AC and Heat Pump Installation in Redwood City
Central AC and heat pumps, sized and permitted
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Plenty of Redwood City homes were built without air conditioning, relying on the city's famously mild weather and a wall or floor furnace for winter. As summers bring more warm inland days, many owners are adding cooling for the first time or replacing a tired system. Cool Aid installs central air conditioners and electric heat pumps in Redwood City from our Santa Clara shop, under our California C-20 license.
Central AC or a heat pump?
A central air conditioner cools and pairs with a separate furnace for heat. A heat pump is the modern all-electric alternative: the same outdoor unit cools in summer and runs in reverse to heat in winter, replacing both the air conditioner and the gas furnace. In a climate as moderate as Redwood City's, a heat pump rarely has to work at its limits, which makes it a strong fit for many homes.
- Choose central AC if your gas furnace is fairly new and you only need to add or replace cooling.
- Choose a heat pump if the furnace and AC are both aging, if you are replacing a wall or floor furnace, or if you want to move the house off gas heat.
- Consider ductless for homes with no ductwork and no good place to add it. Our comparison of heat pumps and mini-splits covers the tradeoffs.
The WestLight Energy heat pump rebate
Redwood City is served by WestLight Energy, formerly Peninsula Clean Energy, San Mateo County's community electricity provider. WestLight offers a heat pump HVAC rebate of up to $2,500, and it can be combined with other incentives (source). Program terms change, so review the current requirements before signing a contract. We can walk you through what the program asks for. Our Bay Area heat pump rebates page covers the wider picture, and our guide to heat pumps in the Bay Area explains how the systems work. Note that the federal 25C tax credit ended for equipment placed in service after 31 December 2025, so it no longer applies to new installs.
How we plan an installation
Load calculation, not guesswork
We size equipment to the house: insulation, windows, orientation, and how the home is actually used. An oversized system short-cycles and leaves rooms clammy; an undersized one runs constantly on the warmest afternoons. Homes near the hills and away from the Bay usually need more cooling than similar houses closer to the water.
Ductwork check
Houses that started with a wall or floor furnace often have no ducts, or ducts that were added later for heating only. Cooling moves more air than heating, so we check duct size, leakage and returns before recommending a ducted system.
Electrical capacity
A heat pump or new condenser may need a dedicated circuit, and some older panels need an upgrade. We identify that early so it is part of the plan, not a surprise.
Equipment and refrigerant
We install equipment from manufacturers including Daikin, Amana, Goodman, York, Trane and Carrier. New systems use lower-GWP refrigerants such as R-454B and R-32, and our EPA Universal certified technicians are trained on R-32, R-454B and R-290.
Permits and inspection in Redwood City
Redwood City accepts permit submittals online only. An HVAC replacement needs a mechanical permit, and an electrical permit is added when new circuits or panel work are involved (source). California may also require HERS verification on HVAC changeouts, where a third-party rater tests items such as duct leakage and airflow (source). We pull the permits, coordinate the HERS test and schedule the city inspection.
Replacing an existing system
If you are not sure your current air conditioner is done, our article on when to replace your AC in Redwood City lists the signs that point to replacement. Sometimes a repair is the right answer, and our Redwood City AC repair page covers that. If the heater is the part failing, see furnace repair in Redwood City.
Every installation carries our 1-year parts and labor warranty, and ongoing care through our yearly maintenance plan helps a new system keep its efficiency. More detail on our process is on our residential HVAC installation services and residential HVAC replacement services pages.
For everything else we do locally, visit our Redwood City HVAC and refrigeration page. If you want to compare contractors first, our list of HVAC companies in Redwood City includes several local firms. Pages are reviewed by owner Jim McKinny.
Plan an AC or heat pump installation
Frequently asked questions
Is a heat pump a good fit for Redwood City's climate?
For many homes, yes. Redwood City's mild weather means a heat pump seldom runs at its limits for heating or cooling, and one system replaces both the furnace and the air conditioner.
What rebate is available for a heat pump in Redwood City?
WestLight Energy, formerly Peninsula Clean Energy, offers a heat pump HVAC rebate of up to $2,500 that can be combined with other incentives. Check the current terms before signing a contract. The federal 25C credit is no longer available for equipment placed in service after 2025.
What permits does an AC installation need in Redwood City?
A mechanical permit, submitted online, plus an electrical permit if new circuits or panel work are needed. HERS verification may also be required. We handle the permits and inspection scheduling.
Can you add central air to a house that only has a wall furnace?
Often, yes, but it may mean adding ductwork or choosing a ductless system. We assess the house, the attic or crawlspace, and the electrical panel before recommending an approach.
Do you install both central AC and heat pumps?
Yes. We install central air conditioners, ducted heat pumps and ductless systems, and we are licensed under California C-20 with EPA Universal certified technicians.
More in Redwood City
Or start from our Redwood City HVAC & refrigeration overview.
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