Does it make sense to swap a gas furnace for a heat pump in Tucson?

For a Tucson-basin home, switching is usually the sensible move. A heat pump heats and cools, and Tucson’s heating load is mild. The City of Tucson’s winter design temperature is 35F, the airport averages fewer than 12 freezing nights a year, and cooling demand runs about 2.6 times heating demand. That’s why a heat pump is the sensible default here.

Climate Pros Tucson is a referral service. The licensed contractor you’re matched with does the conversion and pulls the permit.

What does the conversion involve?

  1. A load and sizing calculation. The City of Tucson requires it for new and replacement equipment.
  2. A look at the existing ducts. Ducts sized for a furnace may or may not suit a heat pump’s airflow. See ducts too small for a heat pump.
  3. A check of the electrical panel and breaker space. Read heat pump on a 100 amp panel.
  4. Removal of the furnace and the gas hookup handled by the pro. Ask the contractor how the gas line will be capped and who coordinates with Southwest Gas.
  5. A permit pulled by the contractor, then inspection.

A straight changeout is usually a one-day job. Duct or panel work can add time, and the pro confirms the schedule.

Can you keep gas as a backup?

Yes. A dual-fuel setup pairs a heat pump with a gas furnace that takes over in colder weather. For most Tucson-basin homes it’s optional. It’s a bigger question at Mount Lemmon and Summerhaven, where the normal annual heating degree days are about three times the airport’s and there are about 53 freezing nights a year. There, ask the pro about cold-climate heat pumps or backup heat. See dual fuel heat pump in Tucson.

What about rebates?

As listed by TEP in October 2026, a heat pump quality installation can carry up to $720 through a participating Efficient Home contractor, when retiring an older working unit or a non-working AC. Arizona’s HEAR program, as of October 2026, no longer pays to replace gas appliances with electric ones under guidance effective September 1, 2026. Federal 25C ended for installs after 2025. Southwest Gas’s 2026 Arizona residential rebate application lists no furnace rebate. Details in the 2026 rebate stack.

What does it do to your bills?

It depends on your TEP rate plan and use. TEP’s time-of-use plan has an on-peak window of 3 to 7 p.m. on summer weekdays and 6 to 9 a.m. and 6 to 9 p.m. on winter weekdays, so thermostat settings matter. Ask the pro to explain this for your plan.

Compare options in heat pump vs gas furnace and do heat pumps work in Tucson winters. See heat pump service, AC installation and the Tucson HVAC hub.

Planning the switch

Ask for the duct and panel checks before the quote, not after. Call (520) 353-2520 and we’ll match you with a licensed local pro.