# Heat Pump Replacement in Sacramento > Heat pump replacement in Sacramento: a load calculation, not the old label, a refrigerant-matched system, Title 24 testing and SMUD rebates. Get an estimate. URL: https://tulesacramentoheatpump.com/heat-pump-replacement/ An aging heat pump swapped for a matched, correctly sized system, with the ducts tested and the charge verified under Title 24. [Tule Sacramento Heat Pump](https://tulesacramentoheatpump.com/) replaces worn-out heat pumps in homes across Sacramento County, south Placer County, east Yolo County and El Dorado Hills, with the installation carried out by licensed and insured contractors. A replacement is a heat pump going in where a heat pump already was, so the house already has the ducts, the 240-volt circuit and the outdoor pad. What it may not have is a system that was sized, matched and charged correctly the first time. That is why a replacement starts with the house rather than the model plate. The old unit’s tonnage, refrigerant and air handler all come into question, and the answers decide whether the job is a simple swap or something larger. ## Replace or repair: reading the signs A heat pump is usually worth replacing when a major part fails on an older system, when repairs keep returning, or when the house was never comfortable with it. A single failed capacitor, contactor or fan motor on a younger unit is a repair. [Heat pump repair](https://tulesacramentoheatpump.com/heat-pump-repair/) covers that diagnosis; this page covers what happens when replacement is the better answer. ### Age and repair history No single age tells you a heat pump is finished. A compressor failure, a leaking outdoor coil or a second refrigerant leak on a unit well into its service life tends to push the decision toward replacement, because the repair cost lands on equipment with less time left. The [heat pump lifespan guide](https://tulesacramentoheatpump.com/guide/heat-pump-lifespan/) explains what shortens or extends that service life. ### Comfort that never worked If a back bedroom has always run hot in August, or the system short-cycles in spring, a new unit of the same size on the same ducts will likely repeat it. The cause may be sizing, duct airflow or controls, and the visit below is built to tell those apart before anything is bought. ## What happens on the first visit The visit collects what the replacement scope depends on. - **The existing equipment.** Outdoor unit and air handler ages, model numbers, refrigerant type, strip heat size, and where the air handler sits: attic, garage or hall closet. - **The load.** A room-by-room Manual J calculation at local design conditions. For Sacramento’s airport station the California Energy Commission lists 98°F at the 1% cooling level and 31°F at the 0.2% heating level; Rocklin’s station runs hotter and colder, at 103°F and 26°F. - **The ducts.** Static pressure, return size, visible damage and any record of an earlier ECC-Rater test. - **The line set.** Diameter, length, route and the condition of its insulation. - **The electrical side.** Breaker size, the disconnect and panel capacity against the new unit’s nameplate. - **The outdoor spot.** Pad condition, clearances and where defrost water drains. Everything lands in a written scope that names the equipment pair, the line set decision, any duct or electrical work and the permit. ## Sizing the new system from the house The old heat pump’s tonnage is a starting clue, not an answer. It may have been oversized at install, and new windows, attic insulation or a room addition change the load since. A properly sized replacement runs longer, steadier cycles, which evens out room temperatures and cuts the start-stop wear that shortens compressor life. ### What the rules allow Title 24 sets a ceiling for replacement heat pumps whose airflow isn’t verified at 350 cfm per ton: in a cooling-dominated climate like Sacramento, cooling capacity may exceed the calculated cooling load by no more than 6,000 Btu per hour, and heating capacity may exceed the heating load by no more than 12,000. The City of Sacramento’s standard web permit adds its own condition. Of 1,950 heat pump permits the City issued from October 26, 2025 to October 25, 2026, 1,682 carried the line that the new unit “shall not exceed the size of the existing unit by more than 25%.” ### Why the calculation gets skipped Homeowners report contractors who sized by square footage or by counting registers, and Sacramento posters describe quotes where nobody ran the calculation at all. A load calculation takes measurements of every room, window and wall, which is the reason