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Heat pump installation in Los Angeles
A ducted heat pump is published at $8,000–$22,000 installed in Los Angeles in 2026. It cools like a central AC and also heats, so it can replace an AC and a gas furnace in one job. It is also the system LA's rebates target: LADWP pays up to $1,250 per ton for a ducted system.
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At a glance
The short version
A heat pump is worth pricing on almost any LA replacement where the gas furnace is also old. It is the only system the LADWP and AQMD rebates pay for, and both pay only with a finalled permit.
Is a heat pump right for your house?
LA's climate suits heat pumps: long, hot summers inland and short, mild winters. The equipment does the same cooling work as an AC and then runs in reverse for heat.
| Your situation | Heat pump? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| AC and gas furnace both 15+ years old | Strong fit | One system replaces both; GO ZERO and LADWP rebates can apply |
| Only the AC failed, furnace is newer | Price both | A heat pump coil on the furnace (dual fuel) is an option; GO ZERO does not pay if the furnace stays |
| No ducts (Craftsman, Spanish, older stucco) | Ductless heat pump | A mini-split is a heat pump; see mini-split installation |
| 100-amp panel, gas range and dryer | Check the panel first | An upgrade can add $2,000–$7,500 |
| ADU or new construction | Fits, no LADWP rebate | LADWP excludes ADUs and new construction |
How hard the system works depends on where you are. On NOAA's 1991–2020 normals, Woodland Hills averages 115.3 days a year at 90 °F or above and LAX 4.8. A Valley house needs the cooling capacity; a coastal one may barely run it.
What a heat pump installation includes
An outdoor heat pump, an indoor air handler or a coil matched to the furnace, the refrigerant line set, a thermostat that controls heating and cooling, and the electrical circuit.
If the gas furnace is retired, the job also caps the gas line at the appliance and may change the venting. The ducts stay if they pass the Title 24 leakage test; if they fail, sealing is published at $800–$4,500 and new ducts at $3,500–$8,000.
Ducted heat pump cost by size
| Size | Typical floor area | Published range | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 ton | ~1,200 sq ft | $9,000–$11,500 | E & A Mechanical; least settled |
| 3 ton | ~1,800 sq ft | $12,000–$15,000 | E & A Mechanical; least settled |
| 4 ton | ~2,400 sq ft | $14,500–$18,000 | E & A Mechanical; least settled |
| 5 ton | ~3,000 sq ft | $17,000–$22,000 | E & A Mechanical; least settled |
Size rows come from one company, E & A Mechanical, so they are the least settled figures here. All-sizes bands: HVACProjectCost $9,000–$17,000; LA Heating and Air Conditioning $8,000–$14,000 without new ducts. The 600 sq ft per ton column is the rule of thumb the LA guides print, not a sizing method.
Heat pump vs central AC: published price by size
Same sizes, same LA sources, one scale. The heat pump bars start higher, but the AC bars do not include a furnace.
How to compare fairly
Put three numbers side by side: the heat pump quote minus any confirmed rebate; the AC quote plus the age of your furnace; and the panel or circuit work each one needs. Run your own utility rates in the heat pump vs AC calculator.
LADWP heat pump rebate tiers
In the City of Los Angeles, LADWP pays per ton, and the rate climbs with efficiency. A 3-ton ducted system in the lowest tier earns $3,000; a 3-ton ductless system in the top tier earns $7,500.
Ducted (central, split, packaged)
| Rated above | Per ton |
|---|---|
| 15.2 SEER2 and 7.7 HSPF2 | $1,000 |
| 16 SEER2 and 8 HSPF2 | $1,050 |
| 16.9 SEER2 and 8.1 HSPF2 | $1,100 |
| 17.8 SEER2 and 8.1 HSPF2 | $1,150 |
| 18.7 SEER2 and 8.5 HSPF2 | $1,200 |
| 19.6 SEER2 and 8.9 HSPF2 | $1,250 |
Ductless (mini-split, multi-split)
| Rated above | Per ton |
|---|---|
| 15.2 SEER2 and 7.8 HSPF2 | $1,500 |
| 16 SEER2 and 8.1 HSPF2 | $1,650 |
| 16.9 SEER2 and 8.3 HSPF2 | $1,800 |
| 17.8 SEER2 and 8.5 HSPF2 | $1,950 |
| 18.7 SEER2 and 8.7 HSPF2 | $2,100 |
| 19.6 SEER2 and 8.9 HSPF2 | $2,250 |
| 20.5 SEER2 and 9.1 HSPF2 | $2,500 |
LADWP customers only. Read on LADWP's Consumer Rebate Program page on 2026-10-20; tiers change, so check before you sign. Central, split, packaged, mini-split and multi-split heat pumps rated at least 15.2 SEER2 and 7.7 HSPF2. Packaged terminal heat pumps (PTHP) are not eligible. New construction and accessory dwelling units (ADUs) are not eligible. Apply after the equipment is bought and installed; the application must be postmarked within 12 months of the purchase date. The final approved Building and Safety permit is required.
