Heat Pump Service
Heat Pump Replacement in Elgin & the Fox Valley
Whether you’re replacing a worn-out heat pump or swapping an old furnace-and-AC pair for a heat pump, we size the new system to your home, take the ComEd instant discount off the invoice and haul the old equipment away. Quotes are free, written and include the discount. As a ComEd Heat Pump-Trained Contractor, we do this every week.
- ComEd instant discounts of $900–$2,000 off the invoice
- Cold-climate inverter systems that heat below zero
- Straight heat pump or dual-fuel with a gas furnace
- Free, written quotes with the discount included
Signs It’s Time to Replace Your Heat Pump
Some of these mean repair. Several together, on a unit past 10 years, usually mean replacement.
- It’s 12 to 15 years old. A heat pump runs in both seasons, so it accumulates the hours an air conditioner takes twice as long to reach.
- Backup heat carries the house most of the winter. Older single-stage heat pumps lose most of their capacity by 25–30°F. Below that, the electric strips run and the bill climbs.
- It needs a compressor, reversing valve or a refrigerant leak repair. Any one of those can cost more than half of a new system after the discount.
- It uses R-22. Refrigerant for R-22 systems can’t be sourced economically. A leak on an R-22 heat pump is the end of the road.
- It uses R-410A and has needed refrigerant more than once. R-410A is being phased down and its price is rising every year. New equipment uses R-32.
- Two repairs in two years. Once the failures start on an old unit, they come in a row.
- Rooms that never get comfortable. A system that was oversized or undersized the day it went in doesn’t get better with age.
- It’s loud. Older heat pumps run at 70–76 dB. Modern inverter units run in the 50s at low speed, quiet enough to stand next to.
- Your ComEd bill keeps rising in winter and summer. An old heat pump’s efficiency rating on paper was modest to begin with, and it’s lower now.
- Your furnace and AC are both old. If you’re replacing both anyway, a heat pump or dual-fuel system is often the better buy once the ComEd discount is counted.
What You’re Replacing, and What You’re Replacing It With
Three common starting points in Fox Valley homes, and where each one usually ends up.
Heat pump to heat pump
Replacing an old heat pump
The most direct swap. A 10-to-15-year-old R-410A or R-22 heat pump with an air handler and electric backup gets replaced with a cold-climate inverter heat pump and a matched air handler. The new system heats to a much lower outdoor temperature before the strips ever run, so the winter bill drops even though the equipment is doing the same job.
Furnace and AC to heat pump
Replacing a gas furnace and AC pair
If both are near the end, a heat pump replaces the air conditioner outright and can replace the furnace too, or work alongside it. Going all-electric means an air handler with backup strips indoors. Most homeowners here choose the next option instead.
Furnace and AC to dual-fuel
Heat pump with a gas furnace backup
The heat pump handles cooling and most of the heating. Below a set outdoor temperature, the balance point, the gas furnace takes over. You keep the comfort of gas heat on the coldest nights and use the cheaper heat source the rest of the time. If the furnace is also old, we replace it at the same time and the Nicor Gas furnace discount applies to it. See furnace replacement.
AC only
Replacing just the air conditioner
If your furnace is fine but the AC is done, a heat pump costs modestly more than a new AC and gives you a second heat source that qualifies for the ComEd discount, which an AC doesn’t. That discount often covers most of the difference.
Ductless mini-splits for additions, garages and homes without ductwork are covered on their own page: ductless mini-splits.
Repair or Replace: The Math We Use
You’ll get a number for both. Here’s how we decide which one to recommend.
| Situation | What we usually recommend |
|---|---|
| Under 10 years, parts under warranty, single failure | Repair |
| Repair costs more than 50% of a new system after the ComEd discount | Replace |
| 12+ years and needs a compressor, reversing valve or leak repair | Replace |
| R-22 system with any refrigerant issue | Replace |
| R-410A system, second refrigerant top-off | Replace, or repair while you plan |
| Backup heat carrying the load most of the winter | Replace with a cold-climate inverter system |
The 50% rule does most of the work. A compressor on a 13-year-old heat pump can cost as much as a third of a new system before you count the discount, and it leaves you with a 13-year-old reversing valve, coil and fan motor around a new compressor. After the ComEd discount is taken off the new system, the gap closes further. If you need the repair to get through the season, we’ll do the repair and leave you a written replacement quote to keep on hand.
What Changes With a New Heat Pump
The equipment installed today is not the equipment that came out. Here’s what’s different.
An Amana S-Series R-32 inverter heat pump installed by our team. Variable-speed compressor, R-32 refrigerant, cold-climate heating capacity and a matched air handler.