it gets skipped and the reason it matters. The [heat pump sizing guide](https://tulesacramentoheatpump.com/guide/heat-pump-sizing/) walks through how the loads are built. ## Line set, air handler and the refrigerant change Under the EPA’s Technology Transitions rule, new residential heat pump systems installed since January 1, 2025 must use a refrigerant with a global warming potential below 700, which in practice means R-454B or R-32. Systems built entirely from components manufactured or imported before that date have no installation deadline, so some older-refrigerant stock is still installed. ### Why the indoor half usually changes too A new outdoor unit is rated with a specific indoor coil or air handler. Pairing a new R-454B outdoor unit with a coil built for R-410A gives a system with no rated match, uncertain capacity and no path to the SMUD rebate. When the air handler is replaced, its electric strip heat, filter rack, condensate pan and drain are replaced with it. Some systems using these newer refrigerants also carry leak detection requirements at the indoor unit. The [R-454B refrigerant guide](https://tulesacramentoheatpump.com/guide/heat-pump-refrigerant-r454b/) covers the transition, and [air handler replacement](https://tulesacramentoheatpump.com/heat-pump-air-handler-replacement/) covers the indoor half on its own. ### Reuse or replace the line set Reusing the copper lines saves opening walls or attics, and many lines can stay. They must match the diameter and length limits the new unit’s installation manual sets, carry no oil or contamination the new refrigerant can’t tolerate, and hold a nitrogen pressure test. Lines that fail any of those, or that run through an attic with crushed insulation, are replaced. Find out whether your air handler and lines can stay A coil and line set check during the first visit shows which parts of the old system the new heat pump can use. ## The Title 24 test on a like-for-like swap ### What the ECC-Rater checks California treats a heat pump change-out as an alteration even when nothing else changes. The California Energy Commission’s HVAC FAQ states that replacing the outdoor or indoor unit of a split system by itself triggers duct sealing, and that kept ducts must be tested by the installer and an ECC-Rater. The target is 10% total leakage or 7% leakage to the outside; ducts that can’t reach it have every accessible leak sealed and confirmed by a visual and smoke test. The rater also verifies refrigerant charge, which heat pumps require in every climate zone, with at least 300 cfm of airflow per ton. The thermostat must be a digital setback model whenever a refrigerant component is replaced. ### Who issues the permit In the City of Sacramento, one- and two-family change-outs go through the online minor permit path, and the HVAC change-out carries a $175 flat fee plus surcharges. Unincorporated Sacramento County issues residential heating and cooling replacements through its Citizen Access Portal once payment is made, and Elk Grove has its own online HVAC replacement permit. The [permit and Title 24 guide](https://tulesacramentoheatpump.com/guide/heat-pump-permit-title-24/) covers each office. ## Outdoor placement and defrost drainage Keeping the new unit where the old one sat keeps the City’s web permit simple, since its standard text requires the same location. Moving it is possible but changes the permit path and the line set. The [placement and noise guide](https://tulesacramentoheatpump.com/guide/heat-pump-placement-noise/) covers clearances and neighbors. Valley winters bring frost, not snow. NOAA’s normals for Sacramento Executive Airport put the January 7 a.m. temperature at 41.6°F, with one morning in ten near 32°F, and humid fog-season air frosts the outdoor coil often. Each defrost cycle sheds water, so the pad or riser has to let it drain away instead of pooling and refreezing under the unit. ## SMUD rebates for electric-to-electric upgrades SMUD pays $1,000 when a qualifying two-stage or variable-stage heat pump replaces an existing electric system, such as an older heat pump or electric resistance heat. Single-stage systems are not eligible. The rebate requires qualifying equipment installed by a participating contractor in the SMUD Contractor Network, a Wi-Fi seven-day programmable thermostat, permits, a passing Title 24 verification and R-8 insulation on any new ducts. ### Requesting a rebate-qualified installation Rebate-qualified installations are available on request, and eligibility is confirmed per project under SMUD’s terms. Roseville Electric lists no residential heat pump HVAC rebate, and