A heat pump changeout is usually a one-day job for a standard swap, though the pro confirms the schedule for your home. The paperwork and sizing happen before that day, and a rooftop unit or a new electrical run can add time. Climate Pros Tucson matches you with the licensed pro who does the work. Here is what the day usually involves.
What happens before installation day?
The permit and the sizing come first. The City of Tucson requires a permit for new or replacement heat pumps, and the contractor pulls it. Load and sizing calculations are required too. Ask for both before you set a date, and ask when the pro needs access to the house, the roof and the electrical panel. Also confirm the equipment model, the thermostat plan and any TEP Efficient Home paperwork. TEP listed up to $720 for a heat pump quality installation in October 2026, through participating contractors, applying when an older working unit is retired. Amounts change, so confirm with TEP.
What does the crew do first?
They protect floors, shut off power and recover the refrigerant from the old system. Recovery is regulated, and technicians handling refrigerant must hold EPA Section 608 certification. Then they remove the old equipment.
What is different about a rooftop unit?
If your home has a package unit on a flat roof, the pro may need a crane or roof access to swap it. Ask how the crew will lift the unit, whether the existing roof curb fits the new one, how roof penetrations get sealed and who is responsible for roof damage. Don’t climb up yourself. See split system vs rooftop package unit and package unit heat pump vs gas pack.
What about a ground-level split system?
The crew sets the outdoor unit on a pad, sets the indoor air handler, connects refrigerant lines and drains, and checks that the ducts and plenum fit the new equipment. Ducts that are too small can limit a heat pump, so ask the pro to check. See ducts too small for a heat pump.
What happens with electrical and refrigerant?
The pro connects the disconnect, the breaker and the control wiring, then pulls a vacuum on the lines and charges the system. Equipment built before 2025 that uses R-410A may still be installed under the EPA rule, and existing R-410A systems can still be serviced. Ask which refrigerant the quoted equipment uses.
How is the system tested?
The pro starts the system, checks airflow, refrigerant pressures and temperature drop, tests heating and cooling, and sets up the thermostat. A heat pump needs its reversing valve wired correctly. Ask the pro to walk you through the settings and explain backup heat and the defrost cycle. Ask what happens after the permit is pulled and who schedules any inspection.
What should you do afterward?
Keep the written warranty and the receipt together. The FTC advises that. Register the equipment if the maker requires it. Ask for the model and serial numbers, and keep the permit paperwork. See heat pump installation cost in Tucson for what drives the price.
When to call us
For a heat pump changeout, heat pump service and AC installation are the places to start. Call (520) 353-2520 and we’ll match you with a licensed local pro. You can also visit the Tucson HVAC hub. Check any contractor’s license at roc.az.gov.