- Inverter compressor that modulates instead of switching on and off
- Rated heating capacity maintained to 5°F and below on cold-climate models
- R-32 refrigerant: lower global warming potential, better heat transfer, ComEd-eligible
- Higher SEER2 and HSPF2 ratings than 10-year-old equipment
- Quiet operation: low 50s dB at partial speed
- Better dehumidification from long, low-speed cooling runs
- Manufacturer’s parts warranty registered in your name
Efficiency gains. A heat pump from 2010 was typically rated around 13 SEER and 7.7 HSPF. A modern inverter unit like the Amana S-Series runs well above that on both, and the real-world gap is larger because a variable-speed compressor spends most of its life at 30–60% output, where it’s most efficient. In heating, a cold-climate model keeps producing usable heat at 0°F, which is where an older unit had already handed off to the strips.
R-410A to R-32. Your old system almost certainly uses R-410A (or R-22 if it’s older). New heat pumps use R-32, which has about a third of R-410A’s global warming potential and is required for the ComEd discount. R-32 needs its own line set sizing and its own service tools, and we install and service both.
How the ComEd Discount Math Works
ComEd’s instant discount is the biggest single reason a heat pump pencils out in our area. Here’s how it’s calculated.
Tier and size set the amount. Qualifying ducted heat pumps earn $900 to $2,000, depending on the efficiency tier and the heating capacity. The top amount, $2,000, applies to a ducted heat pump of 2.5 heating tons or more in the higher efficiency tier. Ductless and mixed-use systems earn $500 or $1,000. Add a qualifying ENERGY STAR smart thermostat we install and it’s another $75.
Requirements. The outdoor unit and indoor coil or air handler must be an AHRI-matched pair, and the refrigerant must be 700 GWP or lower, which R-32 is and R-410A isn’t. That’s why we size the system by its heating load, not just its cooling load: a properly sized cold-climate unit lands in a better tier.
No application, no waiting. The discount comes off your invoice at installation. You don’t file anything, and it doesn’t depend on a rebate check showing up later. Your written quote shows the price with the discount already taken out.
Where it doesn’t apply. St. Charles, Geneva and Batavia run their own electric utilities, so ComEd discounts aren’t available in those towns. We install the same equipment there; the price just won’t include a ComEd discount. Full details and current amounts: ComEd instant discounts.
Financing. The discount lowers the amount you finance. You can prequalify in about 2 minutes with no impact to your credit score, and on-bill financing is available for qualifying projects.
What a Heat Pump Replacement Includes
Replacement is a one-day job for most homes. Here’s what’s in the price.
- Free in-home visit and a written quote with the ComEd discount included
- New unit sized to the house, not the old label; Manual J load calculation available on request
- AHRI-matched outdoor unit and indoor coil or air handler
- Removal and disposal of the old heat pump, air handler or AC, with the old refrigerant recovered
- New line set where the old one is the wrong size for R-32 or can’t be flushed clean
- New pad or riser, electrical disconnect and surge protection
- Thermostat set up for a heat pump, or a dual-fuel balance point configured with your furnace
- Mechanical permit filed under our own license where the municipality requires it
- Commissioning in both heating and cooling, with the readings recorded
- Warranty registration so your parts coverage is in effect from day one
Replacement day. We arrive in the morning, lay down floor protection, and shut down and recover the old system first. The old outdoor unit, air handler or coil, pad and disconnect come out and go on the truck. By midday the new outdoor unit is set and the indoor equipment is in place. The afternoon is line set, electrical, drain, thermostat and commissioning. You’ll have heating and cooling before we leave, and a walkthrough of the thermostat and filter. Nothing from the old system is left in the yard or the basement.
The installation itself, from sizing through commissioning, is described in detail on our heat pump installation page. Once it’s in, the $240 maintenance plan and its heat pump tune-ups covers the spring and fall visits that keep the warranty valid and the strips off.
ComEd Instant Discounts: $900 to $2,000 Off
As a ComEd Heat Pump-Trained Contractor, we take the discount right off your invoice: $900–$2,000 on a qualifying ducted heat pump depending on efficiency tier and heating capacity, up to $2,000 on a ducted unit of 2.5 heating tons or more. A qualifying ENERGY STAR smart thermostat we install adds $75. No application, no waiting. See ComEd instant discounts.
St. Charles, Geneva and Batavia run their own electric utilities, so ComEd discounts aren’t available there. Going dual-fuel with a new furnace? The Nicor Gas furnace discount applies to the furnace on the same job. See Nicor Gas instant discounts.
