Your system is 12-15+ years old
A heat pump runs year-round, so it accumulates roughly twice the operating hours of a cooling-only system in the same span. Add salt air and coastal humidity, and fifteen years is a full life.
New Heat Pump Installation & Replacement
Heat pump replacement and installation in Hampton Roads.
A heat pump handles both heating and cooling, so it has to be sized right for both seasons. We size every system for your home with a load calculation and install it so it performs the way it’s rated to.
- Serving Hampton Roads since 2003
- 20+ years experience
- Master HVAC licensed
- Master Gas licensed
- Class A contractor
- Financing available
Before you replace anything
Make sure your heat pump is actually done.
We find out what failed before we quote anything. Sometimes that’s a repair that buys you five more seasons. Sometimes it’s a duct problem no new equipment would have solved. And sometimes the answer is yes, it’s time, with a straight explanation of why.
Not sure it’s dead? Start with heat pump repair
Five signs it’s actually time.
Here are some common signs, what they usually mean, and when it’s time to replace.
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It runs on R-22 refrigerant
Production ended in 2020. These systems can still be serviced, but refrigerant costs have climbed steeply, which changes the math on any leak repair. If your unit predates 2010, it’s worth checking.
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Auxiliary heat runs constantly
If your emergency or auxiliary heat is carrying the house through an ordinary winter, the heat pump isn’t doing its job, and you’re paying resistance-heat rates to find out.
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It ices up and won’t clear
Some frost on the outdoor coil is normal. A unit that stays iced through its defrost cycle has a real problem, and on an older system it’s often a sign the unit is near the end.
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The compressor has failed
This is the expensive one. On an older heat pump, that repair often costs enough that putting it toward a new system is the better use of the money. We’ll show you both numbers.
Replacement Path
Should you replace it with the same thing?
Usually yes: a heat pump is the right system for this climate, and if you’ve had one that worked, a newer one will work better. But not always. If your home has expensive backup heat, an aging furnace in the mix, or comfort problems on the coldest nights, there’s a real conversation to have first. We’ll walk you through the actual comparison for your house instead of quoting whatever you already had.
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View systems we installMost homes
New heat pump
One system, heating and cooling, efficient in our mild winters. The right answer for most Hampton Roads homes.
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Switch to furnace installationIf you have gas
Dual fuel
A heat pump paired with a gas furnace that takes over when it gets cold enough to matter. Makes sense if you already have gas and want the cheapest operating cost across the whole season.
What We Install
New systems we install.
We install and service every major brand and we’ve had our hands inside all of them for two decades. That matters more than which logo is on the cabinet. We’re not a franchise working off one manufacturer’s quota. Our recommendation comes from what actually holds up in this climate.
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Standard heat pump systems
New outdoor unit and matched indoor air handler, the straightforward whole-system replacement.
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Dual-fuel systems
A heat pump paired with a gas furnace, switching over automatically when the temperature makes gas the cheaper way to heat.
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Variable-speed and multi-stage systems
Equipment that runs at partial capacity most of the time instead of cycling hard on and off. Better humidity control and quieter operation, at a higher up-front cost.
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First-time heat pump installation
Converting from electric resistance heat, an aging AC-and-furnace pairing, or adding central heating and cooling to a home without it.
Our Brands
Brands we install and service
Load calculation & sizing
Sized for August and January.
A lot of new heat pumps are sized by reading the sticker on the old unit and ordering the same tonnage. That’s a guess, and it inherits whatever was wrong with the original install.
We run a load calculation instead: square footage, insulation, windows, ductwork, how your house is actually built. A heat pump has to be right twice: sized for the cooling load in August and the heating load in January, and those two numbers aren’t the same. Get it wrong and you either short-cycle all summer or lean on backup heat all winter. Neither one is cheap.
And if your ductwork is the real problem, we’ll say so. A new system on bad ducts is money spent on a symptom.
Our Process
What’s included, start to finish.
Every replacement includes all of it. No line items that show up later as extras.
Before we order anything
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We measure the house
Not the sticker on your old unit. Square footage, insulation, windows, ductwork, and both load numbers.
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We pull the permit
We file it, schedule the inspection, and meet the inspector ourselves. It’s part of the job, not an errand we hand you.
