Heat Pump Installation & Repair in Contra Costa
Ducted heat pumps for heating and cooling in one
A heat pump is an air conditioner that also runs in reverse to heat your home, so one outdoor unit handles both seasons. It suits Contra Costa well, with long hot summers and mild winters where a heat pump rarely struggles. We install, replace and repair ducted heat pumps, dual-fuel systems that pair a heat pump with a gas furnace for backup, and ductless heat pumps for rooms without ducts, in homes, apartments and light commercial buildings.
Why choose Blue Star
Before we quote, we check what makes or breaks a heat pump job: the load, the duct system, the electrical panel and where the outdoor unit can go. Some older Central County homes with smaller panels need an electrician's upgrade first, and we tell you that up front. We pull the permit, coordinate the required ECC refrigerant and duct tests, and set the thermostat so backup heat only runs when it should.
- Ducted heat pump installs
- Dual-fuel with gas backup
- Heat pump repair, all brands
- Panel and circuit check
- Defrost and backup heat setup
- Permit and ECC testing
Where we work
Heat pumps make a strong case in East County, where cooling dominates and winter nights rarely stay near freezing for long. Homes in Bethel Island, Knightsen and Byron that heat with propane or electric resistance often gain the most. Brentwood and Oakley homes from the 1990s and 2000s often have the attic ducts and panel space for a direct swap. Older homes in Concord, Pleasant Hill and Lafayette may need panel or duct work first. Rio Vista is in Solano County, likely outside the Bay Area Air District's rules.
Major corridors
- SR-4
- SR-160
- Bethel Island Rd
- Delta Rd
- Balfour Rd
- Concord Blvd
- Pleasant Hill Rd
- Mt Diablo Blvd
Find your town
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
Do heat pumps work in Contra Costa winters?
Yes. Modern heat pumps heat efficiently well below the temperatures Contra Costa sees on most winter nights; Antioch's January lows average in the upper 30s. On the coldest mornings the system may run longer or use backup heat, and it pauses briefly to defrost the outdoor coil. Sized and set up correctly, a heat pump keeps the house comfortable all winter.
Is a gas furnace ban coming to the Bay Area?
Not a ban on existing furnaces. The Bay Area Air District's Rule 9-4 requires new residential furnaces installed from January 1, 2029 to be zero-NOx, which in practice means a heat pump when a gas furnace is replaced. Working furnaces can stay in place, and the District is still reviewing exemptions and dates. Rio Vista, in Solano County, likely falls under a different air district.
Are there heat pump rebates in Contra Costa in 2026?
Most are closed for now. Statewide and federally funded single-family heat pump rebates are fully reserved or waitlisted, the County's Bay Point and Pittsburg pilot is fully reserved, and the federal 25C tax credit ended for systems installed after 2025. Income-qualified programs from PG&E, MCE and BayREN may still help some households. We check what is open when we quote your job.
What is a dual-fuel heat pump system?
Dual fuel pairs a heat pump with a gas furnace. The heat pump handles cooling and most heating, and the furnace takes over only when it is cold enough that gas heat makes more sense. It is a common choice when the furnace is fairly new but the AC has failed. Keep in mind the furnace half will fall under the 2029 zero-NOx rule when it is eventually replaced.
Will I need an electrical panel upgrade for a heat pump?
Often not. A heat pump replacing an existing central AC can usually use the same circuit or one sized similarly. Upgrades come up more in older homes with panels of 100 amps or less, or when electric backup heat strips are added. Variable-speed heat pumps and smaller backup heaters can sometimes avoid an upgrade. We check your panel during the quote and tell you what is needed.
Related services
All servicesBlue Star Heating & Air is just a call away!
Want to know if a heat pump fits your house? Call (925) 584-2428 or request a quote, and we'll look at your panel, ducts and load.