What residential service at Halberd looks like
Residential work begins with a Comfort Advisor consultation. A NATE-certified Advisor visits the home, walks every room with the homeowner, takes measurements, and runs a Manual J Block-Load calculation. The Advisor returns to the office to design a system, write a quote, and email it to the homeowner within five business days. The quote is valid for ninety days.
If the homeowner accepts the quote, installation is scheduled by the Raleigh, Durham, or Cary branch nearest the project — whichever holds the technicians most credentialed on the equipment specified. Single-system replacements run one to two installation days. Multi-zone Mitsubishi VRF installations run three to five days. Historic retrofits with high-velocity ducting run longer.
Every installation closes with a one-year follow-up appointment from the Comfort Advisor who began the project. This is not a sales call. It is a check on whether the system is performing to the Manual J design, whether the homeowner has any concerns, and whether the duct balancing requires field adjustment.
What we install
- Carrier Infinity Series
- Variable-capacity heat pumps, gas furnaces, and air handlers. Carrier Factory Authorized Dealer since 1978.
- Mitsubishi M- and P-Series VRF
- Multi-zone ductless and ducted VRF systems. Mitsubishi Diamond Contractor.
- Mitsubishi Mr. Slim
- Single-zone ductless mini-splits for additions, attic conversions, and historic-home secondary systems.
- Lennox SL280V Signature
- Variable-capacity gas furnaces for dual-fuel applications.
- Daikin Fit
- Compact inverter-driven heat pumps for tight-side-yard installations.
- Aprilaire whole-house IAQ
- MERV-13 filtration in 1-inch and 4-inch options, humidifiers, ERVs.
- Honeywell BMS
- Residential BMS integration for custom homes with smart-home platforms.
- Nest, Ecobee, Honeywell thermostats
- The full range; we do not push a single brand.
What we do not install
Halberd does not install bottom-of-market off-brand systems. The reason is straightforward: parts availability over the fifteen-to-twenty-year service life of the equipment is the determining factor in long-term cost, and the manufacturers we install have demonstrated parts inventories that we can rely on. Off-brand inverter heat pumps from the lower tier of the wholesale market routinely become orphaned after a five-to-eight-year window. We have replaced those systems for customers. We have not installed them.
The Manual J and duct design process
Manual J is an ACCA-published methodology for calculating the heating and cooling load of a building. It is the engineering standard. A Manual J Block-Load calculation accounts for orientation, window glazing, insulation, infiltration, internal gains, occupancy, and a long list of other variables. Manual D is the companion calculation for duct sizing. Manual S is the equipment selection step.
Most residential HVAC firms in the Triangle do not run a Manual J. They size by square-footage rule-of-thumb. The result is routinely oversized systems that short-cycle in mild weather, run dehumidification poorly, and reduce equipment service life. The next contractor — five years later — installs a similarly oversized replacement, and the cycle repeats.
Halberd runs a Manual J Block-Load on every replacement. The calculation takes a Comfort Advisor roughly two hours after the in-home consultation. The output is a sized system, a duct design, and an equipment selection that match the home's actual load.
The duct design is then handed to the in-house fabrication shop. Most of the ductwork on a Halberd project is fabricated in Raleigh and delivered to the job site. The same engineering office that sized the system fabricated the ducts that move the air.
A correctly sized system is quieter, more efficient, and has a longer service life. The Manual J calculation is twenty minutes of engineering that saves a decade of regret. — Phillip Halberd, PE
Pricing transparency
A full written estimate arrives by email within five business days of the Comfort Advisor visit. The quote includes the Manual J calculation, a duct design summary, equipment selections with model numbers and serial-numbered manufacturer warranties, the installation plan, and a fixed price. The quote is valid for ninety days from issue.
There is no same-day-only pricing. There is no limited-time-discount close. The price is the price. If the homeowner declines, the firm thanks them for the time and is glad to retain the relationship.
What is covered by our installation warranty
- Equipment warranty
- Manufacturer's warranty in full (10-year parts standard on Carrier and Mitsubishi residential).
- Labor warranty
- Two years labor warranty on all installations, included.
- Extended labor
- 10-year extended labor warranty available as an option at quote (typical $400-$900 depending on system).
- Workmanship
- Lifetime workmanship warranty on ductwork fabricated and installed by Halberd.
Frequently asked
How long does a typical residential replacement take?
Most single-system residential replacements take one to two installation days. Multi-zone VRF installations and historic-home retrofits run three to five days. The Comfort Advisor will provide an exact schedule with the quote.
Do you require a Manual J calculation?
Yes. A Manual J Block-Load calculation is part of every residential replacement and new-construction project at Halberd. No eyeballed sizing, no rule-of-thumb substitutions.
How long is a Halberd quote valid?
Ninety days from the date of issue. There is no same-day-only pricing. There is no expiring-promotion close. The price is the price.
What brands does Halberd install?
Carrier (Factory Authorized Dealer), Mitsubishi (Diamond Contractor), Lennox, Daikin, Aprilaire IAQ, Honeywell controls. We do not install off-brand bottom-of-market equipment.