Gas Furnace to Heat Pump Conversion in Contra Costa County
Swap a gas furnace for a heat pump, planned right
A heat pump heats and cools with one outdoor unit, so a conversion usually replaces both your gas furnace and your air conditioner. In Contra Costa's mild winters, where January lows in Antioch average in the upper 30s, a properly sized heat pump handles heating well. The real work is in the details: whether your electrical panel has room, whether your ducts can move enough air, and whether a full heat pump or a dual-fuel setup that keeps a gas furnace as backup fits your home better.
Why choose Blue Star
We install and service both gas furnaces and heat pumps, so we have no reason to push you one way. Licensed since 2006 under CSLB #880647, we look at your panel, ducts, insulation and current equipment, then size the heat pump with a load calculation instead of copying the old furnace's rating. We pull the permit, coordinate the Title 24 testing with the ECC rater, and give you a written quote before any work starts. If keeping your furnace longer makes more sense, we'll say so.
- Load calculation for sizing
- Electrical panel capacity
- Duct size and airflow check
- Dual-fuel option reviewed
- Permit and ECC testing
- Thermostat set for heat pump
Where we work
The Bay Area Air District's Rule 9-4 requires new residential furnaces installed in the district to meet a zero-NOx standard starting January 1, 2029, which in practice means heat pumps. It applies to new equipment only, so a working furnace in Antioch, Concord or Walnut Creek isn't forced out. Rio Vista, in Solano County, appears to sit outside the district, so the rule likely won't apply there. Older homes in Concord and Lafayette often have smaller electrical panels worth checking early. Last verified October 2026.
Major corridors
- SR-4
- SR-160
- Lone Tree Way
- SR-242
- I-680
- Contra Costa Blvd
- SR-24
- Mt Diablo Blvd
We do this across our service area:
Each link opens that town's heating and air page.
4.9 stars on Google
Read more reviewsColton was great. He found the problem right away and did a temporary fix to get my a/c running until he could get the right part ordered. He also made sure every inside was working well.
Questions we hear
Is the Bay Area banning gas furnaces?
Not the ones already in homes. The Air District's Rule 9-4 sets a zero-NOx standard for new residential furnaces starting January 1, 2029, so a furnace replaced after that date will generally need to be a heat pump or other zero-NOx equipment. Your existing furnace can keep running and be repaired. The district is still working out how the rule will be carried out, and exemptions are possible. Last verified October 2026.
What about gas water heaters?
Rule 9-6 covers water heaters. As adopted, new small gas water heaters installed in the district must be zero-NOx starting January 1, 2027. The Air District Board is scheduled to vote on November 4, 2026 on moving that date to January 1, 2028 and adding exemptions, including for limited space, limited electrical capacity and some low-income households. This may change soon, so ask us for the latest. Last verified October 2026.
Will a heat pump keep my house warm in winter?
Yes, in this climate. Antioch's average January low is about 37 degrees, and a properly sized modern heat pump heats efficiently well below that. What people notice is that heat pumps deliver steady, warm air instead of the hot blast of a gas furnace. Sizing and duct airflow matter more than with a furnace, which is why we do a load calculation rather than copying the old unit's size.
Do I need a new electrical panel?
Not always. Many homes can add a heat pump on their existing service, especially if the old system already had central AC on its own circuit, unless electric backup heat is added. Older homes with 100-amp panels, or homes also adding a heat pump water heater, EV charger or induction range, may need a panel upgrade or a load-management device. We check your panel and tell you before you commit.
What's a dual-fuel system?
Dual fuel pairs a heat pump with a gas furnace. The heat pump handles cooling and most of the heating, and the furnace takes over on the coldest mornings or as backup. It can make sense when your furnace is fairly new or your electrical panel is tight. Keep in mind that once Rule 9-4 takes effect in 2029, replacing that furnace in the Bay Area Air District will fall under the zero-NOx standard.
Related services
All servicesBlue Star Heating & Air is just a call away!
Thinking about converting before your furnace fails? Call (925) 584-2428 and we'll check your panel, ducts and current system, then give you a written quote.