Most people in Los Angeles don’t plan on buying a furnace. Usually, the decision comes up during a repair visit when a technician finds a cracked heat exchanger. In addition, he gives a high repair estimate for a 20-year-old system.
Sometimes, it happens during an AC installation when the contractor notices that the furnace sharing the same air handler is older than the upgraded AC.
No matter how you got here, your goal is to pick the right heating system. You want it installed properly and to feel confident about your investment.
Affordable Heating and Air installs furnaces, heat pumps, and dual-fuel systems throughout Los Angeles County from our Chatsworth office. We prepare estimates, help you choose equipment, obtain permits, handle installation, complete Title 24 paperwork, and manage rebates.
Your system will be running, tested, and fully documented before we finish.
(818) 722-1332 — Request a Free Heating Estimate.
Ventura County: (805) 755-4074
If you are on this page, one of these probably happened recently:
A repair technician recommended replacement. The repair would cost more than half the price of replacing the system. This is because the heat exchanger has a safety issue, or the parts are no longer available. The honest call is to adopt an updated system rather than sink money into equipment at the end of its life.
Your furnace is 15 to 20 years old and struggling. It still runs, but it takes longer to heat the house, it makes sounds it didn’t use to make, and the gas bill has crept up. You know replacement is coming — the question is whether to do it on your schedule or wait for an emergency.
You are replacing the AC and wondering about the furnace. When the air handler, coil, and outdoor unit are changed, evaluating the furnace, which shares the system, makes sense. Installing a matched system now avoids a second project later.
You want to switch from gas to electric heating. California’s electrification push, LADWP rebates, and rising gas costs have made heat pumps a serious option for LA homeowners who previously assumed gas was the only practical choice.
The heating market for Los Angeles homes has shifted significantly. Here is what is available and where each option fits:
Direct replacement of your existing gas furnace with a modern high-efficiency unit. If your home has a well-functioning gas line, adequate venting, and sound ductwork, a furnace swap is the easiest replacement path.
Modern furnaces operate at 80 to 97 AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) — meaning 80 to 97 percent of the gas consumed converts to heat. SoCalGas may offer rebates on qualifying high-efficiency gas equipment, subject to funding availability.
A heat pump replaces both the furnace and the AC with a single system that provides heating and cooling. In LA’s mild winters, when overnight lows rarely drop below 40°F, heat pumps maintain full heating efficiency and cost less to operate than gas furnaces.
Installing a heat pump may require checking your electrical panel. The outdoor unit uses more power than a standard AC condenser, so some older Valley homes might need a panel upgrade or a new circuit. We assess this during the estimate — not on the installation morning.
A dual-fuel system combines a heat pump with a gas furnace backup. The heat pump handles heating on most mild LA winter days, while the furnace only turns on during the coldest nights or when you want a gas backup.
This setup gives you the efficiency of a heat pump and the security of gas, which is great if you’re not ready to become all-electric. Learn about heat pump services →
Many older LA homes, especially in West Hollywood, Silver Lake, Echo Park, and pre-war neighborhoods, have wall-mounted gas heaters or floor furnaces as their only heat source. When these units need replacement, a ductless mini-split is often a modern option that gives you both heating and cooling without ductwork.
Find the right heating system size for your space
This is the conversation we have most often in 2026. LA homeowners are asking whether to replace a gas furnace with another gas furnace or switch to a heat pump.
The financial case for heat pumps in Los Angeles is strong: LADWP rebates are substantial, heating costs are lower in a mild climate, and a heat pump eliminates the need for a separate AC — one system handles both.
California’s building electrification standards also shift new construction toward heat pumps, which influences replacement decisions in existing homes.
Still, a heat pump isn’t always the right fit for every home. The best choice depends on your electrical panel, ductwork, current gas setup, comfort needs, and budget. Dual-fuel systems can be an excellent middle ground.
We present both options with real cost comparisons, including equipment, installation, rebates, and estimated operating costs. This way, you can choose what works best for you.
During the estimate visit, we check your current system, measure your home’s heating needs, review your ductwork and electrical capacity, discuss your comfort preferences and budget, and present equipment options with prices and rebates. You’ll get a written estimate with no pressure, and you can decide on your own timeline.
On installation day, we take out your old equipment and install the new furnace or heat pump. We connect gas (if needed), electrical, and refrigerant lines, and check the flue and venting for gas systems. We also run safety tests, set up your thermostat, and make sure the system heats properly. Before we leave, we check the temperature and airflow and confirm everything works as it should.
