Heat Pump Installation and Replacement
Berico provides heat pump replacement and new heat pump installation for homes in Greensboro, High Point, Burlington, Eden, and the surrounding Triad. If your current heat pump is aging, breaking down, or struggling to keep up, or you’re switching to a heat pump from another heating system, our technicians will size the equipment for your home, install it correctly, and make sure it runs the way it was designed to from the first day.
A heat pump heats and cools your home with one system. Instead of burning fuel to make heat, it moves heat: out of your house in summer and into it in winter. Because it works by moving heat, its performance depends heavily on choosing the right equipment and installing it correctly. A well-matched, properly installed heat pump can run efficiently for years. A poorly sized or poorly installed one can struggle from the start.
Heat Pump Replacement in Greensboro, Burlington, and Eden
Heat pump replacement makes sense when your current system is near the end of its service life, needs repairs that no longer make financial sense, or can no longer keep your home comfortable.
If you already have a heat pump, you know what kind of performance it can offer. As equipment ages, though, it gradually loses efficiency and has to work harder to hold your home at the right temperature. That drop in efficiency could lead you to replace the old unit, or you might run into a breakdown that’s simply going to cost too much to repair.
Signs It’s Time to Replace Your Heat Pump
The clearest signs are age, frequent repairs, rising energy bills, and a system that no longer keeps the house comfortable.
- Age: Most heat pumps are designed to perform reliably for roughly 10 to 15 years. Beyond that, parts wear, and repairs become harder to justify.
- Repeated repairs: Several service calls in a short period often point to a system wearing out as a whole rather than one isolated failure.
- Rising energy bills: A heat pump that runs longer to deliver the same comfort uses more electricity.
- Heavy use of backup heat: Most heat pumps have electric heat strips for backup. If your thermostat shows auxiliary or emergency heat running often in moderate weather, the heat pump may no longer be carrying its share of the load, and electric strip heat costs much more to run.
- Uneven comfort or humidity: Rooms that won’t stay comfortable, or a house that feels clammy in summer, can mean the system is failing or was never sized correctly.
- Major component failure: A failed compressor or a leaking outdoor coil on an older system is usually the point where replacement becomes the better investment.
Should You Repair or Replace Your Heat Pump?
Repair usually makes sense for a newer heat pump with an isolated problem; replacement usually makes sense for an older system facing a major repair or repeated breakdowns.
A useful way to think about it is to weigh the repair cost against the age of the system and what it’s likely to need next. A capacitor or contactor on a six-year-old heat pump is a routine repair. A compressor on a 14-year-old system is a different decision. If you’re not sure which situation you’re in, our heat pump repair technicians can diagnose the problem first and give you an honest look at both options.
Why the Indoor and Outdoor Units Need to Match
When you replace a heat pump, the outdoor unit and the indoor air handler or coil should be replaced as a matched system.
Heat pumps are rated for efficiency and capacity as matched pairs. Pairing a new outdoor unit with an old indoor coil can reduce efficiency, shorten equipment life, and affect the manufacturer’s warranty. The refrigerant matters, too. New heat pumps are manufactured to use newer, lower-impact refrigerants, and the EPA has allowed remaining stocks of units built for the older R-410A refrigerant to be installed until supplies run out, according to NAHB’s summary of the EPA’s May 2026 final rule. Because the two refrigerants aren’t interchangeable, replacing only half of an older system is rarely practical.
New Heat Pump Installation
New heat pump installation covers homes getting a heat pump for the first time: new construction, or a switch from a furnace, oil or propane heat, electric baseboard, or window units.
Getting heat pump installation right the first time avoids performance problems that are expensive to fix later. For a first-time installation, the key questions are about your home, not just the equipment:
- Ductwork: Homes with existing ducts can often use them, but the ducts need to be checked for size, leaks, and condition. Homes without ducts may be better served by a ductless mini-split system.
- Electrical capacity: A heat pump and its backup heat strips add electrical load. Homes switching from gas, propane, or oil heat may need an electrical panel or circuit upgrade, which Berico’s electricians can handle as part of the same project.
- Existing furnace: If you have a gas or propane furnace in good condition, adding a heat pump to create a dual fuel system may be a better fit than removing the furnace.
- Outdoor placement: The outdoor unit needs clearance for airflow and service, a stable pad, and a location where defrost water can drain away.
Choosing the Right Heat Pump: Sizing and Efficiency
The right heat pump is sized for your home with a load calculation and chosen with efficiency ratings that fit how you’ll use it.
Why Sizing Matters
A load calculation, based on the industry-standard ACCA Manual J method, looks at your home’s size, insulation, windows, air leakage, and orientation to determine how much heating and cooling it needs.
Matching the size of the old unit can repeat an original sizing mistake or ignore changes like new windows or added insulation. An oversized heat pump cools quickly and shuts off before it removes much moisture from the air, which matters during humid Piedmont summers. An undersized one runs constantly and leans on expensive backup heat in winter.
What SEER2 and HSPF2 Ratings Mean
SEER2 measures a heat pump’s cooling efficiency over a typical cooling season, and HSPF2 measures its heating efficiency over a heating season. Higher numbers mean more efficient equipment.
Since 2023, federal standards have required new split-system heat pumps to meet at least 14.3 SEER2 and 7.5 HSPF2. Higher-efficiency models, often with variable-speed compressors, cost more up front but use less electricity and hold temperature and humidity more evenly. We’ll help you compare options based on your home, your comfort priorities, and how long you plan to stay.
Heat Pump or Dual Fuel?
A heat pump alone works well for many homes in the Piedmont Triad area of NC, while a dual fuel system pairs a heat pump with a gas or propane furnace for the coldest weather.
