Heating Installation in Westwood: Furnace, Heat Pump, or Ductless

Westwood sits between the UCLA campus and a dense grid of older single-family homes, apartment buildings, and small commercial blocks built mostly between the 1930s and 1970s. Many properties in the neighborhoods surrounding Westwood Village were built with gas-fired furnaces fed by narrow closet alcoves or basement installations, and original ductwork that hasn't been inspected or modified in decades. When you replace a furnace in a Westwood rental or owner-occupied home, you face California's Title 24 energy code, which now incentivizes or in some cases requires electric heat pumps over gas. That means evaluating the electrical panel capacity, duct sizing, and whether the existing layout supports the airflow rates a modern heat pump demands.

We've completed heating installations across Westwood, from compact one-bedroom condos near Wilshire Boulevard to multi-story homes in the hills south of Sunset. Many owners are surprised to learn their 100-amp service may not handle a large central heat pump without an upgrade, or that their old furnace closet won't accommodate the wider air-handler footprint. Our crew inspects electrical load, measures ductwork, and provides a written comparison between a high-efficiency gas furnace and a cold-climate heat pump so you can make the decision based on your property, and your electrical capacity. For smaller units or homes without ducts, we also recommend a <a href='/services/ductless-mini-split'>ductless mini-split</a> system that delivers heating and cooling without the need for duct modification.

California's 2023 Title 24 energy code steers new and replacement heating systems toward electric heat pumps, especially in climate zones with mild winters. Westwood qualifies as Climate Zone 9, where winter lows rarely drop below 40°F and heating demand is modest. A cold-climate heat pump can deliver both heating and cooling at 16-18 SEER2 efficiency. If your home has sufficient electrical capacity, typically 150 or 200 amps, and intact ductwork, a heat pump often costs less to operate over its lifespan than a gas furnace, even at current Southern California Edison rates.

If your electrical panel needs an upgrade, or if your property is not ready for electrification, a 96% AFUE gas furnace remains a code-compliant option and often costs less up front. We provide a written estimate for both pathways, including panel upgrades, compliance fees, and rebate eligibility. Our technicians handle the installation, coordinate the city inspection, and make sure the system is commissioned correctly before we leave. If your old furnace failed unexpectedly, we can also provide fast <a href='/services/heating-repair'>heating repair</a> while you evaluate replacement options. We test the new system with you and explain how to run it before the crew leaves. Compare efficiency ratings at the <a href='https://www.energystar.gov/products/heat_pump_air_conditioners' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>ENERGY STAR-certified heat pumps</a> directory.