Before you count the rebate
Get the exact SEER2 and HSPF2 of the matched system in writing. A system rated at the federal floor (14.3 SEER2, 7.5 HSPF2) is below LADWP's lowest tier and earns nothing.
South Coast AQMD GO ZERO: closed for now
Closed to new single-family applications (checked 2026-10-20)
South Coast AQMD is not accepting new GO ZERO single-family or multifamily applications. Its Governing Board approved Phase 2, up to $60.2 million, on 2 October 2026, and says the application portal relaunch is "forthcoming" without a date. No Phase 2 amount is published yet.
- In the earlier phase the heat pump had to replace a gas or propane furnace, and finalized permits were required. Phase 2 terms are not yet published.
- Do not let a quote subtract a GO ZERO amount until the portal reopens and your reservation is approved.
Every program's current status, with the date we checked it, is on the LA heat pump rebate status board.
South Coast AQMD, GO ZERO Incentive Program, retrieved 2026-10-20.
Burbank, Pasadena, Glendale and SCE
- City utilities: Burbank Water and Power and Pasadena Water and Power are city-owned utilities with their own heat pump rebates; most suburbs in this area buy electricity from Southern California Edison. Current amounts are on the Burbank, Pasadena and Glendale pages.
- Southern California Edison: TECH Clean California's single-family heat pump HVAC incentives have been fully reserved statewide since 14 November 2025. SCE customers relied on TECH for the central heat pump incentive. HEEHRA single-family rebates were reserved in Southern California on 7 January 2026 and statewide on 24 February 2026.
- Federal: The federal 25C credit applied to qualifying equipment placed in service before 31 December 2025. A system installed in 2026 does not qualify.
HyreHVAC keeps a wider heat pump rebate guide. Not sure who your utility is? See which utility serves my property.
Electrical work
Replacing a gas furnace with a heat pump moves the heating load onto the electrical panel. Older houses on 100-amp service may need an upgrade, published at $2,000–$7,500.
A new circuit can also mean an electrical permit alongside the mechanical one; see the permit guide. Ask whether backup electric heat strips are included, because they add electrical load.
How a heat pump job runs
- Home visit and load calculation. Heating and cooling loads, duct inspection, panel check.
- Written quote. Matched model numbers, SEER2/EER2/HSPF2, refrigerant, panel and circuit, gas cap, permit, tests.
- Permit. Pulled by the contractor from LADBS, LA County or your city.
- Install. Old AC and furnace out, heat pump and air handler in, line set, circuit, thermostat.
- Tests and inspection. Duct leakage and refrigerant checks, third-party verification, final inspection.
- Rebate paperwork. Invoice, model and serial numbers, finalled permit; LADWP's deadline is 12 months from purchase.
Mistakes LA homeowners make
- Sizing for cooling only. The heating load decides whether backup heat is needed.
- Buying at the federal floor. It meets code but misses every LADWP tier.
- Skipping the permit. It voids both rebates and leaves the Title 24 tests undone.
- Ignoring the panel. A surprise upgrade after the quote is signed is the most common cost overrun.
What to ask
- What are the SEER2, EER2 and HSPF2 ratings, and which LADWP tier do they hit? California is in DOE's Southwest region. A split AC installed since 1 January 2023 needs 14.3 SEER2 below 45,000 Btu/h (13.8 above), plus an EER2 minimum of 11.7 (11.2 for larger units; 9.8 at 15.2 SEER2 or more). Split heat pumps need 14.3 SEER2 and 7.5 HSPF2.
