Heat Pump Installation
New ducted and inverter heat pumps sized to your Pasadena home, with permits, line sets, electrical and duct checks included in the quote.
Learn moreHeat Pumps & Ductless in Pasadena, CA
Gas furnace to heat pump conversion in Pasadena, planned around your electrical panel
Replace a gas furnace with an electric heat pump, starting with a panel load check so the switch works without surprises.
- Answering 24/7
- Price quoted before work
- Pasadena and nearby cities
Quick answer
Converting a Pasadena home from a gas furnace to a heat pump means removing the furnace, capping the gas line, adding a heat pump and air handler, and making sure the electrical panel can carry the new load. Marco's checks panel capacity first, sizes the system for summer cooling and winter nights, handles the permit where required, and explains current rebates in general terms. Call (626) 879-0711.
Gas Furnace to Heat Pump Conversion
What gas furnace to heat pump conversion covers at your home
Many Pasadena homes still heat with a gas furnace in the attic, a hall closet, or the garage, often paired with a separate air conditioner outside. A conversion replaces both with a heat pump, so one outdoor unit cools the house in summer and heats it in winter, and the furnace's gas burner is no longer part of the picture. In a climate this mild, a heat pump can cover the heating needs of almost every home in the valley.
The part that surprises people is the electrical side. A heat pump and its air handler need dedicated circuits, and an older 60 or 100 amp panel may not have room once you add an EV charger, an induction range or a heat pump water heater. Marco's Heating & Air starts every conversion with a panel and load review, so you know before the work starts whether the panel is fine, needs a load management device, or needs an upgrade.
Warning signs
Signs your home is ready to convert
Furnace near end of life
A furnace over 20 years old with a cracked looking heat exchanger, rusty burners or repeated ignition failures is a natural point to switch rather than replace with gas again.
AC also needs replacing
If the outdoor AC is old or uses R-22, replacing it with a heat pump covers cooling and heating together, often for less than two separate systems.
Panel has spare capacity
A 200 amp panel with open breaker spaces usually handles a heat pump easily. Smaller panels can still work, but need a load calculation first.
Solar already installed
Homes with rooftop solar can run more of their heating on their own power, which makes the move away from gas easier to justify on the bills.
Planning other electric upgrades
If you are already thinking about an induction range, EV charger or heat pump water heater, planning the panel once for all of them saves money and rework.
Gas line concerns in older homes
Older homes with aging gas piping, a floor furnace or a wall furnace may prefer to reduce gas use indoors. A conversion lets you cap the heating gas line.
The electrical panel check comes first
Before we talk about equipment, a technician looks at the main panel rating, the breaker spaces available, the service size from the utility, and the major loads already in the house. We then run a load calculation that adds the heat pump, its air handler and any backup heat strips to what you already have. Many Pasadena conversions fit without an upgrade because a heat pump draws less than people expect, especially an inverter model.
When the numbers are tight, there are options short of a full panel replacement. Skipping electric backup heat, choosing a variable speed heat pump with a lower maximum draw, or adding a smart load management device can keep the job within the existing service. When an upgrade is the right call, we explain why and coordinate the electrical work as part of the quote.
- Main breaker rating and panel brand, including older panels known to need replacing
- Open breaker spaces for a 240 volt outdoor unit circuit and air handler circuit
- Existing big loads: dryer, range, water heater, pool pump, EV charger, spa
- Whether backup heat strips are needed at all for your location and home
What happens to the furnace, the gas line and the ducts
The furnace is disconnected and removed, and the heating gas line is capped safely at the appropriate point. Other gas appliances, such as a water heater or range, keep running unless you plan to convert them too. The flue that vented the furnace is either sealed or, if the water heater still uses it, checked to make sure it still drafts correctly with the smaller appliance alone.
A heat pump air handler takes the furnace's place on the duct system. Because heat pumps deliver warm air at a lower temperature than a gas furnace, often in the 90s rather than the 120s, duct leaks and undersized returns matter more. We inspect the ducts during the planning visit and quote sealing or repairs where they will make a real difference in comfort.
Rebates, utilities and operating cost
Whether a conversion lowers your monthly bills depends on your gas rate from SoCalGas, your electric rate from Pasadena Water and Power or Southern California Edison, your time of use plan, and how much heating your home actually needs. In most of the valley, heating is a small share of the yearly energy bill and cooling is the large one, so the efficiency of the new system in summer often matters as much as the gas savings in winter.
Incentives for gas to heat pump conversions change through the year. Ask about current PWP, SCE or SoCalGas rebates and state heat pump incentives when funding is open. Some programs require specific equipment ratings or a participating contractor, so we check the program rules before you choose the equipment.
Step by step
How the conversion is planned and done
- 1
Panel and load review
We check the panel, service size and existing loads, then run a load calculation that includes the heat pump so you know where the electrical side stands.
