accessible physical defects can be corrected manually, with Aeroseal used where appropriate to address leakage within the eligible duct system.
FROM DRAWINGS TO MOVE-IN
One relationship beyond construction.
The company that understands how the mechanical system was designed and installed is well positioned to service it after occupancy. DAVESDUCTS can remain involved through startup, warranty-related service, ongoing maintenance and future system changes.
During Construction
Planning, fabrication, installation, coordination and applicable testing.
At Handover
System startup, controls, commissioning and homeowner understanding of the installed equipment.
After Move-In
Preventive maintenance, diagnostics, repairs and support as the mechanical system ages.
WHY DAVESDUCTS?
We work across the mechanical system instead of seeing only one piece of it.
DAVESDUCTS’ work spans heating and cooling equipment, hydronics, custom ductwork, ventilation, filtration, duct sealing, system cleaning and ongoing service. That breadth is especially valuable when building a home where those systems need to operate together.
HVAC
Heating, cooling, heat pumps, air handlers and system controls.
Hydronics
Boilers, radiant heating, hydronic air handlers and related distribution.
Duct Systems
Design, custom fabrication, installation, airflow, sealing and future cleaning.
IAQ
Ventilation, HEPA filtration, humidity control and appropriate air treatment.
THE GOAL
A mechanical system worthy of the house around it.
Not simply equipment that turns on at occupancy, but a coordinated system designed for comfort, serviceability and long-term ownership.
START EARLY
When should you bring DAVESDUCTS into the project?
Ideally, before the mechanical room, ceiling details and major duct routes are locked in. But if construction has already started, send us the current drawings and project status and we can determine what can still be coordinated.
FOR A PROJECT REVIEW
Send us the architectural plans and tell us where the project stands.
- Architectural drawings or available mechanical drawings
- Project address / municipality
- Current stage: design, permit, framing or active construction
- Approximate construction schedule
- Builder / architect / designer contact, where applicable
- Any equipment or system already specified
- Your comfort, IAQ, radiant-floor, zoning or architectural priorities
CUSTOM HOME MECHANICAL FAQ
Questions from homeowners, builders and design teams.
When should the mechanical contractor become involved in a custom home?
Earlier is generally better. Mechanical-room dimensions, duct routes, return-air pathways, grilles, hydronic piping, ventilation and service access can all affect architectural and structural decisions. Early coordination provides more options before construction limits them.
Can DAVESDUCTS handle the complete mechanical system?
DAVESDUCTS can provide a broad mechanical scope including applicable heating and cooling equipment, hydronics, custom ductwork, ventilation, filtration, humidity control, gas work, controls and commissioning. The exact scope is established for each project.
Do you work directly with homeowners or only builders?
Both. We can work with the homeowner, custom home builder, architect, designer and other project professionals. For an active construction project, clear coordination with the builder and project team is important.
Can you work from our architect’s or mechanical engineer’s drawings?
Yes. Existing drawings and specifications can be reviewed as part of defining the installation scope and coordinating the work with actual field conditions.
Can you help determine what HVAC system should go into the home?
Yes. Where system selection has not been finalized, the discussion can consider heating and cooling loads, architecture, available utilities, comfort goals, hydronics, ventilation, filtration, controls and serviceability before equipment is selected.
Can a custom home combine radiant floors and forced-air heating and cooling?
Yes. Depending on the design, hydronic radiant heating can be combined with ducted or ductless heating and cooling. The controls and system responsibilities should be coordinated so the systems operate as intended together.
Should we plan HEPA filtration and HRV/ERV before construction?
Yes, if enhanced filtration or controlled ventilation is a project priority. Planning early allows space, duct connections, electrical requirements, drainage where applicable and service access to be incorporated intentionally.
Can you test and seal the ductwork before the house is finished?
Where appropriate, duct-leakage testing and Aeroseal can be incorporated into new construction. Accessible defects should be corrected manually, while eligible leakage can be addressed using the appropriate sealing strategy.
Do you provide ongoing service after the custom home is complete?
Yes. DAVESDUCTS provides applicable HVAC, hydronic and IAQ maintenance, diagnostics and repair after occupancy, allowing the relationship to continue beyond construction.
What should we send you to start?
Send the available architectural or mechanical drawings, project location, construction stage, anticipated schedule and any existing equipment specifications. It also helps to explain the homeowner’s priorities for comfort, noise, ventilation, filtration, radiant heating and controls.
Does DAVESDUCTS work on custom homes in Toronto and the GTA?
DAVESDUCTS provides applicable custom-home HVAC and mechanical services throughout Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area. Project location, scope and schedule can be reviewed during the initial consultation.
BUILDING A CUSTOM HOME?
Bring the mechanical contractor in before the compromises begin.
Whether you’re the homeowner building the house you plan to stay in, or the builder responsible for delivering it, DAVESDUCTS can review the plans and discuss a coordinated mechanical system for heating, cooling, hydronics, ductwork, ventilation and indoor air quality.
