Heat Pump Repair & Installation in San Antonio
Free quotes from independent local HVAC contractors for heat pump repair, replacement and new installs. We connect San Antonio-area homeowners with independent, TDLR-licensed local HVAC contractors for free, no-obligation quotes. The contractor you choose diagnoses, quotes, pulls the permit and does the work directly with you.
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Heat pump vs AC plus furnace: what changes in San Antonio
A heat pump is an air conditioner that can also run in reverse. In summer it moves heat out of the house; in winter the same outdoor unit pulls heat from outside air and moves it in. A traditional setup pairs a cooling-only AC condenser with a separate gas or electric furnace for heat.
San Antonio’s climate favors cooling. NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for San Antonio International Airport show about 122 days a year at 90 °F or hotter and cooling degree days outnumbering heating degree days about 2.2 to 1. There are only about 14 nights a year at or below freezing. So the cooling side does most of the work, and heat pump heating handles most winter days.
When you request quotes, say what heats your home today. A home with a working gas furnace can replace the AC alone or switch to a heat pump; an all-electric home is often a straight heat pump replacement.
Side by side
San Antonio figures, 3 tons, minimum efficiency. Estimates, not quotes.
| Heat pump + air handler | AC + furnace | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical installed range, San Antonio (3 tons) | $9,000–$12,000 | $9,000–$12,000 |
| Federal minimum (Texas) | 14.3 SEER2 / 7.5 HSPF2 (split system) | AC: 14.3 SEER2 under ~4 tons, 13.8 for larger |
| CPS Energy rebate | $90–$310 per cooling ton, if funding is available | $90–$310 per cooling ton on the AC, if funding is available |
See the San Antonio HVAC cost guide for more ranges.
SEER2 and HSPF2 minimums for a new heat pump
SEER2 rates cooling efficiency; HSPF2 rates heating efficiency. Under the U.S. Department of Energy’s standards, Texas sits in the Southeast region. A new split-system heat pump must be rated at least 14.3 SEER2 and 7.5 HSPF2 (packaged heat pumps: 13.4 SEER2 / 6.7 HSPF2).
Ratings apply to the matched system. Ask for the AHRI certificate listing the outdoor unit and air handler together; CPS Energy uses it to verify rebates.
What the February 2021 freeze means for heat pump owners
Hard freezes are rare here, but that is when a heat pump works hardest. During the February 2021 winter storm, the airport fell to 9 °F on February 15 during a nine-day run of freezing days, and more than 300,000 people in Bexar County lost power, according to a KSAT timeline of the storm. A heat pump cannot run without electricity, and in deep cold it loses capacity and leans on backup electric strip (“emergency”) heat.
Cold snaps also bring defrost cycles: the outdoor coil frosts over and the unit reverses to melt it, which can be loud and release steam. That is normal operation, not a failure.
Before winter, schedule the fall heating check-up ENERGY STAR recommends and ask the contractor to confirm the backup heat works. If the system blows cold air long after defrost ends, request a diagnosis.
Read more in our guide to heat pumps and Texas freezes. If your home has a gas furnace instead, see furnace and heating repair.
Heat pump repair: common jobs and typical prices
A heat pump’s outdoor unit has the same core parts as an AC condenser — capacitor, contactor, compressor — so many repairs and prices overlap with AC repair. Get the diagnosis and price in writing before work starts.
| Item | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Service call / diagnostic | $75–$200 (San Antonio guides: about $75–$150) |
| Capacitor or contactor replacement | $100–$450 |
| Refrigerant recharge (after a leak is fixed) | $150–$900; leak repair plus recharge $200–$1,500 |
| Compressor replacement | $600–$4,000 |
| Heat pump, installed | $5,000–$15,000 (San Antonio 3-ton with air handler: $9,000–$12,000) |
Typical ranges from published cost guides (2024–2026) — estimates, not quotes. National figures unless marked San Antonio.
ENERGY STAR suggests considering replacement once a heat pump is over 10 years old; a compressor failure on an older unit is a good time to compare a replacement quote.
CPS Energy heat pump rebates
CPS Energy lists rebates for central heat pumps (and ductless mini-split heat pumps) of $90–$310 per cooling ton by SEER2 tier for the program year February 1, 2026–January 31, 2027:
- Early replacement ($115–$310 per ton): the old heat pump must still work and be under 20 years old, with photos and model and serial numbers.
- Replace on burnout ($90–$275 per ton): for systems that have failed.
Refrigerant: R-410A, R-454B and R-32
Since January 1, 2025, new residential split AC and heat pump systems must use refrigerant with a global warming potential under 700, such as R-454B or R-32 (R-410A is 2,088). EPA’s May 21, 2026 rule lets systems built entirely from pre-2025 components be installed until stock runs out, so some quotes may still offer R-410A. Ask which refrigerant each quote uses.
An existing R-410A heat pump can still be repaired. A system should never be topped off with a different refrigerant, and anyone opening refrigerant lines must be EPA Section 608 certified.
Before you hire a heat pump contractor
- License number. Get the company’s TDLR license number — it looks like TACLA… or TACLB…, ending in E or C for home AC — and look it up at the TDLR license search. Texas rules require that number on the company’s ads, both sides of its vehicles (2-inch letters), proposals and invoices (16 TAC §75.71).
- Technician. The person who works on your system should be TDLR-registered or certified and EPA Section 608 certified to handle refrigerant.
- Permit. A replacement needs a city mechanical permit in San Antonio (check with your suburb). The contractor pulls it, and in San Antonio CPS Energy rebates require the permit number.
- Sizing. Ask for a load calculation (Manual J) before replacing equipment.
- Written quote. Get a written, itemized quote with model and serial numbers. Ask whether the diagnostic fee is credited to the repair and what the after-hours rate is.
- Compare. Get 2–3 quotes before you sign.
- Safety. If a CO alarm sounds, leave the house and call 911.
Our guide to comparing HVAC companies in San Antonio walks through license lookups and quote comparisons in more detail.
Heat pump quotes around San Antonio
Request heat pump quotes for homes in San Antonio and these nearby cities:
Related: mini split installation (ductless heat pumps for single rooms) and AC maintenance and tune-ups.
Heat pump FAQ
Is a heat pump a good choice in San Antonio?
For many homes, yes. NOAA normals show cooling degree days outnumber heating degree days about 2.2 to 1 here, so the system spends most of the year cooling, and a heat pump covers mild winters with the same outdoor unit. Homes with an existing gas furnace may still compare an AC plus furnace. Quotes from two or three contractors make the trade-offs concrete.
Does CPS Energy offer a heat pump rebate?
CPS Energy lists heat pump rebates of $90–$310 per cooling ton for the February 1, 2026–January 31, 2027 program year, based on SEER2 tier and whether it is an early replacement or a replacement on burnout. A Texas-licensed contractor must install it, and inside San Antonio city limits the permit number is required. Check CPS Energy for current availability.
Why does my heat pump make loud noises and steam in winter?
In cold, damp weather the outdoor coil can frost over, and the heat pump periodically runs a defrost cycle that can sound loud and release steam. During the January 2026 cold snap, a San Antonio HVAC business owner told local TV news that people start to panic and think the system is not working. If heat output stays low afterward, request a diagnosis.
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