Real Protek Project · January 2026
Attic Heat Pump Replacement in South Tampa, FL
Heat Pump Replacement for Virginia L. in South Tampa
Location
South Tampa, FL
Project type
Heat pump system replacement
System
3 ton two-stage heat pump, variable-speed air handler
Air handler location
Horizontal, in a tight attic
Protection
Emergency pan with float switches, surge protector
Permit
City of Tampa
Completed
January 2026
Crew
Ernesto, Brandon and Chandler
The air handler in this South Tampa home lives in a tight attic, so getting the old one out and the new one in was the hard part of the job. The crew took the old equipment down and carried the new air handler up in pieces, then set it horizontally in the attic. The new system is a 3 ton two-stage heat pump with a variable-speed air handler and 5 kW of backup heat. We added an emergency drain pan with float switches to protect the ceiling below, installed a smart thermostat, flushed the line set, set the outdoor unit on a hurricane pad and installed a new disconnect with surge protection. The job was permitted through the City of Tampa.
Old system out and new system in by one Protek crew, permitted through the City of Tampa.
The brief
- →Replace an aging system with the air handler in a hard-to-reach attic
- →Protect the ceiling below from any condensate overflow
- →Upgrade comfort control with a two-stage system and a smart thermostat
- →Secure the outdoor unit for Florida storm season
What we built
- ✓Removed the old attic equipment and carried the new air handler up in pieces
- ✓A variable-speed air handler set horizontally in the attic with 5 kW of backup heat
- ✓A 3 ton two-stage heat pump on a hurricane pad
- ✓Emergency drain pan with float switches under the air handler
- ✓Line set flush, new whips, disconnect and surge protector, and a smart thermostat
Before
The home as we found it
During
The install in progress
The Finished Install
Set, charged, tested and cleaned up
Need work like this at your home?
Every Protek HVAC project starts with a free estimate and straight answers — what your system needs, what it does not, and what it will cost before any work begins. One licensed local team handles installs, relocations, repairs and maintenance across the greater Tampa Bay area.
Call 813-358-4610