Every Air Care heat-pump installation begins with our Home Comfort System Design process. We measure the home, calculate the heating and cooling loads, evaluate airflow and duct conditions, review electrical requirements, and use those findings to develop the system design.
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Every installation follows the same five-step process so equipment selection is tied to the home's calculated loads, airflow, ductwork, controls and installation conditions. Proper sizing and installation are important to heat-pump performance and comfort.
We begin by understanding how your family uses the home, the comfort problems you want solved, and what matters most to you.
Using LiDAR technology and ACCA Manual J calculations, we measure the home room by room and calculate the design heating and cooling loads used when selecting heat-pump capacity.
We evaluate duct sizing, supply and return airflow, static pressure and duct condition — plus insulation, thermostat placement and ventilation where relevant. Duct restrictions, leakage or insufficient supply or return capacity can limit performance, so you see what we found before installation day.
Only after gathering the information do we recommend equipment — matched to the calculated heating and cooling loads, ductwork, electrical conditions and comfort goals, with project-specific options compared side by side.
Installation isn’t finished when the equipment is in place. We verify refrigerant charge and performance, airflow, electrical readings, thermostat and control setup, and defrost operation before we call the job complete.
Every heat pump project starts in a different place. Whatever you're starting from, the process is the same: evaluate the home first, then design the system to fit.
If you already have a heat pump, replacement starts with evaluating system condition, comfort, efficiency, equipment compatibility, and ductwork or airflow — not an arbitrary age cutoff. We design the new system around what your home needs today.
A heat pump can take over both jobs traditionally handled by a furnace and air conditioner — heating and cooling from one refrigeration system. Not every home needs identical modifications, so we evaluate your existing equipment, ductwork, and electrical infrastructure first.
Compare with furnace installationHeat pumps carry cooling and heating efficiency ratings: SEER2 measures seasonal cooling efficiency, HSPF2 measures seasonal heating efficiency, and COP compares the heat delivered to the electrical energy consumed under specific test conditions.
Higher SEER2 or HSPF2 ratings indicate greater rated seasonal efficiency under the applicable test procedure, while COP describes efficiency at a stated operating condition. Actual household energy use and comfort still depend on sizing, outdoor conditions, ductwork, controls, installation quality and runtime, so the highest rating is not automatically the best fit for every home.
Converting from a furnace and AC to a heat pump does not automatically require an electrical-panel upgrade or new service. The existing outdoor AC circuit may be suitable for the new outdoor heat pump, and the existing furnace circuit for the indoor air handler, only after verification against the selected equipment and the home’s load and electrical conditions.
Suitability always has to be verified against the selected equipment and your home — including minimum circuit ampacity (MCA), maximum overcurrent protection (MOP), breaker and conductor sizing, auxiliary heat, and your overall electrical load. Some homes do need electrical work; we confirm it during design rather than assuming either way.
Requirements vary by project scope and jurisdiction. These are the practical items we evaluate on San Jose heat pump projects, and we handle applicable permits and inspections as part of the work.
Whether a permit and inspection apply depends on the scope of the installation and current local requirements. When they apply, Air Care pulls the permit and coordinates inspection.
A heat pump conversion does not automatically require a panel upgrade. We evaluate the existing circuit, conductors, breaker, disconnect, and available panel capacity against the equipment requirements.
Indoor equipment produces condensate that needs an approved drain path, proper slope, and, where applicable, a secondary drain or safety switch.
Placement considers manufacturer clearance requirements, service access, airflow, drainage, and how the location interacts with your property and neighbors.
Some equipment locations are subject to local noise or siting requirements. We review placement with those considerations in mind before finalizing the design.
Permit responsibility, inclusions, and exclusions are confirmed in your written proposal so there are no assumptions.
Current City of San José requirements: Development Services — Air Conditioning & Heating
Use the calculator below to estimate how switching to a heat pump may impact your monthly energy costs.
Review current utility, state, regional, and other incentive resources that may apply to your new heat pump. Program availability and eligibility can change.
"Adolph and Luis did an outstanding job installing my new heat pump. They were incredibly friendly, professional, and respectful of my property. They answered every question I had, regularly asked if I..."
"We hired Aircare to remove our old furnace & AC, and then installed HVAC with heat pump. Adolph, Juan, and Jonathan are polite, professional, and knowledgeable. They sent us a text message every day t..."
"This is the second time using Air Care for installation of a completely new system. Claudia and office staff always prompt in scheduling and returning calls. Installation team Adolph, Juan and Christi..."
"I really cannot say enough good things about the entire project. From the beginning, working with Roberto was a great experience due to the clear communication and work that he put into the estimation..."
"I had a new heat pump system installed in my house (the previous one was not working well at all). Roberto Moya dedicated all the time I needed to answer all my questions and to survey my house: he al..."
Real heat pump installations and conversions our team has completed in San Jose and surrounding communities.
Air Care Heating & Cooling completed a full HVAC replacement for this Morgan Hill home remodel, removing two existing furnaces and two air conditioning systems and replacing them with two high-efficiency Bryant Evolution variable-speed heat pump systems.
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Air Care Heating & Cooling completed a residential heat pump installation in San Jose, CA 95124, replacing the home's older gas heating system with a modern, all-electric heat pump system and all-new ductwork.
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Air Care Heating & Cooling completed a complete HVAC system replacement in San Jose, CA 95128, upgrading the home from an older gas furnace and air conditioner to a modern heat pump system with all-new R-8 insulated ductwork and a new attic fan.
View ProjectAlready have a heat pump that's underperforming? See our heat pump repair and service page, or protect a system that runs year-round with a Care Club maintenance plan. Still weighing equipment types? Read our comparison of a heat pump versus a gas furnace in San Jose. For more answers, visit our HVAC FAQ or see how we serve San Jose and the surrounding communities.