no PG&E single-family heat pump rebate was found. The [SMUD rebate guide](https://tulesacramentoheatpump.com/guide/smud-heat-pump-rebates/) has the full eligibility list. ## What a heat pump replacement costs SMUD’s published median for electric-to-heat-pump upgrade projects is about $17,000 for split systems and about $19,000 for package units, before rebates. SMUD’s category mixes heat pump swaps with replacements of electric resistance heat, and individual projects range widely, so treat these as midpoints rather than a band. ### What moves the number Replacing the air handler along with the outdoor unit, a new line set through a finished wall, a variable-speed system, duct sealing that turns into duct replacement, or a panel with no room for the new breaker all push the price up. The [heat pump replacement cost guide](https://tulesacramentoheatpump.com/guide/heat-pump-replacement-cost-sacramento/) breaks it down, and the [cost estimator](https://tulesacramentoheatpump.com/tools/heat-pump-cost-estimator/) gives a range without a phone call. ## When a replacement becomes a bigger project A replacement is also the moment to change the type of system. A [variable-speed heat pump](https://tulesacramentoheatpump.com/variable-speed-heat-pump/) can slow down to match mild spring and fall loads instead of cycling on and off at full output. If the ducts fail the leakage test badly or can’t carry 300 cfm per ton, [heat pump ductwork](https://tulesacramentoheatpump.com/heat-pump-ductwork/) covers sealing, resizing and full replacement. If the existing unit is a single box on the roof or beside the house, [package heat pump replacement](https://tulesacramentoheatpump.com/package-heat-pump-replacement/) explains how that swap differs. ## What's included - A load calculation for the house as it stands today - A check of the air handler, backup heat strips and coil for compatibility with the new refrigerant - A decision on the line set: reuse after cleaning and testing, or replace - Recovery of the old refrigerant and removal of the old equipment - A new pad or riser where the old one has settled or holds water - Electrical disconnect and circuit checked against the new unit's nameplate - Pressure test, deep evacuation and charge to the manufacturer's specification - Condensate drain and overflow protection checked at the air handler - Thermostat set up for staging, backup heat lockout and defrost - The permit, inspection and the ECC-Rater's duct and charge verification - A walkthrough of the new controls and filter location ## Three scopes for replacing an aging heat pump | | Outdoor unit only | Matched outdoor unit and air handler | Full system plus duct work | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | What gets replaced | The outdoor unit | Outdoor unit, air handler or coil, usually the line set | All of that plus supply and return ducts | | Refrigerant | Must match the existing indoor coil | New lower-GWP refrigerant such as R-454B or R-32 | New lower-GWP refrigerant | | Title 24 testing | Duct leakage, charge and airflow | Duct leakage, charge and airflow | New-duct leakage limits and R-8 insulation where more than 25 feet are added | | SMUD electric-to-electric rebate | Confirmed per project | On qualifying two- or variable-stage systems | On qualifying systems with R-8 ducts | | Fits best | A newer air handler and a failed outdoor unit | Both halves near the end of their service life | Ducts that fail testing or can't move enough air | | Check first | Coil rating and refrigerant compatibility | Air handler location, strip heat size, panel | Attic access, return sizing, asbestos | ## Related resources - Cost Guide [What does it cost to replace a heat pump in Sacramento?](https://tulesacramentoheatpump.com/guide/heat-pump-replacement-cost-sacramento/)SMUD's own median for replacing an older heat pump or electric heat with a new heat pump, why individual jobs land far from it, the parts of a replacement price with a public figure, and the one rebate still open. - Learn [How long do heat pumps last in Sacramento?](https://tulesacramentoheatpump.com/guide/heat-pump-lifespan/)What wears a heat pump out, why a system that heats and cools all year builds hours faster, which installation details protect it, and how to decide between another repair and a replacement. - Learn [What does the switch to R-454B refrigerant mean for a heat pump?](https://tulesacramentoheatpump.com/guide/heat-pump-refrigerant-r454b/)Why new heat pumps use A2L refrigerants such as R-454B and R-32, what that changes about coils, line sets and indoor safeguards, and how to think about