Heat pumps
A two-stage or variable-speed heat pump handles Columbia's six-month cooling season while providing inexpensive electric heat during mild Midlands winters.
Cooling for Columbia’s hot summers.
Heating, cooling, and comfort upgrades for your Columbia home.
Build your quote.
Your advisor confirms service at your address.
Common systems in Columbia.
AC replacement
For homes in Forest Acres or Shandon with an existing gas furnace, a two-stage or variable-speed central AC can lower peak summer electricity use.
Smart thermostats
Smart humidity-aware thermostats manage overcooling and coordinate stage transitions during 98°F Midlands afternoons.
Around Columbia Shandon, Forest Acres, Rosewood, Lexington, Irmo, Cayce, West Columbia, Chapin, Blythewood, Northeast Columbia.
Common questions in Columbia.
Why does my AC struggle to keep my Columbia home below 76°F on 98°F afternoons?
Standard design temperatures in central South Carolina are around 95°F–96°F. When outdoor temps hit 100°F and attic ductwork is baking, an older single-stage unit with worn capacitors or leaky return ducts loses effective capacity. Upgrading to a properly sized variable-capacity system and sealing attic plenum connections restores comfort on extreme days.
Does Dominion Energy South Carolina offer rebates for replacing my old AC or heat pump?
Dominion Energy South Carolina and area electric cooperatives like Mid-Carolina Electric periodically offer residential rebates for upgrading to qualifying heat pumps and central air conditioners. Your advisor checks that your system meets AHRI efficiency ratings required for utility programs.
Can you replace packaged HVAC units common in Rosewood and Forest Acres?
Yes. Many single-story brick ranches in the Columbia area use ground-mounted packaged heat pumps or gas-pack units tucked beside the crawlspace. We replace both packaged units and split systems.
Columbia climate and homes.
Columbia climate and homes.
Columbia sees 60 to 70 days a year at or above 90°F, and attic temperatures can pass 135°F in summer. Older in-town homes often use packaged ground units or closet air handlers.
Your local weather
Columbia is in IECC Climate Zone 3A, but its inland basin geography blocks coastal breezes and radiates heat from sandy Fall Line soils, producing 60 to 70 days a year at or above 90°F. Attic temperatures in Midlands homes routinely exceed 135°F in July and August, meaning any replacement system must maintain cooling capacity under high ambient head pressure while stripping out heavy river-valley humidity.
Homes and ductwork
In-town neighborhoods like Shandon, Rosewood, Wales Garden, and Forest Acres feature 1920s–1960s bungalows and brick ranches on crawlspaces, often using packaged ground units or tight closet air handlers. Suburban growth in Lexington, Irmo, Chapin, and Blythewood consists largely of two-story frame and brick homes with attic air handlers and bonus rooms over garages.
Utilities and rebates
Dominion Energy South Carolina (electric and natural gas), with Mid-Carolina Electric Cooperative and Fairfield Electric Cooperative serving surrounding Lexington and Richland County suburbs. Utility rebates are periodically available for qualifying high-SEER2 heat pumps and AC replacements.
Plan your HVAC replacement in Columbia.
Your advisor confirms the system, scope, and price.
Build my quoteSee all South Carolina locations