Piedmont winters are mild enough that a correctly sized heat pump can handle most of the heating season efficiently. A heat pump’s heating output drops as outdoor temperatures fall, though, so on the coldest nights it relies more on backup heat. In a dual fuel system, the furnace takes over at those temperatures instead of electric heat strips. Dual fuel can make sense for homes that already have a furnace in good condition, homes with older ductwork, or homeowners who prefer fuel-fired heat during cold snaps. If a new furnace is part of the plan, see our heating repair and installation services.
Heat Pump vs. Dual Fuel vs. Standard Furnace: Quick Comparison
A heat pump, a dual fuel system, and a standard furnace with central air differ in how they make heat and what fuel they use; this table compares the three.
| System | How It Heats | How It Cools | Best Fit |
| Heat pump | Moves heat from the outdoor air into the house, with electric heat strips as backup on the coldest nights | The same system runs as a central air conditioner | Homes without gas or propane, or where one system for both seasons makes sense |
| Dual fuel | A heat pump handles most heating, and a gas or propane furnace takes over in colder weather | The heat pump provides the cooling | Homes with a furnace in good condition, older ductwork, or a preference for fuel-fired heat in cold snaps |
| Standard furnace with central AC | Burns natural gas, propane, or oil to create heat | A separate central air conditioner | Homes with a fuel supply where combustion heat is the preference and a heat pump isn’t wanted |
What Happens During a Heat Pump Installation
A typical heat pump installation or replacement includes an in-home assessment, equipment selection, removal of the old system, installation, and a full startup check.
- Assessment and load calculation: A technician evaluates your home, ductwork, and electrical service, and sizes the system.
- Equipment selection and estimate: Equipment options and efficiency levels are reviewed with you, along with an estimate.
- Permit: North Carolina requires a permit to replace heating and air conditioning equipment, and the installing contractor pulls it.
- Removal: The old outdoor unit and indoor components are disconnected, and refrigerant is recovered by certified technicians.
- Installation: The new outdoor unit is set on its pad, the indoor air handler or coil is installed, and the refrigerant lines, electrical connections, drain, and thermostat are connected.
- Startup and testing: The system is leak tested, evacuated, charged, and checked for correct airflow and operation in both heating and cooling.
- Inspection and walkthrough: The work is inspected, and the thermostat settings and maintenance needs are explained.
Most straightforward replacements are completed in one day. New installations that involve ductwork, electrical upgrades, or a change in system type can take longer.
Why Choose Berico as Your HVAC Company
Berico has served the Greensboro area since 1924, and as a full-service HVAC company with electrical and fuel services under the same roof, we can handle every part of a heat pump project.
The technicians at Berico install heat pumps from manufacturers including American Standard, Lennox, and Rheem. While it might seem straightforward to install a new heat pump or replace an old one, no two projects are the same. Ductwork, electrical capacity, and placement vary from house to house, and experience is what keeps those details from becoming problems after the job is done.
We offer free HVAC replacement estimates, financing options through several lenders, and new installations that come with a warranty and a safety inspection. Extended warranty options are available, including a 10-year labor warranty.
Schedule Your Heat Pump Installation or Replacement
A heat pump replacement can restore comfort and efficiency as soon as the new unit is running, and a first-time installation gives you one system for year-round heating and cooling. Either way, the results depend on correct sizing, matched equipment, and careful installation.
Call Berico at (336) 273-8663 in Greensboro, (336) 226-9371 in Burlington, or (336) 623-9741 in Eden to schedule a free estimate.
Heat Pump Installation and Replacement FAQs
How long does a heat pump last?
Most heat pumps are designed to perform reliably for roughly 10 to 15 years. Actual lifespan depends on how well the system was sized and installed, how hard it works, and how consistently it’s maintained. Because a heat pump runs in both summer and winter, it accumulates more operating hours each year than an air conditioner or furnace alone, which makes regular maintenance especially important.
How long does heat pump installation take?
A straightforward heat pump replacement is usually completed in one day. A new installation can take longer if it involves new ductwork, an electrical panel or circuit upgrade, or switching from a different type of heating system. The permit and inspection are scheduled around the installation.
Do I need to replace the indoor unit when I replace my heat pump?
In most cases, yes. Heat pumps are rated as matched systems, so the outdoor unit and indoor air handler or coil should be replaced together. A mismatched pair can lose efficiency and can affect the manufacturer’s warranty. Newer heat pumps also use different refrigerants than many older systems, which makes mixing old and new components impractical.
Will a heat pump keep my house warm in a Greensboro winter?
Yes. Piedmont winters are mild enough that a correctly sized heat pump can heat a home efficiently through most of the season. On the coldest nights, the heat pump relies on backup heat, usually electric heat strips. Homes that already have a gas or propane furnace can pair it with a heat pump in a dual fuel system so the furnace handles the coldest weather.
What do SEER2 and HSPF2 mean?
SEER2 measures a heat pump’s cooling efficiency over a cooling season, and HSPF2 measures its heating efficiency over a heating season. Higher numbers mean lower operating costs. Since 2023, new split-system heat pumps must meet at least 14.3 SEER2 and 7.5 HSPF2 under federal standards.
Can I add a heat pump to my existing furnace?
Yes. Adding a heat pump to an existing gas or propane furnace creates a dual fuel system. The heat pump handles cooling and most of the heating, and the furnace takes over in colder weather. It’s a good option when the furnace is in good condition and compatible with the new equipment.
What affects the cost of a heat pump replacement?
The main factors are the size and efficiency of the equipment, whether the indoor unit is replaced along with the outdoor unit, the condition of your ductwork, any electrical work required, and whether you choose a heat pump alone or a dual fuel system. We provide free estimates so you can compare options for your home.