Heat Pump Installation in Lexington, SC

A lot of Midlands homes are on their second or third heat pump. Subdivisions around Irmo and Seven Oaks went in decades ago with early heat pumps, and many Red Bank houses got their systems while 13 SEER was the federal minimum. Plenty of those units are now reaching the end. Heat pump installation in Lexington, SC is about replacing that equipment with something sized for the house as it is today, with the ducts, wiring and refrigerant work done properly so it lasts.

We install split-system heat pumps, packaged heat pumps and dual-fuel systems. If a repair still makes sense, we'll say so; heat pump repair covers that route. A replacement covers:

• A load calculation and a written, itemized estimate with options
• Outdoor unit, matched air handler or coil, and backup heat strips
• New or flushed line set, brazed, pressure-tested and evacuated
• Disconnect, wiring, thermostat and drain connections
• Permit, inspection, startup readings and haul-away of the old system

Single-stage, two-stage or variable-speed?

The biggest choice is how the compressor runs.

In a hot-humid place like Lexington, the summer humidity column matters as much as the heating one. A variable-speed system often fits two-story homes with a hot upstairs, lake houses and anyone sensitive to clammy air. A single-stage unit installed well is still a solid choice for a smaller home or a rental.

Where natural gas or a propane tank is already on the property, consider dual fuel. It pairs the heat pump with a furnace for the coldest nights. Our furnace installation page explains that side.

When replacement beats another repair

Age is a prompt, not a verdict. The signals that tip a heat pump toward replacement are more specific. A failed compressor on a unit past its middle years is the most common. An R-22 system that needs refrigerant is another, because that refrigerant is reclaimed stock only and each recharge costs more than the last. A leaking indoor coil on an older R-410A system often lands in the same place.

Comfort matters too. A heat pump that runs constantly on mild winter days, leans on its strips well above freezing, or leaves the upstairs clammy in July is often oversized, undersized or fighting leaky ducts, and the fix may be the design rather than the part. Locally, we see the pattern in Red Bank-era systems from 2006 to 2014, in early heat pumps around Irmo, and in units that sat in floodwater or took a lightning surge. We show you the readings and price both paths.

Getting the design right before install day

Most heat pump complaints we see trace back to design, not to the brand. Before quoting, we work through:

• Load calculation. The old unit's tonnage is a starting point only. Insulation, windows, attic conditions and additions since the house was built all change the answer.
• Ductwork and airflow. We look at duct condition, return air and static pressure. A new system pushing through leaky or undersized ducts underperforms; ductwork repair and replacement can be part of the same job. Two-story homes with a hot upstairs may be candidates for HVAC zoning.
• Matched indoor unit. The outdoor unit has to be paired with a compatible air handler or coil to reach its rating.
• Backup heat and electrical. Heat strips are sized for cold nights, and the breaker, wire and disconnect are checked against the new unit's rating.
• Outdoor placement. Clearance for airflow and service, a level pad, and in low or flood-prone yards, a raised stand so the unit stays out of standing water and defrost meltwater can drain.

Refrigerant and efficiency rules

Since 2025, EPA rules have pushed new home heat pumps off R-410A and onto mildly flammable, lower-impact A2L refrigerants, mainly R-454B and R-32. Whether your existing copper line set can be reused depends on its size, its condition and the manufacturer's instructions; an old R-22 line set is often replaced. Manufacturer instructions for R-454B equipment call for flushing a reused line set with nitrogen and note that an older R-410A or R-22 indoor coil has not been evaluated for the new refrigerant, which is why most replacements now include a matched indoor coil. The old refrigerant is recovered under EPA Section 608. In South Carolina, a new split heat pump must meet at least 14.3 SEER2 and 7.5 HSPF2.

What happens on installation day

1. Protect and remove. Floors and the yard are covered, refrigerant is recovered, and the old equipment comes out.
2. Set the equipment. The new outdoor unit goes on its pad or stand, and the air handler or coil goes in its closet, attic or crawlspace with a drain pan and condensate line.

3. Refrigerant piping. Lines are brazed with a nitrogen purge, pressure-tested with nitrogen, then evacuated to a deep vacuum.

4. Electrical and controls. Disconnect, wiring and the thermostat are connected and the backup heat staging is set.

5. Startup. We verify the charge, airflow and temperature split in both modes, force a defrost and measure the heat strips.
6. Walk-through and permit. You learn the thermostat, filter and what defrost looks like. The town or county inspection follows.

What changes the price, and how to pay for it

Every estimate is free and itemized, and the lines below are what separate one bid from another:

• Size and compressor type
• Replacing the air handler or coil, or only the outdoor unit
• Line set replacement and wall or roof penetrations
• Duct repairs, returns or zoning
• Electrical work, from a new disconnect to panel upgrades
• Pad, stand and placement changes
• Attic or crawlspace access
• Permit and inspection

The federal 25C tax credit is gone for systems put in service after December 31, 2025. For a 2026 install, ask your electric utility or cooperative, Dominion Energy South Carolina for example, whether a heat pump rebate is currently offered, and check manufacturer promotions; a tax professional can confirm the rest. Our financing page covers payment options.

New equipment carries the manufacturer's parts warranty, which usually needs to be registered, so keep your paperwork. A spring and fall tune-up each year protects it. We install throughout Irmo, Seven Oaks, Red Bank and Lexington County.

Permits and licensing for a new heat pump

A heat pump replacement is permitted work. Whichever building office covers your address, town or county, issues the mechanical permit, and new circuits, disconnects or panel work fall under its electrical inspection as well. The inspector visits after installation, so ask any bidder whether the permit is included in the price.

South Carolina licenses HVAC contractors through LLR, and you can confirm a license on its website before signing. Recovering the old refrigerant and charging the new system require EPA Section 608 certification. We are fully licensed and insured.

Why homeowners pick us for a heat pump replacement

As a Bryant-authorized dealer, we can usually get the right equipment in hand within a few days of your go-ahead; reviewers mention new systems running days after the first call when others quoted a week or longer. Owner Chong Kim does the load calculation and lays out single-stage, two-stage and variable-speed side by side with the honest trade-offs, then lets you choose, and the closet and yard are left clean. The company is NATE certified, financing is available, and discounts apply for veterans, first responders, health care workers, school employees and families with a special-needs member at home.