How a heat pump heats and cools
A heat pump looks like an AC condenser and cools your house the same way in summer. When you need heat, it runs the refrigerant, the fluid that carries heat, the other way to move heat into the house. Inside, it pairs with an air handler that holds the coil and blower, plus electric heat strips for backup on the coldest mornings. One system handles both seasons, with no gas furnace.
Switching from an AC and furnace
A lot of Austin homes have a central AC paired with a gas furnace or an electric furnace. Moving to a heat pump puts a heat pump outside and an air handler inside where the furnace was. Your existing ducts usually stay if they’re in good shape and sized right. Some homeowners keep the gas furnace for backup heat and pair it with the heat pump, which is called a dual-fuel setup.
Heat pump efficiency ratings
Heat pumps carry SEER2 for cooling and HSPF2 for heating, and the U.S. Department of Energy’s 2023 federal minimum for a split heat pump is 14.3 SEER2 and 7.5 HSPF2. ENERGY STAR’s heat pump label starts at 15.2 SEER2, 11.0 EER2, and 7.8 HSPF2, and Austin Energy’s lowest heat pump rebate tier starts at the same numbers. Our SEER2 guide explains what each rating measures.
What installation involves
With the permit in place before we start, we remove the old outdoor unit and indoor furnace or air handler and recover the refrigerant. We set the new heat pump and air handler, braze the lines, pressure-test them with nitrogen, and pull them into a vacuum before charging the system. Before we leave, we check the system in cooling and heating and show you the thermostat settings. A standard heat pump install is a one-day job, and switching from gas or adding duct work takes longer.
Heat pump installation cost in Austin
Angi’s Austin HVAC page (updated April 2026) publishes a range of $6,500 to $12,000 for a heat pump in Austin. Our cost guide lists Angi’s and Fixr’s national heat pump ranges beside the Austin figures.
Heat pump questions
Is there still a federal tax credit for a heat pump?
No, a heat pump system installed in 2026 doesn’t qualify for the federal Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit. The IRS says the credit isn’t allowed for property placed in service after December 31, 2025. Austin Energy’s heat pump rebate still applies for its customers.
Can a heat pump use my existing ducts?
Usually, yes. A heat pump moves air through the same ducts an AC does, so your existing ducts may work. At the visit, we check for leaks, crushed runs, and size before we count on them.
How long does a heat pump last?
A National Association of Home Builders study (2007) put heat pumps at 16 years on average. InterNACHI’s life-expectancy chart lists 10 to 15 years. Our lifespan guide compares the published ranges for ACs, heat pumps, and furnaces.