The day it goes in
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We haul the old one off
The old system leaves with us, refrigerant recovered and the equipment disposed of the way it’s supposed to be. Nothing sitting by the side of the house waiting on a second trip.
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We install and verify
New system set and connected, then refrigerant charge verified, airflow checked at the registers, and the defrost cycle and changeover tested before we call it done.
Before we pull out
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We register the warranty
Filed for you. Most manufacturers require it, and most people never get around to it.
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We walk you through it
How to run it, what auxiliary heat is for, what it needs, and your questions answered before we leave.
HSPF2 & SEER2, plainly
What efficiency ratings actually mean.
A heat pump carries two numbers: SEER2 for how efficiently it cools, HSPF2 for how efficiently it heats. Higher is better on both, and better costs more up front, but the highest-rated system isn’t automatically the right one. On leaky ducts in an under-insulated house, a premium unit won’t deliver what’s on its label, and the payback can outlast how long you plan to stay.
The other question people ask: yes, it will heat in January. Modern heat pumps pull usable heat out of air far colder than anything Hampton Roads sees, and our winters are mild enough that a properly sized system carries the house on its own most of the season. Backup heat exists for the handful of nights it doesn’t. If your current system leans on auxiliary heat constantly, that’s a sizing or equipment problem, not proof that heat pumps don’t work here.
Testimonials
Hear from our customers.
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Mike was very professional and thorough throughout the entire process. Haven’t felt with any HVAC service before Ductman and will never choose anything else now. Thank you for a great experience.
Robert Clark
Google review
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Everyone was respectful, a pleasure to work with, and they got the job done in a timely fashion with a great quality of work. My house heats even better now than before. 10/10 I absolutely recommend them.
James Maurmeier
Google review
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Furnace went out on what seems like the coldest day so far this year. Chris answered our call and promptly sent out a technician to review the issue and provide an estimate. They were able to order and install the part quickly for a reasonable price. I would definitely call them again if we had another HVAC issue.
Charisse
Google review
Our Work
Recent work
View Case Study : Matched split system, 1980s ranchMatched split system, 1980s ranch
View Case Study : Central air added to a 1940s bungalowCentral air added to a 1940s bungalow
View Case Study : Oversized unit right-sized after load calcOversized unit right-sized after load calc
Financing & Payment
A new system is rarely a purchase anyone planned for. Financing is available, and we offer a cash discount if you’d rather not finance. We’ll lay out both so you can see the real difference.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How much does a new heat pump cost?
It depends on the capacity your home actually needs, the efficiency tier, the condition of your ductwork, and whether the electrical needs updating. Anyone quoting a number over the phone is guessing. We’ll give you a real figure after we’ve seen the house, with the reasoning behind it.
Do heat pumps work in cold weather?
Yes. Modern heat pumps pull usable heat out of air far colder than anything Hampton Roads sees, and our winters are mild enough that a properly sized system carries the house on its own most of the season. Backup heat exists for the handful of nights it doesn’t.
How do I know if I need a new heat pump or just a repair?
We find out what failed before we quote anything. One sign on its own isn’t a verdict; two or three together usually is: a system 12-15+ years old, R-22 refrigerant, auxiliary heat running constantly, a unit that stays iced through its defrost cycle, or a failed compressor.
Why is my auxiliary heat always running?
If your emergency or auxiliary heat is carrying the house through an ordinary winter, the heat pump isn’t doing its job, and you’re paying resistance-heat rates to find out. That’s a sizing or equipment problem, not proof that heat pumps don’t work here.
Do I have to replace the indoor unit too?
Not always. If your air handler is newer and compatible, we can pair it with a new outdoor unit. If it’s aging, replacing both as a matched set usually performs better. We’ll tell you which makes sense after we’ve looked at it.
What’s a dual-fuel system?
A heat pump paired with a gas furnace, switching over automatically when the temperature makes gas the cheaper way to heat. It makes sense if you already have gas and want the cheapest operating cost across the whole season.
Do you offer financing?
Yes. Financing is available, and we offer a cash discount if you’d rather not finance. We’ll lay out both so you can see the real difference.
Get Started
Let’s find out what your system actually needs.
Whether that turns out to be a repair, a new system, or a duct problem nobody’s mentioned yet, you’ll get a straight answer and your options in plain English.