Nancy's upgrade wasn't just swapping out an air conditioner. We installed three systems that work together to deliver year-round comfort, healthy humidity, and cleaner air.

The Daikin FIT is a high-efficiency, variable-speed, inverter-driven heat pump rated up to 17.2 SEER2. Its adaptive inverter compressor modulates continuously to match the home's exact load rather than blasting on and off at full power. The result is the even, consistent comfort Nancy describes — a house that "stays more balanced."

The FIT's compact side-discharge design is less than 14 inches wide — significantly smaller than a traditional central air condenser — and rated as low as 45 dBA in Quiet Mode, up to five times quieter than non-inverter systems.

As Mike explains in the video: "Don't replace your air conditioner with another air conditioner." The Daikin FIT is a fundamentally better machine — smarter, quieter, more efficient, and ready to work as the primary heating source for most of the Illinois heating season.

Nancy's system is a true dual fuel setup: the Daikin FIT handles heating down to the low-to-mid 20s°F, then automatically switches to the modulating gas furnace when outdoor temperatures fall below that threshold. No manual input. No separate thermostat. The transition is seamless.

A modulating furnace is a significant upgrade over standard single-stage or two-stage gas furnaces. A single-stage furnace fires at 100% capacity every time, whether the house needs it or not. A modulating furnace adjusts its output continuously, operating anywhere between 35% and 100% of its rated capacity based on the home's actual demand. Up to 96% AFUE means nearly every dollar of gas consumed becomes usable heat. The variable-speed ECM blower motor ramps airflow up and down smoothly, eliminating the harsh blast of air that conventional furnaces deliver at startup.

This combination — inverter heat pump plus modulating furnace — is what gives Nancy's home its "balanced and consistent" feel. Both systems are designed to run at the lowest possible output for the longest possible time, maintaining a steady temperature rather than chasing it.

Illinois winters are dry. Forced-air heating makes them drier. The AprilAire 800 whole-home steam humidifier boils water in a canister and injects steam directly into the airstream — quickly and precisely raising indoor humidity to a comfortable level. Unlike bypass or fan-powered humidifiers that depend on furnace operation, the AprilAire 800 operates independently, which means it brings humidity levels up faster and maintains them more accurately. For larger homes in Hoffman Estates, Schaumburg, and the northwest suburbs, this is particularly valuable.

The APCO-X uses UV-C light and activated carbon to address two of the most common indoor air quality problems: biological growth on the evaporator coil (mold and mildew) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) — the airborne compounds responsible for pet odors, cleaning product smells, and other household odors.

The UV-C light keeps the coil clean and prevents biological growth that reduces airflow efficiency and degrades air quality over time. The activated carbon converts VOCs into water vapor and carbon dioxide, removing them from the air entirely. Importantly, the APCO-X does not produce ozone — a meaningful distinction compared to some older UV technologies.

"I notice a big difference in how the house stays more balanced — consistently. I was worried about sensors, and I didn't need to worry about that at all because all the rooms are comfortable."

The combination of the inverter heat pump's variable-speed operation and the modulating furnace's smooth, precise airflow is what produces that balanced feeling. Rather than heating the house in aggressive bursts and letting it cool before firing again, both systems maintain temperature continuously — running gently and consistently rather than cycling hard.

Nancy also notes she doesn't know the system is running unless she checks her phone — a comment that speaks to both the quietness of the Daikin FIT outdoor unit and the smooth, low-velocity airflow of the variable-speed furnace blower.

Qualifying heat pump installations may be eligible for the following ComEd rebates:

Air Source Mini-Split Heat Pumps