Two quotes for the same heat pump can be thousands of dollars apart because the outdoor unit is only part of the job. Here is what else you are paying for.
The equipment
The heat pump sits outside. Inside, it needs a matching coil on top of your furnace, or an air handler if the furnace comes out. A furnace + heat pump quote also includes the gas furnace, which takes over on the coldest nights. The quote should list a model number for each piece and the thermostat that switches between them.
The line set
Two copper lines connect the coil to the outdoor unit. The larger one is wrapped in insulation; the smaller one is bare. A short, straight run from the old AC pad costs little. A new route through a finished basement ceiling costs more. An old line set can sometimes be reused after a flush and a pressure test, and the quote should say which.
The electrical work
Most heat pumps need a 240-volt circuit and a disconnect outside. If your panel has room, that is a small line item. If it is full, it can become a separate project. A photo of the panel with the door open usually settles it.
Ducts, drain and the pad
The new coil has to fit between the furnace and the duct above it, which can take a new sheet-metal transition. The coil drips all summer, so it needs a drain to the floor drain or a pump. Outside, the unit sheds meltwater from defrosting all winter, so it sits on risers or a stand above the snow and ice.
- Coil or air handler matched to the outdoor unit
- Line set, new or reused after testing
- Circuit, disconnect and any panel work
- Duct transition, drain and pad or stand
- Startup, charge check and thermostat setup
Where your price lands
Within one system and brand, the house moves the price most: how far the lines run, what the panel needs and whether the furnace stays. The price comparison shows the typical range for each.
Send photos of the furnace, its label, the outdoor unit and the panel, and we'll price your house.