
The Cost To Replace A Heat Pump.
Table of Contents
Here Is an in-depth complete breakdown of the cost to replace a heat pump for your home.
The purchase of a heat pump outdoor condenser, Evaporator coil, Air Handler, Furnace, or whole System it’s a big decision.
If you are considering purchasing a new (heat pump condenser by itself) or purchasing a whole indoor and outdoor heat pump system then read this whole article carefully. It may just save you a lot of money and frustration.
I will do my best to break down every aspect of the heat pump system cost. Everything comes into play when it comes to the cost of a heat pump system.

Before we get into breaking down every aspect of the heat pump system you need to understand some basic terminology of what you are getting.
Typically when people say how much is the cost to replace a heat pump. What they are talking about is just the outside heat pump condenser only. You have to make sure if the price you are getting is to replace just the outside heat pump condenser or the whole system price.
A residential heat pump system will consist of the following equipment.
- An indoor air handler
- The outside heat pump condenser
- Numerious accessories & utility connections to complete the whole system.
The following prices are based on a reputable company that has solid 10 year parts and 10-year labor warranties. The prices also assume the company has worker’s compensation insurance and general liability insurance and can prove they have both up to date. The prices given below are for brand-name equipment such as Trane, Lennox, and Carrier.
Heat pump cost breakdown by the tonnage and SEER rating.
1.5 Ton heat pump equipment
- If you are putting in a 14 SEER heat pump CONDENSER ONLY the price will be approximately $4,500.
- If you are putting in a 14 Seer WHOLE heat pump system inside and outside it will approximately be $9,000.
- If you are putting in a 16 SEER heat pump CONDENSER ONLY the price will be approximately $5,200.
- If you are putting in a 16 Seer WHOLE heat pump system inside and outside it will approximately be $11,200.
- If you are putting in an 18 SEER heat pump CONDENSER ONLY the price will be approximately $6,400.
- If you are putting in an 18 Seer WHOLE heat pump system inside and outside it will approximately be $13,900.
- If you are putting in a 20 SEER heat pump CONDENSER ONLY the price will be approximately $9,359.
- If you are putting in a 20 Seer WHOLE heat pump system inside and outside it will approximately be $17,500.
2.0 Ton heat pump equipment
- If you are putting in a 14 SEER heat pump CONDENSER ONLY the price will be approximately $4,700.
- If you are putting in a 14 Seer WHOLE heat pump system inside and outside it will approximately be $9,400.
- If you are putting in a 16 SEER heat pump CONDENSER ONLY the price will be approximately $4,500.
- If you are putting in a 16 Seer WHOLE heat pump system inside and outside it will approximately be $9,000.
- If you are putting in an 18 SEER heat pump CONDENSER ONLY the price will be approximately $4,500.
- If you are putting in an 18 Seer WHOLE heat pump system inside and outside it will approximately be $9,000.
- If you are putting in a 20 SEER heat pump CONDENSER ONLY the price will be approximately $4,500.
- If you are putting in a 20 Seer WHOLE heat pump system inside and outside it will approximately be $9,000.
2.5 Ton heat pump equipment
- If you are putting in a 14 SEER heat pump CONDENSER ONLY the price will be approximately $4,500.
- If you are putting in a 14 Seer WHOLE heat pump system inside and outside it will approximately be $9,000.
- If you are putting in a 16 SEER heat pump CONDENSER ONLY the price will be approximately $5,800.
- If you are putting in a 16 Seer WHOLE heat pump system inside and outside it will approximately be $11,500.
- If you are putting in an 18 SEER heat pump CONDENSER ONLY the price will be approximately $8,100.
- If you are putting in an 18 Seer WHOLE heat pump system inside and outside it will approximately be $15,200.
- If you are putting in a 20 SEER heat pump CONDENSER ONLY the price will be approximately $11,500.
- If you are putting in a 20 Seer WHOLE heat pump system inside and outside it will approximately be $19,400.
3.0 Ton heat pump equipment
- If you are putting in a 14 SEER heat pump CONDENSER ONLY the price will be approximately $5,200.
- If you are putting in a 14 Seer WHOLE heat pump system inside and outside it will approximately be $10,200.
- If you are putting in a 16 SEER heat pump CONDENSER ONLY the price will be approximately $6,500.
- If you are putting in a 16 Seer WHOLE heat pump system inside and outside it will approximately be $12,800.
- If you are putting in an 18 SEER heat pump CONDENSER ONLY the price will be approximately $8,500.
- If you are putting in an 18 Seer WHOLE heat pump system inside and outside it will be $16,200.
- If you are putting in a 20 SEER heat pump CONDENSER ONLY the price will be approximately $11,600.
- If you are putting in a 20 Seer WHOLE heat pump system inside and outside it will approximately be $20,100.
3.5 Ton heat pump equipment
- If you are putting in a 14 SEER heat pump CONDENSER ONLY the price will be approximately $5,500.
- If you are putting in a 14 Seer WHOLE heat pump system inside and outside it will approximately be $10,000.
- If you are putting in a 16 SEER heat pump CONDENSER ONLY the price will be approximately $6,900.
- If you are putting in a 16 Seer WHOLE heat pump system inside and outside it will approximately be $13,800.
- If you are putting in an 18 SEER heat pump CONDENSER ONLY the price will be approximately $8,800.
- If you are putting in an 18 Seer WHOLE heat pump system inside and outside it will approximately be $17,000.