- 2
Size the heat pump
A room by room heating and cooling load sets the system size, with summer cooling usually driving the choice in Pasadena and backup heat added only when needed.
- 3
Quote with every line
The quote spells out equipment, furnace removal, gas capping, ducts, electrical, permit and testing, so nothing appears later as an extra.
- 4
Install and cap gas
The crew removes the furnace, caps the heating gas line, installs the air handler and outdoor unit, runs circuits and line set, and tests every connection.
- 5
Startup and inspection
We run both modes, set up the thermostat for heat pump operation, and meet the inspector for final sign off where the city requires a permit.
Typical prices
What a heat pump conversion costs in Pasadena
These are typical 2026 ranges for gas furnace to heat pump conversions in Pasadena and the San Gabriel Valley. The panel check is what moves the price most. We quote the price before we start the work, and we show the electrical portion separately.
| Job | Typical range | What is included |
|---|---|---|
| Furnace and AC to ducted heat pump | $12,940 to $19,370 | Includes furnace removal, gas capping, new heat pump, air handler and startup |
| Inverter heat pump conversion | $16,480 to $24,170 | Variable speed system with higher SEER2 and HSPF2 ratings and lower peak draw |
| Dedicated circuits, no panel upgrade | $587 to $1,640 | New 240 volt circuits and disconnect when the panel has room |
| Panel upgrade to 200 amps | $3,870 to $6,940 | Needed when load calculation shows the existing service cannot carry the new load |
| Smart load management device | $1,180 to $2,390 | An alternative to a panel upgrade in some homes with tight capacity |
Price moves with panel condition, utility service upgrades, duct work, attic access, flue changes for a remaining water heater, and Title 24 testing. Rebates may lower your cost when program funding is open. Compare other jobs in our Pasadena HVAC price guide.
Heat pump conversions in Pasadena homes
Pasadena's older homes are where panel questions come up most. A Craftsman in Bungalow Heaven or a 1920s Spanish Revival in Historic Highlands may still have a 60 or 100 amp service, sometimes with a panel brand that should be replaced anyway. Postwar ranch homes in Hastings Ranch and Lamanda Park often have 100 or 125 amps with spaces to spare. Knowing which you have before choosing equipment avoids a stalled job halfway through.
Homes in Pasadena buy electricity from Pasadena Water and Power, which has its own rate plans and programs, while South Pasadena, Altadena, Arcadia and most nearby cities are on SCE. That difference affects operating cost and which incentives apply. Many Altadena families rebuilding after the Eaton Fire are choosing all electric homes from the start, and we plan those heat pump systems with the same care as a conversion, matched to the new construction and its Title 24 requirements.
Related work
Often booked with gas furnace to heat pump conversion
Furnace Replacement
An old furnace swapped for a right-sized new one in the same attic, closet or garage, with venting, ducts and permit handled.
Learn moreDuct Sealing & Leak Testing
We measure duct leakage with a calibrated fan, seal joints with mastic, and test again so you see the actual improvement.
Learn moreSmart Thermostat Installation
Smart thermostats installed with a proper C-wire and the right heat pump or two-stage settings, tested in every mode.
Learn moreWhere we do gas furnace to heat pump conversion
Our technicians handle this work all over Pasadena and the surrounding San Gabriel Valley. A few of the places we cover:
Questions
Gas Furnace to Heat Pump Conversion questions from Pasadena homeowners
Many will. A 200 amp panel with open spaces usually handles a heat pump without trouble. A 100 amp panel often works too, especially with an inverter heat pump and no backup heat strips. Older 60 amp services usually need an upgrade. We run a load calculation during the first visit, so you know the answer before you pick equipment.
Usually not. Pasadena nights rarely get cold enough to push a modern heat pump past its comfortable range. Skipping backup strips also lowers the electrical load and helps avoid a panel upgrade. Homes high in the foothills, or owners who want extra margin on rare cold nights, can add a small strip, and the load calculation shows whether it is worth it.
Nothing, unless you want to change it. The gas line to the water heater stays live and only the furnace branch is capped. If the furnace and water heater shared a flue, we check that the remaining vent still drafts correctly for the water heater alone, which sometimes calls for a liner or a smaller vent connector.
There often are, but they change during the year and depend on your utility. Ask about current PWP, SCE or SoCalGas rebates and state heat pump incentives when funding is open. Some programs set efficiency minimums or paperwork rules, so we check the current requirements before you settle on a model and help you keep the documents you will need.
The air from the vents feels less hot, because a heat pump delivers warm air at a lower temperature over a longer run. The rooms reach the same temperature, often more evenly. Some homeowners notice the difference at first. A properly sized inverter system with sealed ducts runs gently and steadily, which most people come to prefer.
Need heat or cooling back today?
Call our Pasadena line any hour. A person answers, asks a few questions about the system, and gives you an arrival window.
(626) 879-0711Answering 24 hours, 7 days