- Was the system sized for heating as well as cooling?
- Does the quote include the panel, the circuit and capping the gas line?
- Which refrigerant does it use, and is it R-454B, R-32 or R-410A stock?
- Will you provide the final permit and equipment details for the rebate applications?
Prices by size and net of the LADWP rebate: heat pump installation cost in Los Angeles. Replacing a gas furnace? Gas furnace to heat pump, and if the panel is short, the panel upgrade guide. Estimate your rebate with the LADWP rebate estimator.
Sources
- E & A Mechanical (Tujunga), heat pump installation cost in Los Angeles (retrieved 2026-09-29)
- HVACProjectCost.com, Los Angeles HVAC replacement cost (retrieved 2026-09-29)
- LA Heating and Air Conditioning (Woodland Hills), heat pump installation cost in Los Angeles (retrieved 2026-09-29)
- LADWP, "Consumer Rebate Program" (Heat Pump HVAC) (retrieved 2026-10-20)
- South Coast AQMD, "GO ZERO Incentive Program" (retrieved 2026-10-20)
- TECH Clean California, "Single Family Incentives" (retrieved 2026-10-20)
- IRS, "Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit" (retrieved 2026-09-29)
- Burbank Water and Power, "Residential Rebates"; Pasadena Water and Power, "Heat Pump Rebate" (retrieved 2026-09-29) — verify before relying on it
- 10 CFR 430.32(c), Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (retrieved 2026-09-29)
- NOAA NCEI, U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, annual/seasonal (stations USW00023174, USW00093134, USW00023152, USC00049785) (retrieved 2026-09-29)
- California Energy Commission, "Building Energy Efficiency Resources for Single Family Homes" (retrieved 2026-09-29)
Questions
How much does heat pump installation cost in Los Angeles?
LA sources publish a ducted heat pump at $8,000–$22,000 installed in 2026. LA Heating and Air Conditioning prints $8,000–$14,000 without new ducts. A panel upgrade, if needed, adds $2,000–$7,500.
How much is the LADWP heat pump rebate?
On LADWP's page on 2026-10-18, ducted heat pumps earned $1,000–$1,250 per ton and ductless $1,500–$2,500 per ton, by efficiency tier. ADUs and new construction are excluded, and the final approved permit is required.
Is the AQMD GO ZERO rebate open?
No. On 2026-10-20 South Coast AQMD said it is not accepting new single-family applications. Phase 2 (up to $60.2 million) was approved on 2 October 2026 and the portal relaunch is forthcoming, with no date or amounts published. Do not count it in a quote yet.
Will a heat pump keep a Los Angeles house warm?
In the LA basin and valleys winters are mild, the condition a heat pump handles well. The contractor's load calculation should cover heating and cooling, not cooling alone.
Do I still need my gas furnace?
Not necessarily. A heat pump on its own air handler can replace the furnace. Some homeowners keep the furnace as backup in a dual-fuel setup. GO ZERO, when it was open, only paid when the furnace was replaced.
Is a heat pump more expensive than a central AC?
On the published LA ranges, a ducted heat pump of the same size usually starts higher than a central AC. But it can replace the furnace too, so compare it with AC plus a future furnace, minus any rebate you actually qualify for.
What SEER2 does a heat pump need in California?
The federal floor for a split heat pump is 14.3 SEER2 and 7.5 HSPF2. LADWP's rebate starts above 15.2 SEER2 and 7.7 HSPF2 for ducted systems, so a minimum-efficiency unit earns no LADWP rebate.
Does a heat pump need a permit in Los Angeles?
Yes. Replacing or adding HVAC equipment needs a mechanical permit, and a new circuit can need an electrical permit. Both rebates above require the finalled permit, so a no-permit quote also forfeits the rebate.
Next step
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Get a quote to check against these numbers
- Tell us about the job. Service, ZIP, property and timing. The form says right away if your ZIP is outside the area.
- We check the license first. Requests go only to contractors whose CSLB C-20 license we have matched on the state register. If none covers your ZIP yet, we email you and say so.
- Compare what comes back. Line the written quote up against the published ranges and the quote checklist.
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