Antelope Heat Pump Installation: A 4-Ton Star Air Kontrol Gas-to-Electric Upgrade

From a gas furnace and central AC to an all-electric split system

Heco Heating and Air Conditioning recently completed a heat pump installation in Antelope, California, replacing an older gas-and-electric split HVAC system with a high-efficiency, all-electric split system. The project used a $3,000 SMUD gas-to-electric rebate. This project example is not a promise that every installation qualifies for the same rebate.

The original arrangement used a gas furnace for heating and an outdoor air conditioner for cooling. The replacement combines a Star Air Kontrol outdoor heat pump with a matched indoor air handler. The home now has electric heating and cooling through the new split system, rather than gas furnace heating paired with a cooling-only outdoor unit.

Before and after: what the photographs show

The before photo shows the existing Carrier outdoor air conditioner. The after photo shows the newly installed Star Air Kontrol outdoor heat pump. These are photographs from Heco's Antelope project, not stock equipment images. They document the outdoor equipment change; indoor equipment and commissioning results are not shown in these two photographs.

Equipment installed: 4 tons, 48,000 BTU/h and 16 SEER2

The matched system's AHRI certificate lists outdoor model SAK-48FDN2-M18M and indoor air-handler model SAK-48FDN1-M18M under the Star Air Kontrol SAK Series. Its AHRI reference number is 216369250.

The certified combination is rated at 48,000 BTU/h cooling capacity at the 95°F rating condition, equivalent to a nominal 4-ton cooling system. Its cooling efficiency ratings are 16 SEER2 and 10 EER2. Heating capacity is 48,000 BTU/h at the 47°F rating condition, with an HSPF2 Region IV rating of 8.5.

These are standardized equipment ratings, not a guarantee of the home's energy use or output at every outdoor temperature. Actual performance depends on the installation, airflow, building, controls, weather and operation. A 4-ton system suited to one project is not automatically the right size for another Antelope home.

How the gas-to-electric conversion changes heating and cooling

An air-source heat pump moves heat rather than using a gas burner to produce the home's space heat. In heating mode, it transfers heat from outdoor air into the home. In cooling mode, it moves indoor heat outdoors. The indoor air handler circulates conditioned air through the duct system.

A split-system heat pump is not necessarily a ductless mini-split. This project replaced a central split HVAC arrangement with an all-electric split system and a matched air handler. Homeowners comparing a gas furnace replacement with heat pump installation should discuss the complete indoor and outdoor equipment combination, not just the outdoor unit.

This project description concerns space heating and cooling. It does not mean every gas appliance at the property was replaced or that gas service to the property was removed.

The $3,000 SMUD heat pump rebate: project context and current rules

This Antelope installation used SMUD's $3,000 gas-to-electric heat pump rebate.

As checked on October 27, 2026, SMUD lists a $3,000 rebate for qualifying variable-stage gas-to-electric heat pump systems. Its qualifying two-stage gas-to-electric category, with a 15.2 SEER2 minimum, is listed at $2,000. The rebate amount is not determined by the SEER2 number alone.

SMUD requires eligible equipment, an eligible SMUD customer/property and installation through a participating contractor. Program rules include applicable permit, inspection and installation requirements, and funding is subject to availability. A homeowner considering an Antelope HVAC replacement should confirm the property's utility and the proposed equipment's eligibility before counting on an incentive. The AHRI ratings identify this equipment combination; the certificate alone does not prove that a rebate was approved or paid.

What should Antelope homeowners review before replacing a gas furnace?

Start with the home's heating and cooling needs. Ask how system capacity will be selected and how the indoor and outdoor models will be matched. Existing ductwork, return-air capacity, filter arrangement and available installation space deserve attention when comparing options.

Discuss electrical requirements, controls, condensate management and the work needed to retire the old heating equipment as part of the proposed scope. A heat pump conversion does not automatically require a main-panel replacement, and existing ducts are not automatically suitable without evaluation. Request a written proposal explaining included work, exclusions, applicable permits, startup checks and warranty terms.

Antelope heat pump installation questions

Can a heat pump replace both my gas furnace and air conditioner?

Yes. A correctly selected and installed all-electric heat pump system can provide both space heating and cooling. The complete project may involve a new indoor air handler, compatible controls and electrical changes. Heco evaluates the property before recommending a system or scope.

Does every Antelope heat pump qualify for a $3,000 SMUD rebate?

No. Equipment type, the gas-to-electric conversion, customer and property eligibility, program requirements and available funding all matter. Confirm the current incentive for the exact proposed system. Do not assume a 16 SEER2 label by itself establishes the rebate amount.

Will a 4-ton heat pump fit my home?

Capacity should be selected for the building's heating and cooling load, not copied from this project or chosen from square footage alone. Heco can review comfort concerns, building conditions and the existing distribution system during an estimate.

Can I keep my existing ducts?

Sometimes. Their condition, sizing, leakage and airflow capacity need evaluation. This case study does not promise that every conversion can reuse existing ducts without work.

Will a heat pump lower my energy bills?

It may, but the result depends on the previous system, electricity and gas prices, building conditions, installation and usage. We have not measured savings for this home and do not promise a specific percentage or dollar reduction.

Planning a heat pump replacement in Antelope?

Heco Heating and Air Conditioning provides heat pump installation and HVAC replacement evaluations for Antelope and surrounding service communities. Ask about gas furnace-to-heat-pump conversion, central AC replacement, equipment sizing and current SMUD rebate requirements for your property.

Call (916) 813-2766, daily 8 AM–7 PM, or request an installation estimate online. Heco will confirm service coverage, project details and appointment availability. An estimate request is not a confirmed appointment.