Tell us about the job
Takes about a minute. No obligation.
Sizing a heat pump for Mobile County starts with what the climate actually demands of the equipment, not what a spec sheet assumes. 238 severe weather events were recorded in Mobile County, Alabama between 2015 and 2024. At that rate, severe weather is a standing condition here, and a contractor quoting an installation has to account for it when selecting equipment capacity, refrigerant line quality, and how the unit is mounted and sealed against the elements. A system installed without that judgment gets worked harder than the spec assumed, and the compressor and coils carry that difference from the first season forward.
Ductwork laid down for a different generation of equipment is what a contractor has to size a new heat pump against, and in Mobile County that is a large share of the existing housing. Half the homes in Mobile County, Alabama were built in 1980 or earlier (2020-2024 ACS 5-year). Ducts built for a conventional forced-air system carry air at different pressures and volumes than a heat pump expects, and what looks like a straightforward swap often turns on whether those ducts can be made to work or have to be altered. The electrical service is a separate question the contractor checks before the quote is final.
What a Heat Pump Installation Covers
The outdoor unit sits on a pad beside the house and holds the compressor and the coil that exchange heat with the outside air. Inside, the air handler mounts in a utility space, closet, or attic and moves conditioned air through the home. Together, these two units are what a contractor sets into place.
A refrigerant line set runs between the outdoor unit and the air handler, carrying refrigerant between the two. A thermostat mounts on an interior wall and gives the homeowner control over the system. Where a home already has a furnace, the air handler may connect to that existing cabinet rather than stand on its own.
The drawing shows a typical layout, and a licensed contractor determines exactly what applies to this house.
Get matched in Mobile CountyMobile County, by the numbers
238 severe weather events were recorded in Mobile County, Alabama between 2015 and 2024.
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, bulk CSV export, events 2015-01-01 through 2024-12-31.Half the homes in Mobile County, Alabama were built in 1980 or earlier (2020-2024 ACS 5-year).
U.S. Census Bureau, 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year EstimatesMobile County, Alabama holds 186,082 housing units (2020-2024 ACS 5-year).
U.S. Census Bureau, 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year EstimatesOwners occupy 66.0% of the occupied homes in Mobile County, Alabama (2020-2024 ACS 5-year).
U.S. Census Bureau, 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year EstimatesCodes & Standards Governing Heat Pump Installation in Mobile County, Alabama1 sourced rules and standards
Licensing Rules for Mobile County, Alabama
Alabama requires state certification to do heating, air conditioning and refrigeration contracting: nobody may advertise, bid, pull permits or do the work unless the person in responsible charge is a certified contractor.
Severe Weather Events in Mobile County
Alabama's Gulf Coast climate puts real load on heating and cooling equipment, and that load is not uniform across years. A heat pump sized and installed for local conditions handles the pressure better than one spec'd to a national average.
238 severe weather events, 2015–2024. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database.