The short answer
A heat pump replaces both the air conditioner and the furnace with one efficient system, which fits Glendale's hot summers and mild winters. We size it to your home, check ducts and electrical capacity, and confirm any rebates with the utility that serves your address.
A heat pump suits Glendale's climate well. Summers inland get hot enough to demand real cooling capacity, and winters are mild enough that a modern heat pump can carry the heating load without strain. For many households the question is not whether a heat pump works here, but whether now is the right time and what kind fits the house. SummitAir installs ducted and ductless heat pumps throughout Glendale, from our base about seven miles away in Pasadena. This page covers how we decide between system types, what the switch from a gas furnace involves, and how rebates work in a city outside the LADWP service area.
How a heat pump earns its place in Glendale
A heat pump is essentially an air conditioner that can run in reverse. In summer it moves heat out of the house; in winter it pulls heat from outdoor air and moves it in. Because Glendale winter nights rarely get cold for long, the system spends most of the heating season in conditions where it runs efficiently.
The practical benefit is consolidation. Instead of an outdoor AC condenser plus a gas furnace in the attic or closet, you have one outdoor unit and one indoor air handler. That means one set of equipment to maintain, no gas combustion inside the home for space heating, and a single thermostat that switches between modes on its own.
Ducted, ductless or a mix
The right configuration depends on what your Glendale home already has. We look at the ducts, the attic, the electrical panel and how the rooms are laid out before recommending anything.
- Ducted heat pump: best for homes with sound ductwork, where the new air handler takes the furnace's place and the outdoor unit replaces the old condenser.
- Ductless mini-split: a good fit for homes without ducts, converted garages, additions and condos, with wall or ceiling heads serving individual rooms.
- Hybrid or dual-fuel: a heat pump paired with an existing gas furnace that still has years left, so the furnace runs only as backup.
- Mixed systems: a ducted heat pump for the main house plus a ductless head for a hard-to-reach bonus room.
Going from gas furnace to heat pump
Most Glendale homes considering a heat pump currently heat with natural gas. The switch is straightforward in most cases, but a few details need attention. The electrical panel must handle the new outdoor unit and, in some cases, backup heat strips in the air handler. The old furnace flue is capped or removed. The gas line to the furnace is capped safely at the appliance.
Air district rules are also part of the picture. South Coast AQMD Rule 1111 limits NOx emissions from natural-gas fan-type central furnaces sold and installed in the region, and the district has been moving the rule toward zero-emission requirements, with compliance dates it sets and revises. If your furnace is near the end of its life, that trend is worth weighing before you buy another gas unit.
Rebates and tax credits, stated carefully
Glendale sits outside the City of Los Angeles, and homes outside the city are often served by a utility other than LADWP. Which equipment rebates exist for your property depends on the utility serving that address, so we confirm the current offer before we put any number on paper. LADWP does run a rebate program for its residential customers, with amounts based on SEER2 and HSPF2 ratings, but that program applies only to addresses LADWP serves.
On the federal side, the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit, known as 25C, covered qualifying heat pumps placed in service before December 31, 2025. It is not available for installations made after that date, so we do not include it in current planning.
What the installation looks like
We start with a load calculation so the heat pump is sized for both your summer cooling and winter heating needs. On install day we remove the old equipment, set the air handler and outdoor unit, run or reuse refrigerant lines where they are suitable, complete the electrical work, and pull a vacuum before charging. We test the system in both heating and cooling modes and show you how the thermostat handles the changeover.
We also install heat pumps in La Cañada Flintridge, South Pasadena, San Marino, Alhambra and San Gabriel, using the same sizing and testing process in each.
More services in Glendale
- AC Repair in Glendale
- Heating Repair in Glendale
- AC Installation in Glendale
- Furnace Repair in Glendale