Heat Pump Price Comparison & Buying Guide for 2012

One of the most popular and cost effective ways to heat or cool the air inside your home, is with a heat pump system. Since air source heat pumps prices are affordable, and the units are designed to handle both of the main functions of your home HVAC very efficiently down to about 32-35 degrees, they are also one of the most common choices new home builders are making when it comes the new HVAC system they install into new homes.

In this Home Heating System guide, we’re going to provide a thorough 2012 Heat Pump Prices Guide, and walk you through almost every aspect of what costs you can expect to pay for a new air source heat pump system in your home. You can expect to learn about the different parts of a complete heat pump system and how they affect the price you pay. The wholesale prices of heat pumps, as well as the full cost of an installed heat pump system. We’ll even break down a complete heat pump price comparison table with the average cost of different brands and efficiencies.

As always, we encourage you to join the discussion at the end of this page, leave a comment and share what you paid for your heat pump system. It can only help others understand how much they may need to plan on saving for their heat pump prices.

Complete Heat Pump System Components and Options

There are 4 main components to a complete air source heat pump system that affect the price you pay for the equipment, and the installation of a new heat heat pump system.

Main Parts of a Heat Pump System

• Outdoor Heat Pump Condensing Unit.
• Air Handler, Gas or Electric Furnace, or Fan Coil Unit. (With an evaporator coil)
• Thermostat or Controller.

Note: When you combine a heat pump with a gas furnace, the result is a hybrid heating system in your home. One of the most efficient fossil fuel heating systems.

Aside from these main parts of a heat pump system, you also have several optional components or upgrades, that are designed to increase your overall indoor comfort. These can be installed separately, or may be integral parts of the unit your contractor orders from the factory. Each of these will add to the price of a complete heat pump system.

Optional Heat Pump System Add Ons

• Whole House Electronic Air Cleaner
• Whole House Humidifier Systems
• UV Germicidal Lamps
• Multifunction, 7-Day Programmable Thermostat
• Zoned Duct System

Wholesale Heat Pump Prices

In order to buy a heat pump system at wholesale prices, most of the equipment manufacturers require their customers to be state licensed and certified. This also allows them to setup long term relationships with the contractors and give them the best wholesale heat pump prices they can. As a homeowner, it’s not likely that you will be able to buy a wholesale heat pump without an inside connection to someone in the hvac industry.

*Heat pump price comparison table based on average size 2.5 ton unit.

Wholesale Heat Pump Unit and Accessory Prices	Good	Better	Best
Heat Pump Condensing Unit	$950	$1,400	$2,200
Air Handler w/ Electric Furnace and Evaporator Coil	$350	$950	$1,700
Air Handler w/ Gas Furnace and Evaporator Coil	$650	$1,400	$2,500
Basic Digital Thermostat	$25	$50	$100
Whole House Electronic Air Cleaner	$200	$600	$1,500
Duct Mounted Whole House Humidifier	$45	$150	$400
Germicidal Ultraviolet (UV) Lamp Kits	$75	$200	$300
Multifunction High Tech Thermostat Systems	$75	$200	$500
Multi-Zoned Climate Control System (based on 4-zones)	$650	$1,150	$1,600

Good: A good heat pump system contains standard features and efficiency, like 14 seer, and fixed fan blowers. They are from average brand names like Goodman, Heil, York, etc.

Better: Better heat pump system prices include higher efficiency units with more comfort features like 15-17 seer, multi-speed blowers. Better units represent brands like Amana, Bryant, Rheem, etc.

Best: The best heat pump systems are those with high seer and hspf efficiency ratings, and all the comfort features to achieve the highest energy savings and indoor comfort levels. The best heat pump systems include brands like Trane, Carrier, American Standard, Lennox and others.

Cost of Installed Heat Pump System

In the table above, we shared a cost comparison of wholesale heat pump prices, as well as the accessories that are commonly installed. Below, we’re going to add in the biggest variable that determines the cost of a heat pump, which is the installation cost factor. Depending on the type of heating system currently installed in your home and many other factors

*Installed Heat pump price estimates are based on an average size 2.5 ton unit.

Heat Pump Prices Installed	Easy	Moderate	Difficult
Budget Brand and Standard Efficiency Heat Pump	$3,650	$4,450	$5,250
Better Brand and Higher Efficiency System	$4,900	$5,800	$7,100
Leading Brand Heat Pump with Highest Efficiency Features	$6,250	$7,850	$9,600

Easy Installation: When we refer to an easy installation job, we’re talking about heat pumps and air handlers that are installed in ground level utility closets or outside mechanical rooms. The HVAC installers can easily remove the old equipment and install the new heat pump with very little lifting or climbing.

• Ground floor installation
• Little to no electrical work required
• Connecting to existing copper refrigerant linesets
• Little to no duct or sheet metal work involved
• Basic duct sealing
• 3-4 Hours for project completion.

Moderate Install Factors: A moderate difficulty may involve the outside condensing unit being elevated on a small platform, or having difficult landscaping features to work around. In addition, the air handler may be in the basement or crawl space of your home, requiring the installation crew to have to do a bit of heavy lifting of the equipment through your home. Also, if you want to convert from oil to gas heat or electric heat, there are going to be added costs to remove old equipment etc.

• Under home crawl space or basement location
• Some electrical and copper tubing work required
• Challenging landscapes to locate condensing unit
• Some duct and sheet metal work
• Moderate amount of duct sealing and refitting
• 4-8 Hours for project completion

Difficult Heat Pump Installation: A very difficult heat pump installation project likely includes systems installed in attics and other manually challenging situations. If the installers need to move the equipment up stairs, or open walls to get at existing components and replace them, the cost can rise quickly. In addition, if new refrigerant lines need to be run inside walls, etc… this all adds to the difficulty of the heat pump installation.

• New electric service and panel needed
• New line sets.
• Moderate amount of duct and sheet metal work
• Complete duct sealing of existing system
• Attic or higher floor installation
• Invasive installation factors like new dict work, zoning systems, etc

If a contractor ever tells you that you can save money by neglecting the permits or inspection, don’t just walk away, run away! Permits and inspections are for your safety, and required in almost every state in the USA.

How Much Did Your Heat Pump Cost?

We love hearing from our visitors. If you care to share what you paid for your heat pump system, we encourage you to do so. In the comment box below, just complete the following:

• Brand Name of the Heat Pump System (aka Trane, Carrier, Goodman, etc)
• Size of the System (aka 2-ton, 3-ton, etc)
• Wholesale or Installed?
• Tell us details of your installation (basement, attic, etc)

Thanks in advance for helping us provide the most detailed and thorough heat pump price guide on the web!

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