A heat pump is an air conditioner that also runs in reverse. In summer it moves heat out of your house, and in winter it pulls heat from the outdoor air and moves it inside. For a climate like ours, that makes heat pump installation in Los Angeles one of the most sensible upgrades a homeowner can make: one outdoor unit, one set of controls, cooling and heating covered. Folks say we are #1 for mini-splits, central AC and heat pumps for LA homes, and heat pumps are a big part of our replacement work.
Heat Pump vs. Gas Furnace for LA's Mild Winters
Gas furnaces were the default in LA for decades, mostly because gas was cheap and the equipment was simple. But our winters are short and mild. Most of the year, the heating side of your system barely runs, and when it does, outdoor temperatures are well within the range where a modern heat pump works efficiently.
| Heat pump | Gas furnace + AC | |
|---|---|---|
| Equipment | One outdoor unit does heating and cooling | Separate furnace for heat, AC for cooling |
| Fuel | Electricity only | Gas for heat, electricity for cooling |
| Combustion inside the home | None | Yes: needs venting, a sound heat exchanger and CO awareness |
| Fit for LA winters | Excellent in mild climates | Works, but oversized for most of the year |
| Utility programs | Often favored by current rebate programs | Fewer incentives |
There are still good reasons some homeowners keep gas, and we will not push you either way. Our full comparison is in heat pump vs. gas furnace in Los Angeles.
Ducted vs. Ductless Heat Pumps
Ducted heat pump (central)
If your home already has central air and a furnace with decent ductwork, a ducted heat pump is usually the most direct swap. The outdoor AC condenser is replaced with a heat pump, and the furnace is replaced with an air handler, often with electric backup heat strips sized for the rare cold snap. The ducts, returns and thermostat location usually stay the same, though we inspect ducts first because a leaky attic duct system hurts heating just as much as cooling.
Ductless heat pump (mini-split)
Every ductless mini-split is a heat pump. For homes without ducts, especially older LA houses that relied on a wall heater, a ductless system brings real heating and cooling to each room with no ductwork. It is also a common choice for ADUs, additions and garage conversions.
Mixed systems
Some houses do best with both: a ducted heat pump for the main floor and a ductless head for a converted attic or a sunroom the ducts never served well.
Replacing an AC and Furnace With a Heat Pump
This is the most common heat pump project we quote. Here is what typically changes:
- Outdoor unit: the AC condenser is replaced by a heat pump, which uses one of the newer A2L refrigerants like R-454B or R-32 on equipment manufactured from 2025.
- Indoor unit: the gas furnace is replaced by an electric air handler with a matched coil, or in some cases the existing furnace stays as backup in a dual-fuel setup.
- Gas line and flue: if the furnace is removed, the gas line to it is capped and the old flue is dealt with properly.
- Electrical: an air handler with backup heat may need a dedicated circuit. We check your panel capacity during the estimate, not on install day.
- Thermostat: it must be configured for a heat pump, including reversing valve and auxiliary heat settings. A wrong setup is a surprisingly common cause of high bills and cold air complaints.
- Permit and Title 24: mechanical permit with LADBS or your city, and HERS verification depending on scope. Read more in our guide to HVAC permits and Title 24.
Need it fixed today?
$55 service call with code LA55 — inspection, diagnosis and a clear price before any work. Open 7 days · 8 AM – 10 PM.
SoCalGas and Electric Bill Considerations
Switching from a gas furnace to a heat pump moves your heating from your SoCalGas bill to your electric bill, whether that is LADWP, SCE, Burbank Water and Power, Glendale Water & Power or Pasadena Water and Power. Whether you come out ahead depends on several factors:
- How old and inefficient your current furnace is
- Your electric rate plan, especially time-of-use pricing
- Whether your water heater and stove are still on gas
- Insulation, windows and duct condition
- Whether you have solar
Time-of-use rates reward smart scheduling. Warming the house a bit before the evening peak and easing back during it can make a real difference. We set thermostat schedules with you at install. More ideas in lowering your bill on LADWP and SCE.
Heat Pump Rebates
Utilities and statewide programs offer incentives for heat pumps, and those programs change regularly. Amounts, eligibility and funding vary by utility and over time, so we always check what currently applies to your address before we quote. Then we file the rebate paperwork for you. You can also look up current programs directly on ladwp.com, sce.com or energy.ca.gov.
What Every Heat Pump Installation Includes
- Load calculation so the system is sized for both cooling and heating loads
- Written quote with exact model numbers before any work begins
- Permit, Title 24 compliance and HERS coordination where required
- Utility rebate paperwork
- Floors covered, site cleaned daily, old equipment hauled away
- Startup, testing in both heating and cooling modes, and a thermostat walkthrough
"Okay so first time an HVAC company ever left me a gift after a job!!! Didn't see that coming at all. And honestly the whole visit was like that. They covered the floors, double checked everything, and explained what they did without me even asking. HVAC companies have always been kind of a headache for me, but these guys were sooooo different 10/10, already told a couple friends about them"
Bohdan B. · Google
Heat Pump Repair
We also repair existing heat pumps, ducted and ductless. Common issues we see:
- Cold air in heating mode: a stuck reversing valve, wrong thermostat configuration, low refrigerant or a failed outdoor fan motor.
- Frequent defrost or ice buildup: a failed defrost sensor or control board, or poor airflow across the outdoor coil.
- Backup heat running constantly: high bills in winter often trace back to auxiliary heat doing work the heat pump should be doing.
- Weak cooling in summer: the same causes as any AC: dirty coils, failed capacitors, leaks. See AC repair.
Repair visits start with our $55 service call using code LA55, applied toward the repair if you go ahead. For heating problems with gas equipment, see furnace and heating repair.
Heat Pumps Across Los Angeles
We install and service heat pumps in Sherman Oaks, Encino, Burbank, Pasadena and greater Los Angeles. Send us a photo of your current furnace and AC and we will tell you straight what a switch would involve. Call (626) 635-4095.
