Fast, honest AC repair and service across Ottawa — and straight talk on your next system.
Book a free in-home assessmentI'm Antoine Cardinal — a licensed, owner-operated HVAC technician, and I install, repair, and maintain air conditioning across Ottawa and the surrounding towns. If your AC is down, I'll get you cool again fast. But if you're thinking about a new system, I owe you an honest conversation first — because for most Ottawa homes, an air-conditioner-only system is no longer the smartest way to spend your money.
Here's the honest truth I give every client: a modern heat pump is an air conditioner — it cools your home in summer exactly the same way. It just also runs in reverse to heat your home efficiently in winter. For roughly $1,500–$2,500 more upfront than a comparable AC, it cuts your winter heating bills by 20–50% — and that difference typically pays itself back well within the warranty period. After that, you're saving money every single year.
Illustrative example. On a roughly $1,800/year heating bill, a 20–50% cut saves about $360–$900 a year — so a ~$2,000 premium pays back in about 2 to 6 years, and you're roughly $1,600–$7,000 ahead by the end of a typical 10-year warranty. Your home, fuel, and usage will change the numbers — I'll run yours during the assessment.
And the benefits don't stop at the bill: one system to own and maintain instead of two, better summer humidity control, a lower carbon footprint, and access to rebate programs that air-conditioner-only systems usually don't qualify for.
If a straight AC is still the right call for your home and budget after you've seen the math — maybe you already have heating you love — I'll install a quality air conditioner and do it right. No pressure. I just won't let you buy one without knowing the alternative. Read more about heat pumps →
I install and service every major air conditioner brand. Here's the thing, though: nearly all of them are built by just a handful of manufacturers, so this long list of names traces back to a short list of factories. That's exactly why the badge on the box matters far less than most companies want you to think:
Confused by all the brand names? I wrote an honest, no-sales-pitch explainer on who actually makes air conditioners and heat pumps, which "brands" are the same units rebadged, and why the installation matters more than any logo.
Read: HVAC Brands — What Actually Matters →This is one more reason the heat-pump conversation matters: federal and provincial programs regularly offer rebates and financing for high-efficiency heat pumps — incentives that straight air conditioners usually don't qualify for. Programs and amounts change over time and depend on your equipment and home.
I'll help you understand which programs your project may qualify for and point you to the current, official details, so you can plan around real numbers.
To fill in: once we confirm which rebate programs to feature (and your participating-contractor status), I'll build the specific programs and amounts into this section.
To fill in: your workmanship/labour warranty term, and a link or quotes from your Google reviews, will go here once you send them.
I install, repair, and service air conditioning across the Ottawa area, including:
Not sure if you're in range? Get in touch and I'll let you know.
If your AC is under about 10 years old and the repair is minor, fixing it is usually the right call — and I'm happy to do it. If it's older, uses obsolete refrigerant, or needs a major part like a compressor, it's often smarter to put that money toward a new system — and that's the moment to at least compare a heat pump, which cools exactly like an AC but also heats.
Yes — a heat pump is an air conditioner. It uses the same technology to cool your home in summer, just as effectively. The difference is that it can also run in reverse to heat your home efficiently in winter, so you get both from one system.
Because it doesn't just cool — it also cuts your winter heating bills, typically by 20 to 50 percent. On a normal Ottawa heating bill that's a few hundred dollars saved every year, so the upfront difference usually pays for itself within the equipment's warranty period. After that, you're saving money every year for the life of the system.
Yes. If a straight air conditioner is the right fit for your home and budget after we've looked at the numbers together, I'll install a quality AC and do it right. I just won't let you buy one without first showing you how a heat pump compares.
R-22 has been phased out, so it's expensive and increasingly hard to source. A small top-up may still be possible, but if an older R-22 system has a significant leak or failure, replacement is usually the sensible route — and a good reason to compare a modern heat pump.
Yes. I repair and maintain all major AC brands. Because nearly all of them are built by a handful of manufacturers, the brand rarely changes the diagnosis — what matters is getting it fixed properly. Here's the honest breakdown.
Whether your AC needs a repair today or you're weighing a new system, let's talk. I'll get you comfortable, give you an honest recommendation, and — if you're buying new — make sure you've seen the full picture before you spend a dollar.
Related: Heat Pumps · Furnace Services · Second Opinion · Maintenance Plans
