What Does A Heat Pump Cost? (2023)
Heat pumps range from $5000 – $12,000 fully installed. There are a bunch of factors that affect this cost, which we will go over in this article. I have been installing heat pumps in the Boise, ID area for years, and something I’ve learned is that even though the installations aren’t so different, every home is unique. You can’t recommend the same system and install it the same way every time.
Four Keys To The Cost Of Your Heat Pump
There are a few very important factors that will impact the cost ranges of a heat pump installation in your home.
- Size Of Your Home
- The Efficiency Rating
- Style Of Heat Pump
- Ductwork
Size Of Your Home
The first factor is the size of your home. If you have a very large home, you will need a larger heat pump to heat and cool the entire space. If you have a smaller home, you won’t need a very large system.
Heat pump size is measured in BTUs, or British Thermal Units. A BTU is the amount of heat needed to raise one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. For heating and cooling, one ton is 12,000 BTUs. For reference, a window AC usually ranges between 5000-12000 BTUs.
In reality, you will want a contractor to take a look at your home to make a recommendation. Based on the design and square feet of your home will determine how large of a heat pump you will need, and how many BTUs it should be. It’s tough to gauge how large of a system you will need, and an expert will have a better idea normally.
One thing I should tell you is that bigger isn’t always better. You may think that if you buy the biggest heating system or cooling system, it’ll do the best job… this is not the case. If you buy too big a heat pump, it can use too much energy, and do a poor job of heating and cooling the home evenly. You want to make sure you have the RIGHT size for your home, not just the biggest.
Read More: Tax Credits And Rebates On HVAC Equipment In 2023
The Efficiency Rating
The efficiency rating of your heat pump will play a major role in the cost of the system. The higher the efficiency, the more your heat pump will cost. These systems are measured by SEER rating, which stands for “Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating”. So when you see 2 systems that are the same size, but one is a higher SEER rating, it’s probably going to be more expensive.
What you should consider when installing a new heat pump, or any air conditioning system for that matter, is that this efficiency rating will affect your energy bills for the lifespan of your system. A heat pump lasts 10-20 years, so this is a LONG time that your HVAC system will be impacting your energy bills.
Instead of opting for the cheaper, less efficient system, it’s more cost-effective long term to go for the heat pump with a higher efficiency rating!
Style Of Heat Pump
The 3 most common heat pumps are air-to-air (or air-source heat pumps), water-source, and geothermal. They will gather energy heat from either the air, water, or from the earth. Geothermal is usually the most expensive type.
There are also ductless heat pumps and ducted heat pumps. A ductless heat pump will use mini splits inside the home to distribute the air, whereas a ducted system will pump the air through ducts. Each air handler works independently, allowing for zoned heating and cooling. This helps save money, save energy, and improve your comfort.
At Snowflake Air, we specialize in ductless mini split heat pumps. This is one of the most flexible and energy-efficient options when it comes to heating and cooling your home.
Ductwork
As I just mentioned, lots of heat pump systems use ducts to deliver the air from the heat pump throughout the home. If your home doesn’t have ductwork already, this may require installation. This typically has a decent cost associated with it.
Maybe your home does have ductwork, but it’s old, leaky, or wasn’t designed properly. This is something else we’ve seen. In this case, you may need some repairs or adjustments to your ductwork.
You may also have a home that has perfect ductwork in place, and nothing is needed! You can see how all 3 of these different scenarios can be pretty big role players when it comes to the cost of your new system.
Read More: Ductless Heat Pump Installation In Boise, ID
Heat Pump Installation In Boise, ID
Snowflake Air is an expert when it comes to heat pump installation in Boise, ID. We have been installing, servicing, and repairing heat pumps for years. If you have any issues with heating or cooling your home, give us a call at (208) 205-9078 or click here to visit us online!
