Heat pumps in North Hollywood

About heat pumps in North Hollywood

Short answer

Heat pumps in North Hollywood start at $9,400 installed before rebates. LADWP pays toward qualifying systems, and we file the paperwork. Permits come from LA Department of Building and Safety (LADBS).

What we see in North Hollywood homes

LADWP's heat pump rebate is the largest in our area, which makes North Hollywood a strong place to switch. The post-war houses here usually have a gas furnace in the attic or a hall closet and a separate AC outside. Replacing both with one heat pump uses the same ducts and often the same outdoor spot. The model choice matters as much as the size, because the rebate rises with efficiency.

For homes without ducts, including many older duplexes and back units, a ductless heat pump replaces the wall heater and the window unit in one step. Townhome owners can swap the top-floor system first, since it does the hardest work. Small apartment buildings can convert one unit at a time as tenants turn over. A heat pump draws more power than a gas furnace, so we check the panel and the service size first. LADWP takes applications for 12 months after installation, and we file yours. We keep the model numbers, certificates and invoices on record in case the utility asks. Cooling costs usually fall too, since a new heat pump is more efficient than the AC it replaces.

Courtyard buildings from the 1950s often have one wall heater per unit and no ducts. Ductless heat pumps fit them well, with small outdoor units on the roof or a rear wall. Townhomes built in the last two decades usually have ducts and one or two systems, which can be swapped for heat pumps directly. The post-war houses on the grid often need a panel upgrade first. Some still have 60-amp service, which cannot carry a heat pump and modern appliances together. A panel upgrade can be planned with the heat pump, so the electrical work and the install happen in one project. Heat pump water heaters are another option once the panel is upgraded. We include the panel work in the written quote when it is needed.

Which North Hollywood homes convert easily

• Post-war houses with an attic furnace: a ducted heat pump on the same ducts.
• Duplexes with wall heaters: a ductless heat pump for each unit.
• Back units and garage conversions: a small ductless heat pump of their own.
• Townhomes: swap the top-floor system first, then the lower floors.
• 1950s courtyard apartments: compact ductless systems, one unit at a time.

The LADWP rebate, step by step

LADWP's amount depends on the heat pump's efficiency ratings, so we quote models that reach the higher tiers. The equipment must be bought and installed after November 1, 2025 to qualify for the current program. We file the application after the final inspection, well inside the 12-month window. The file includes the invoice, model numbers and the AHRI certificate for each unit converted. You get copies of all of it.

Before the crew arrives

Clear the side yard where the outdoor unit will go. For rentals, give tenants notice of the install day. Plan for heating and cooling to be off for most of a day per system.

North Hollywood homes on LADWP qualify for one of the largest heat pump rebates in the area. For a typical house, that rebate can cover a large share of the difference between a heat pump and a new AC with a furnace. If your furnace and AC are both aging, a heat pump is usually the most cost-effective choice here. We show the numbers side by side.

Many homes from the 1950s and 1960s have attic ducts that can serve a new heat pump air handler. If the ducts are leaky or undersized, we include their repair in the quote. Duplex owners can convert both units in one project.

The NOAA weather station in North Hollywood, Hollywood Burbank Airport, averaged 26 days a year at 95°F or hotter and 7 days at 100°F or hotter in 2016-2025. Its hottest reading was 114°F on July 6, 2018.

North Hollywood is served by LADWP. Up to $2,500 per ton for qualifying heat pumps purchased and installed from November 1, 2025. The amount depends on SEER2 and HSPF2 ratings. For a typical 3-ton system that is $3,000 to $7,500 back on a system that starts $9,400 before rebates. Standard high-efficiency AC equipment earns a much smaller rebate, around $100 to $120 per ton.

Heat pumps are efficient in this climate. The nearest station, Hollywood Burbank Airport, averaged winter lows of 46.1°F and about 14 nights a year at 40°F or colder, well within the range where a modern heat pump heats at full efficiency.

In North Hollywood (ZIP codes 91601, 91605 and 91606), 38% of homes were built before 1960 and 68% before 1980; 60% of households heat with natural gas, and 32% of homes are detached single-family houses.

LADBS issues express permits online, with no plan check, for replacing an AC with one of the same size and type and for adding equipment of 5 tons or less, so a standard change-out permit can be issued the day it is requested. Systems that need plan review go through ePlanLA.