NYC brownstones

HVAC for brownstones & prewar rowhouses.

New York's brownstones weren't built for modern heating and cooling — no ductwork, tight mechanical space, and façades you can't just bolt equipment onto. We do this kind of work every week.

The challenge

Old buildings, modern comfort.

A brownstone is a beautiful place to live and a hard place to run ductwork. Plaster walls, narrow chases, and parlor-floor ceiling heights mean the standard playbook rarely fits.

That's before you get to the front of the house. In landmarked districts, what you can mount on a façade — condensers, line-sets, vents — is tightly limited, so most of the work has to be planned around the rear and the roof.

We've learned where the room actually is in these buildings, how to route equipment discreetly, and how to keep a prewar home comfortable without tearing it apart to do it.

How we solve it

Systems that fit a rowhouse.

The right approach depends on the building — here's what we most often install in brownstones.

Ductless mini-splits

The workhorse for ductless rowhouses — room-by-room cooling and heating with minimal demolition.

High-velocity small-duct

When you'd rather not see the equipment — slim ducts that snake through existing cavities and finish as discreet vents.

Heating that works with your radiators

Keep the steam or hot-water heat you have, supplement it, or plan a staged path toward something new.

Discreet condenser & line-set routing

Equipment placed and run to respect the façade — rear, roof, and concealed paths wherever possible.

The NYC part

Permits, landmarks & boards.

The paperwork and approvals are half the job in this city. We handle the parts homeowners shouldn't have to.

Landmarked-district considerations — what's allowed on a façade versus the rear and roof.
Co-op and HOA board approvals where the building requires them.
Permits and filings handled, so the install is done by the book.
Clean, careful work in occupied homes — we protect the floors and the finishes.

Live in a brownstone?

Tell us about your home and what you're after — we'll walk the options and get you a free quote.

Get a free quote (888) 550-0011