Heat Pump Replacement in Mar Vista: Pricing the New Unit

Your heat pump in Mar Vista still runs, but it no longer keeps the house comfortable, or the last repair bill made you ask what a new one costs. This page is about heat pump replacement: taking out the unit you have and setting a matched system that heats and cools the same rooms. You will see what sets the price, what changes when the layout changes, and how to get a written number before anyone touches the equipment.

What sets the price of a heat pump replacement

We do not post a flat price for a heat pump swap, because your house sets it. Five things move the number.

• Capacity. The new unit is sized from a load calculation of your rooms, windows and insulation. The tonnage on the old data plate is a clue, not the answer.
• Placement. Setting the new outdoor unit on the existing pad, with the line set on the same path, keeps labor down. A new pad in a side yard or a roof mount adds hours.
• The indoor side. Some swaps replace only the outdoor unit and the coil. Others replace the air handler too, so the pair is matched. We tell you which one your system needs and why.
• Electrical. Many replacements reuse the existing circuit. If the new unit draws differently or the disconnect is worn, that work is priced as its own line.
• Ducts. Leaky or crushed ducts in the attic will keep the cold rooms cold, new unit or not.

Each of these becomes a line on the quote, and the quote is written before any work starts. The quickest start is to send the model number from the outdoor unit and a photo of the panel through the heat pump replacement quote form. We will tell you if a survey visit is needed.

Item	Raises the total	Keeps it lower
Capacity	More square footage to cover	Compact house
Placement	New pad or roof mount	Same pad, same line path
Indoor unit	New air handler needed	Existing handler reused
Electrical	New circuit or disconnect	Current circuit in good shape
Ducts	Sealing or repair	Sound runs

Same layout again, or a different one

Replacing like for like means a ducted system comes out and a ducted system goes in. That can be the shortest job and the easiest quote to compare.

A replacement is also the one moment when changing the layout costs the least. Maybe a bedroom was added that the old ducts never reached, or the runs in the crawlspace are falling apart. For homes where duct modification costs would exceed $3,000, a ductless mini-split system often makes more sense. A single-zone install in a Mar Vista home runs between $3,200 and $5,400 installed, depending on line set length and electrical panel capacity. Multi-zone systems serving two or three heads typically land between $11,000 and $21,500.

Ask for both routes and we price them side by side. You choose. Our Ductless Mini Split page shows how those installs run.

Repair or replace: we price both

You may have called for a repair, and repair stays on the table. If the fault is a capacitor, a contactor or a fan motor, we fix it and go. If the compressor has failed, the reversing valve is stuck or the coil is leaking refrigerant, you get two numbers: the repair and the replacement. Both are written on the same visit, so you can weigh them at the kitchen table instead of in the driveway.

Units that run on R-22 are their own case. R-22 is no longer produced, so any repair that adds refrigerant depends on reclaimed supply. On those systems we write the replacement price next to the repair every time. If you want the fault found first, book through our Heating Repair page.

Permit, refrigerant and swap day

Replacing a heat pump in California is permitted work. In Mar Vista the permit comes from LADBS, the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety, and we pull it as part of the job. Depending on the scope, Title 24 Part 6 can require duct sealing and a duct leakage test, checked by a third-party HERS rater who is not the installer. If your ducts need work to pass, that line is on the quote from day one.

Since 1 January 2025, new residential split heat pumps are made with lower-GWP A2L refrigerants such as R-454B or R-32. Your quote names the refrigerant in the unit it prices.

Electric service in Mar Vista comes from LADWP, and a heat pump runs on that service alone. We look at the panel during the survey, so any panel work is priced before the install and not found during it.

On swap day the crew takes out the old outdoor and indoor equipment, sets the new pair, connects the lines and the power, and runs the system in heat mode and cool mode before leaving. The same crew handles replacements in Palms, Del Rey, Venice and Culver City.

FAQ

How much does a heat pump replacement cost in Mar Vista?

It depends on capacity, placement, the indoor unit, the electrical work and the ducts. We write the number for your house after seeing the system, or from photos when the job is simple. The written quote always comes before any work starts.

Can you replace only the outdoor unit?

Sometimes. If the indoor coil and air handler match the new outdoor unit and are in good shape, a partial swap can work. If they do not match, the quote explains why the pair should be replaced together.

Can I switch from ducted to ductless when I replace?

Yes. Replacement day is when a layout change costs the least. We price the ducted swap and the ductless route next to each other so you compare them line by line.

My heat pump runs on R-22. Should I repair it?

That depends on the fault and how much refrigerant the repair needs. R-22 is no longer produced, so the refrigerant comes from reclaimed supply. We write both prices and the call is yours.

How long does the swap take?

The quote lists the install date and how many days the crew needs. A like-for-like swap on the existing pad is the shortest version of the job.

Book the replacement survey

Call (877) 552-7520 and read us the model number on the outdoor unit. Mar Vista AirCon will book the survey and write your heat pump replacement quote.