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A contractor quoting a heat pump install in Franklin County has to size the system around what this area actually puts it through, not around what a catalog says for a generic Alabama address. 112 severe weather events were recorded in Franklin County, Alabama between 2015 and 2024. At that rate, severe weather is a standing condition here, and a system sized too small will run harder than it was built to, shortening the life of its compressor and refrigerant components. A contractor who treats local weather load as a secondary consideration will get the equipment selection wrong.
Ductwork designed for a different system carries assumptions about airflow that a heat pump does not share, and in Franklin County's housing stock those assumptions are built into the walls. Half the homes in Franklin County, Alabama were built in 1983 or earlier (2020-2024 ACS 5-year). A contractor quoting a heat pump here measures the existing ducts before pricing the unit, because undersized or leaking runs will work against any equipment hung on them. The electrical panel gets the same look: heat pump loads differ from what older wiring was laid out for, and that gap decides whether the installation is a straightforward swap or a longer job.
What Gets Installed With a New Heat Pump
The outdoor unit is the piece most homeowners notice first. It sits on a pad outside the house and holds the compressor and the outdoor coil, which together do the core work of moving heat in or out depending on the season. Inside, the air handler mounts in a closet, attic, or utility space and circulates conditioned air through the home.
A refrigerant line set runs between the two units, connecting them through an exterior wall. A thermostat goes on an interior wall where it reads the home's temperature and tells the system when to run. Some installations also include a supplemental electric heat strip inside the air handler for the coldest days.
The drawing shows the general layout of a heat pump system, and a licensed contractor determines exactly what applies to this house.
Get matched in Franklin CountyFranklin County, Alabama, by the numbers
112 severe weather events were recorded in Franklin 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 Franklin County, Alabama were built in 1983 or earlier (2020-2024 ACS 5-year).
U.S. Census Bureau, 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year EstimatesFranklin County, Alabama holds 14,002 housing units (2020-2024 ACS 5-year).
U.S. Census Bureau, 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year EstimatesOwners occupy 72.4% of the occupied homes in Franklin County, Alabama (2020-2024 ACS 5-year).
U.S. Census Bureau, 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year EstimatesCodes & Standards Covering Heat Pump Installation in Franklin County, Alabama1 sourced rules and standards
Licensing Rules for HVAC Work in Franklin 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 Franklin County
Heating and cooling loads in Franklin County are shaped by the weather the area actually sees, not a regional average. A heat pump sized and installed for local conditions handles real demand better than one spec'd on assumptions.
112 severe weather events, 2015–2024. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database.