Quincy · Norfolk County
No heat, no cooling, or a quote for a new system in Quincy? Tell us what's going on and get connected with an independent HVAC contractor who serves Quincy.
Quincy, Massachusetts
A carbon monoxide alarm or the smell of gas means leave first and troubleshoot later. Get everyone outside, then call 911 or National Grid from the sidewalk or a neighbor's house. Once that's handled, or if the problem is simply no heat or no cooling, call or send a request to reach an independent HVAC contractor who works in Quincy.
South Shore HVAC Finder is a referral service: we put Quincy homeowners in touch with independent heating and cooling businesses, and we don't do the work. This page covers what's different about heating a Quincy home, from the fuel most houses burn to the permits a new system needs.
Quincy is a city of older, closely built homes, two-families, and condos. Just under a third of housing units are single-family detached, which shapes everything from where an outdoor heat pump unit can go to who has to approve the work.
Local knowledge
How Quincy homes are heated, and what that means for repairs and upgrades.
Heating Fuel Mix
Census estimates show 54.5% of occupied Quincy homes heat with utility gas, 29.2% with electricity, and 12.3% with fuel oil or kerosene. Electric-heated homes are prime candidates for heat pumps, which can replace baseboard heat and add cooling in one system. Oil homes often weigh a conversion when the burner or tank nears the end of its life.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS
One Utility Company
Quincy's electricity comes from National Grid and its natural gas from National Grid's Boston Gas company. That makes Quincy households eligible to explore Mass Save programs through one utility. Ask a contractor to check current offers for your address before choosing equipment.
Source: Mass.gov
Housing Age
About 51.8% of Quincy housing units were built before 1960, and 37.3% in 1939 or earlier. Homes of that era were often fitted with steam or hot water boilers sized for drafty, uninsulated walls. Air sealing and insulation can let a smaller, more efficient system do the job.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS
Coastal Flood Zones
Quincy's flood maps include coastal VE and AE zones, and the March 2018 storm known as Riley caused documented flooding in Adams Shore and Houghs Neck. In those areas, ask a contractor about mounting outdoor condensers and heat pump units above expected flood levels and keeping basement boilers protected.
Source: City of Quincy
Services
Independent contractors who serve Quincy handle the heating and cooling work below. Each note ties the job to how Quincy homes are built and heated.
Hire smart
Massachusetts has no single HVAC license. Gas work needs a gas fitter license, oil burner work a Department of Fire Services certificate, ductwork a sheet metal license, and larger refrigeration systems a refrigeration technician license. Most heating and cooling installs need a town permit.
Heating and cooling work in Massachusetts can involve a gas fitter, sheet metal, or refrigeration license depending on the job. Check those licenses on the state's occupational lookup, and verify oil burner technicians on the Department of Fire Services site. Source
Quincy's Plumbing and Gas Department within Inspectional Services issues fuel gas permits under the state fuel gas code, and the Fire Department handles oil burner, propane, and tank removal permits. Ask the contractor to file every permit online and arrange the inspections. Source
Ask the contractor to calculate the heat loss of your space, especially in an older home or a unit with new windows. Equipment sized by guesswork costs more to run and can be less comfortable.
If you own a condo or share a building, check association rules on outdoor units, wall penetrations, and shared boilers before signing a contract.
Ask for a written estimate that lists equipment, model, permits, removal of old equipment, and any Mass Save rebate the contractor expects. Ask who files the rebate paperwork. Source
Costs
In Quincy, cost often depends on access. Running refrigerant lines through a triple-decker, mounting a condenser on a tight lot, or removing an old oil tank from a basement all add labor. Repairs on older boilers can need parts that aren't kept on the truck.
Fuel type matters too: switching from oil to gas or a heat pump involves more work than replacing like with like. Ask for a written estimate that separates equipment, labor, permits, and expected rebates, and compare more than one contractor on scope, not just the total.
Neighborhoods and nearby
Contractors who serve Quincy work in neighborhoods from North Quincy and Wollaston to Merrymount and Germantown. Many also cover Milton, about 11 minutes west, and Hingham, about 12 minutes east.
Questions
Still not sure? Send a short request and a local pro can answer the specifics.
The size of your home, how well it's insulated, the number of indoor units, electrical upgrades, and permits all matter. Mass Save rebates may reduce the total. Ask for written estimates from more than one Quincy contractor and compare what's included.
It depends on the contractor's schedule and the part needed. When you call, you'll be connected with an independent local HVAC contractor who can tell you their timing. If it's very cold and you have a CO alarm or gas smell, leave the home and call 911.
Quincy's Plumbing and Gas Department issues fuel gas permits, and the Fire Department issues oil burner, propane, and tank removal permits. All Inspectional Services permits are filed online. Your contractor should handle them.
Quincy is served by National Grid for both electricity and gas, and National Grid participates in Mass Save. Offers change, so check Mass Save directly or ask your contractor to confirm what applies to your home.
Many condo associations set rules for outdoor units, wall openings, and line sets. Check your master deed and get written approval from the board before you sign with a contractor.
If your home is in a coastal flood zone, ask a contractor whether outdoor units can be raised on stands or wall brackets and whether a basement boiler can be protected. To see whether your address sits in a mapped zone, the city keeps FEMA maps at its Engineering Department on Sea Street and at the Thomas Crane Public Library.
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