Air Conditioning - Need A Creative HVAC Solution

We are renovating our house with basement, 1st floor, 2nd floor. In tearing down a 1st floor wall we found 3 supply air ducts from our heat pump that serve the 2nd floor. There are few options for moving these. Perhaps outside walls.

The existing airsource heat pump has the compressor outside and the air handler thingy inside. What we want to know is can I add a second heat pump in the attic to do the upstaris HVAC, and just cap off the ducts in the wall being removed.

HERE'S the catch! We can fit only something about 28" high in the attic. Whatever the inside-the-house portion of a heat pump is, is there one that is compact and horixontal that would fit and work properly? Thanks in advance!

Jim

Yes 2nd unit would be the way to go! You will have to have the unit and duct sized so can't comment on unit size.

For sure go for another heatpump for the upstairs. Cap off the other runs you have there. Dont try and run ducts for the 2 story on the outside walls. Many of the blower coil units we have will lay down in that 28". Make sure they put a drain pan under it and that it has a drain pipe to the outside. Also a overflow cut off in the drain line.
Get 3 bids for the job. ;)

I appreicate this advice, gentlemen...

Rheem makes a nice small unit. I have used those in many tight spaces.