Los Angeles Heating Systems: Installation, Repair, and Replacement

While L.A. is far from what most people would call a harsh climate, anyone who's ever spent a winter there knows that there are many instances when sunny southern California isn't as warm as you might think. That being said, you're probably not going to get any severe frostbite if your heater is on the fritz in mid-January, but you'll be a heck of a lot more comfortable at night if it's functioning well. If you're building a new home, remodeling an older one, or are simply looking to upgrade your current Los Angeles heating system, there are a few things to consider before you purchase your new unit.

Los Angeles Heating Systems for New Construction
Building a home is the best situation for installing a heating system in Los Angeles. You'll have as many options available to you as there are on the market, and all you'll need to do is pick the one that best suits your situation. In most cases, new systems use forced air heating that can be extremely efficient and cost-effective. Talking to your general contractor about which system he or she would recommend and why can give you further insight into what will work best for you.

Replacing an Old Heating System
Older homes that have not been upgraded in some time are notorious energy wasters. In addition to losing heat through the roof and around windows, the heating system itself may have a far lower efficiency rating than what is available today. An old Los Angeles heating system is likely to be running at less than 80 percent efficiency, and some may even go below 70 percent. The best new furnaces can operate at more than 95 percent efficiency in some cases, which could mean noticeable savings in energy bills even in a place like L.A.

Though it is a pretty uncommon situation in southern California, if your home happens to be heated by steam or hot water (basically, if you have radiators instead of hot air vents), pulling out all of the old heating equipment and installing a forced air system might be too expensive of an operation. New boilers, though not as efficient as new furnaces, will still make a difference in your home's energy consumption. If you have central air conditioning, you may also install a new condenser unit with a heat pump that has the capability of heating and cooling your home through the same duct system.

Los Angeles Heating System Repair
Here, as in many other scenarios, the best thing you as a homeowner can do to keep repair costs as low as possible is to take preventative measures before a problem arises. Though getting your system inspected every year might seem like overkill, an annual examination will diagnose any existing problems, as well as identify anything that is likely to go wrong in the future. Catching a potential problem early is almost always far less expensive than calling for repairs once the issue is large enough to stop the system from operating properly.

Prices of Los Angeles Heating System Repair and Replacement
To replace or install a new forced air heating system, Los Angeles residents can pay anywhere from $3,000 to $14,000 depending on how big the property is, the type of furnace you purchase, and how involved the project is. Most jobs fall somewhere between $5,000 and $8,000. Installing a heat pump should run somewhere in the neighborhood of $5,000. Heating system repairs range anywhere from $50 to around $1,000; often regular inspections can mean the difference between the two extremes.