repairing or replacing an older R-410A system. - Learn [How is a heat pump sized for a Sacramento home?](https://tulesacramentoheatpump.com/guide/heat-pump-sizing/)How a load calculation turns your house, your town's design temperatures and your ducts into a capacity, why the old condenser's tonnage is a poor guide, and what Title 24 and the City permit allow. - Learn [What does a heat pump permit in Sacramento involve, and what does Title 24 check?](https://tulesacramentoheatpump.com/guide/heat-pump-permit-title-24/)The permit office for each part of the region, what the City of Sacramento's standard change-out permit allows, every Title 24 test a change-out carries, and how SB 222 reshapes permits from 2027. ## 1. Your house and your bills What you have now, what isn't working, your utility and what you want the new system to do. 2. Load, ducts and panel A room-by-room load calculation, a look at the ducts and returns, the electrical panel and where the outdoor unit can go. 3. Permit, set, braze, test Permit pulled, old equipment recovered and removed, new units set, lines brazed, pressure-tested and evacuated before charging. 4. Verified and explained Airflow, charge and backup heat checked, the ECC-Rater visit for Title 24, and the thermostat set up and walked through. ## What this work looks like New heat pump outdoor unit on a concrete pad beside the brick-trimmed stucco wall of a 1970s Sacramento ranch house, looking out toward the street Gloved hands connecting a gauge manifold to the service valves of a new heat pump outdoor unit beside a two-story Sacramento-area stucco house Matched heat pump air handler on a raised platform in the garage of a two-story Sacramento-area house, beside the water heater Heat pump outdoor unit on a pad in the side yard of a two-story beige stucco house in the Sacramento area, the backyard lawn beyond Before After Replace the heat pump you have with one sized for your house Send the age of the outdoor unit and air handler, what has been repaired so far and which rooms run hot or cold. The replacement plan starts from that. ## Heat pump replacement questions ### Is it worth replacing a heat pump that still runs? It can be, if the unit is late in its service life, needs repeated refrigerant repairs or has never kept some rooms comfortable. Replacing on your schedule leaves time for a load calculation, a duct test, a rebate check and an equipment choice made without a failed system in July. If the unit is younger and the problem is a single part, a repair is usually the better spend. ### Should my new heat pump be the same size as the one it replaces? Only if a load calculation says so. The old unit may have been oversized from the start, and insulation, windows or an addition may have changed the load since. Title 24 limits how far a replacement heat pump can exceed the calculated load unless airflow is verified, and the City of Sacramento's web permit caps the new unit at 25% above the old one. ### Can the existing refrigerant lines be reused with a new heat pump? Often, but it is a decision made on site. The lines have to be the diameter the new unit calls for, within its length limits, free of kinks and contamination, and able to hold a nitrogen pressure test. Lines buried in a wall or slab are usually cleaned and tested rather than replaced. Damaged insulation is replaced either way. ### Does a like-for-like heat pump swap still need a permit and testing? Yes. The California Energy Commission states that installing any space conditioning appliance other than a plug-in room unit requires a building permit, and replacing the outdoor or indoor unit of a split system by itself triggers duct sealing. An ECC-Rater then verifies duct leakage, refrigerant charge and airflow before the permit closes. ### Does a new heat pump need a new outdoor pad? Only if the old one has settled, cracked or tilted, or if water pools under it. The new unit has to sit level so its compressor and coil drain properly, and in winter it sheds defrost water that should run away from the pad rather than refreeze beneath it. A riser or new pad is added where the old spot can't do that. ## Related services Air handler replacement A new indoor fan and coil cabinet matched to the outdoor unit, with the drain, filter, backup heat and duct test done to Title 24. Variable speed heat pump An inverter-driven heat pump that runs at the output the house needs, sized and set up for Sacramento's heat and SMUD's rebate tiers. Heat pump repair Diagnosis and repair of ducted heat pumps, with a written repair-or-replace comparison when the failed part is a major one.