Heat Pump Replacement Across the Fox Valley
Based in Elgin, we replace heat pumps throughout Kane, McHenry, DuPage and DeKalb counties.
- Elgin
- South Elgin
- St. Charles
- Aurora
- Bartlett
- Streamwood
- Huntley
- Plato Center
- Sycamore
- Carpentersville
- West Dundee
- East Dundee
- Algonquin
- Gilberts
- Hampshire
- Pingree Grove
- Campton Hills
- Geneva
- Batavia
- Barrington
- Hoffman Estates
- Schaumburg
- Burlington
- Marengo
- Wayne
- Sleepy Hollow
Don’t see your town? Call (847) 224-2420. View all service areas.
Heat Pump Replacement FAQs
How long does a heat pump last?
Typically 12 to 15 years. Because it runs in both heating and cooling seasons, a heat pump wears faster than an air conditioner. Twice-a-year maintenance helps it reach the top of that range.
Should I repair or replace my heat pump?
If the repair costs more than half of a new system after the ComEd discount, or the unit is over 12 years old and needs a compressor, reversing valve or refrigerant repair, replace it. Otherwise repair usually makes sense. We give you both prices.
How much is the ComEd heat pump discount?
$900 to $2,000 on a qualifying ducted heat pump depending on efficiency tier and heating capacity, up to $2,000 on a ducted unit of 2.5 heating tons or more. Ductless or mixed-use systems earn $500 or $1,000, and a qualifying smart thermostat adds $75. It comes off the invoice.
Does the ComEd discount apply in St. Charles, Geneva or Batavia?
No. Those three towns run their own municipal electric utilities, so ComEd programs don’t apply there. We install the same equipment; the invoice just won’t include a ComEd discount.
Can a heat pump really heat my house in an Elgin winter?
Yes. Cold-climate inverter heat pumps maintain rated heating capacity at 5°F and keep producing heat below zero. Most homeowners here pair one with a gas furnace as backup for the coldest nights, which is called dual-fuel.
What is a dual-fuel system?
A heat pump paired with a gas furnace. The heat pump handles cooling and heating down to a set outdoor temperature, then the furnace takes over. It uses the cheaper heat source at each temperature and keeps gas heat for the coldest days.
Should I replace my AC with a heat pump?
Often, yes. A heat pump costs modestly more than a comparable air conditioner, qualifies for the ComEd discount that an AC doesn’t, and gives you a second, cheaper heat source for fall, spring and mild winter days.
What refrigerant do new heat pumps use?
R-32. It has about one third the global warming potential of R-410A and is required for the ComEd discount. R-410A is being phased down and its price is rising, which is one reason to replace an aging R-410A system rather than keep recharging it.
How long does a heat pump replacement take?
Most straight replacements are done in one day. A dual-fuel installation that includes a new furnace can take a day and a half to two days.
Do you take away the old heat pump?
Yes. We recover the old refrigerant, remove the old outdoor unit and indoor equipment and dispose of them properly. It’s included in the quote.
Is the quote free?
Yes. We visit the home, measure, and give you a written quote with the ComEd discount already taken out. There’s no charge and no obligation.
Can I finance a new heat pump?
Yes. You can prequalify in about 2 minutes with no impact to your credit score, and the ComEd discount lowers the amount you finance. On-bill financing is available for qualifying projects.
Will a new heat pump lower my ComEd bill?
In most cases, yes, especially if your old unit was handing off to electric backup heat for much of the winter. A cold-climate inverter system heats efficiently at temperatures where the old one had already quit.
Do I need a permit to replace a heat pump?
Many Fox Valley municipalities require a mechanical permit for equipment replacement. We file it under our own license where required and schedule the inspection.
What brands do you install?
Amana and Daikin, including Amana S-Series R-32 inverter heat pumps. We repair and replace all major brands.
Will my existing ductwork work with a new heat pump?
Usually. A heat pump moves a bit more air than a furnace at the same capacity, so we measure static pressure and check the ducts during the quote visit. If a change is needed, it’s in the written quote, not a surprise on installation day.
Does the ComEd discount require an application?
No. As a ComEd Heat Pump-Trained Contractor we take it off the invoice at installation. There’s nothing for you to file and no rebate check to wait for.
Get a Free Heat Pump Replacement Quote
We’ll measure the house, show you a straight heat pump and a dual-fuel option, and put the ComEd discount on the quote. Call or request a quote online.
Discount amounts reflect the 2026 ComEd Energy Efficiency Program for qualifying equipment and are subject to change or cancellation due to funding limits. Rest Assured HVAC LLC is an independent contractor and is not affiliated with or endorsed by ComEd.