We handle all permits and paperwork, including the building permit, Title 24 energy compliance, HERS testing (if needed), and rebate submissions for LADWP, SCE, or SoCalGas programs.
Most standard heating replacements are finished in one day. If your project needs duct changes, an electrical panel upgrade, or a switch from gas to electric, it might take up to two days.
The San Fernando Valley creates specific conditions that affect how the proposed heating system should be specified:
Furnaces in closets, attics, or near garages
Many Valley homes have furnaces in closets, attics, or near garages where airflow is limited. New equipment needs to be sized and set up for these spaces, as they have different clearance, airflow, and venting requirements compared to open basements.
Old ductwork
This can limit new equipment benefits. If you put a high-efficiency furnace or heat pump into 40-year-old, leaky ducts, you won’t get the most efficient results.
We always check your ducts and insulation during the estimate and suggest changes if needed.
Valley nights can get cold
dropping into the high 30s and low 40s in winter. Your heating system needs to provide quick, reliable warmth, even though it’s off for most of the year.
Choosing the right equipment and installing it well is especially significant here.
Our Simi Valley branch at (805) 755-4074 offers the same heating installation services throughout Ventura County. Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks have overnight temperatures like the San Fernando Valley.
Coastal areas like Ventura, Oxnard, and Camarillo have milder heating needs, but heat pumps work well there for both heating and cooling.
For full Ventura County details, visit our Ventura County HVAC Services page.
SoCalGas offers rebates on qualifying high-efficiency gas furnaces while funding is available. The federal IRA Section 25C tax credit expired December 31, 2025. TECH Clean California and HEEHRA single-family rebates are fully reserved. Verify the current status on our California HVAC Rebates page.
Los Angeles County permits heating installations with Title 24 energy compliance documentation. Gas furnace installations require combustion safety testing and proper flue/vent verification. We handle all permitting, documentation, and testing for every installation.
We are a locally owned, woman-led company with our main office in Chatsworth, serving LA County, and a branch in Simi Valley serving Ventura County. We’re C-20 licensed (CSLB #1081403), have an A+ BBB rating, and 4.9 stars in over 1,600 Google reviews.
We install top brands like Carrier, Lennox, Daikin, and Goodman, and always recommend what’s right for your home, not based on incentives.
Financing is available, and our Care Club maintenance plans help protect your new system.
Consider replacement when the furnace is 15 to 20 years old and needs a major repair (especially the heat exchanger), repairs are recurring, the system cannot maintain comfortable temperatures during winter nights, or you want to transition from gas to a heat pump to capture LADWP rebates and lower operating costs.
Most standard furnace or heat pump replacements are completed in one day. Projects involving duct modifications, electrical panel upgrades, or gas-to-electric conversions may take two days. We confirm the timeline during the estimate visit.
For many LA homes, a heat pump is worth serious consideration — it provides both heating and cooling from one system and qualifies for the largest available LADWP rebates. Because LA winters are mild, a heat pump operates within its efficient range for most of the year. How that affects your utility costs depends on your rate plan, usage, and the efficiency of the equipment it replaces. Your ductwork and electrical panel also factor in, and dual-fuel is an option if you want to keep a gas backup.
Replacing a standard gas furnace usually costs between $4,500 and $9,000, including installation. A ducted heat pump system generally ranges from $8,500 to $15,000 before rebates.
If you choose a qualifying central ducted heat pump, you may get an LADWP rebate of $1,000 to $1,250 per ton. Qualifying ductless mini-split and multi-split systems can receive $1,500 to $2,500 per ton, if they serve the whole home.
These incentives can lower your total replacement cost, depending on program approval and available funding. We offer free replacement consultations and will give you a written, itemized estimate after assessing your home.
Heating system installations in Los Angeles County generally require a building permit and Title 24 compliance documentation, and gas furnace installations also require combustion safety verification.
Some project scopes require independent field verification testing. Affordable Heating and Air handles the permit application and coordinates required testing for our installations.
Yes. Our Simi Valley branch at (805) 755-4074 serves Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks, Moorpark, Camarillo, Oxnard, Ventura, and Port Hueneme. Visit our Ventura County page →
If you need a replacement after a repair visit, are planning ahead for next winter, or want to switch from gas to a heat pump, we’ll check your home. We’ll explain your options with real numbers and give you a written estimate without pressure.
Los Angeles County: (818) 722-1332
Ventura County: (805) 755-4074
Serving Chatsworth, Northridge, Granada Hills, Porter Ranch, West Hills, Van Nuys, Encino, Woodland Hills, Glendale, Burbank, Santa Clarita, and all of Los Angeles County. Ventura County services through our Simi Valley branch.