- If you are putting in a 20 SEER heat pump CONDENSER ONLY the price will be approximately $12,500.
- If you are putting in a 20 Seer WHOLE heat pump system inside and outside it will approximately be $21,000.
4.0 Ton heat pump equipment
- If you are putting in a 14 SEER heat pump CONDENSER ONLY the price will be approximately $5,500.
- If you are putting in a 14 Seer WHOLE heat pump system inside and outside it will approximately be $10,800.
- If you are putting in a 16 SEER heat pump CONDENSER ONLY the price will be approximately $7,500.
- If you are putting in a 16 Seer WHOLE heat pump system inside and outside it will approximately be $13,800.
- If you are putting in an 18 SEER heat pump CONDENSER ONLY the price will be approximately $8,500.
- If you are putting in an 18 Seer WHOLE heat pump system inside and outside it will approximately be $16,000.
- If you are putting in a 20 SEER heat pump CONDENSER ONLY the price will be approximately $12,500.
- If you are putting in a 20 Seer WHOLE heat pump system inside and outside it will approximately be $21,000.
5.0 Ton heat pump equipment
- If you are putting in a 14 SEER heat pump CONDENSER ONLY the price will be approximately $5,700.
- If you are putting in a 14 Seer WHOLE heat pump system inside and outside it will approximately be $11,500.
- If you are putting in a 16 SEER heat pump CONDENSER ONLY the price will be approximately $7,700.
- If you are putting in a 16 Seer WHOLE heat pump system inside and outside it will approximately be $14,900.
- If you are putting in an 18 SEER heat pump CONDENSER ONLY the price will be approximately $9,300.
- If you are putting in an 18 Seer WHOLE heat pump system inside and outside it will approximately be $17,400.
- If you are putting in a 20 SEER heat pump CONDENSER ONLY the price will be approximately $12,500.
- If you are putting in a 20 Seer WHOLE HEAT PUMP SYSTEM inside and outside it will approximately be $21,500.
Heat pump cost breakdown by Brand.
The cost difference to replace a heat pump in the major brands can vary depending on the SEER rating of the equipment and if it’s variable speed or not.
The 4 brands listed below are in order of cost highest to lowest. There is also a close indicator of the quality, durability, and longevity associated with the number rankings also.
- Trane heat pump cost #1
- Lennox heat pump cost #2
- American Standard heat pump cost #3
- Carrier # heat pump cost #4
Lower tier brands that are less expensive.
- York heat pump cost #5
- Goodman heat pump cost #6
- Rheem heat pump cost #7
- Ruud heat pump cost #8
So based on the brands above you can expect to pay a significant amount more for a Trane or Lennox than you would for a Goodman or Ruud. Based on the equipment alone, you really do get what you pay for.
Heat pump cost breakdown by energy efficiency (SEER).
Here is a common conversation I have with homeowners when it comes to getting prices on a new heat pump condenser or the whole system.

They will say my friend only paid $7,000 for a whole new heat pump system. Why are you trying to charge me $12,000 dollars for a new heat pump system?
If the $7000 dollar system is low energy efficiency (SEER) such as a 14 seer and if it’s a cheaper brand then of course you can expect to pay less. However, if you are getting quoted an 18 seer much more energy-efficient better brand system tan you can expect to pay a lot more. The equipment is much higher as the energy efficiency of a heat pump goes up.
So when it comes to SEER Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. You can expect to pay a lot more for the cost of a heat pump as the SEER rating goes up.
So when someone says. I paid $ 4,500 dollars for my heat pump so you must have got ripped off because you paid $20,000 dollars. You have to take into consideration the specific seer of the equipment because just the direct cost of the equipment can vary by many thousands of dollars as the seer rating goes up.
Heat pump cost breakdown by location in the USA and location in your home.
The cost to have a heat pump installed in Los Angeles and New York is going to be more expensive than a small town in Nebraska for the most part.
The cost of running a legal business can have some dramatic differences in different states and towns. But for the most part, even if you live in rural Mississippi or Los Angeles California. Business overhead is going to make some increases and some decreases but not as much as you would expect.
So based on the prices I have up above you should expect to pay $1500 – $2000 less if you were in a very rural town than if you were in a large city. The cost of running a business regardless of the size will most often be much more in a city.
The labor and parts warranties the company that will be installing the system offer.
The Cost To Replace A Heat Pump can be affected by the warranties the company offers.
Company A offers 10-year parts and a 1-year labor warranty.
Company B offers 10-year parts and a 10-year labor warranty.
Company C offers lifetime parts and labor warranty.
What company will be the better deal on The Cost To Replace A Heat Pump?
Company A charges $7,500 to replace the whole heat pump system inside and out excluding any ducts.
Company B charges $10,000 to replace the heat pump system excluding any ducts.
Company c charges $14000 to replace the heat pump system excluding any ducts.
Company A can afford to charge less on the front-end because they only have a 1-year labor warranty. If they are using lower-end brand name equipment they know will be able to make up the difference in price if anything breaks after the 1-year labor warranty. A lot of people don’t understand that just because your heat pump has a 10-year parts warranty that doesn’t include the labor to put that part on. Over the course of 10 years, a lower-end system may have several breakdowns. It may end up costing you many more thousands of dollars in labor to keep the heat pump going. Not to mention the time and aggravation of dealing with a system that doesn’t work.
Company B offers a 10-year part and 10-year labor warranty. So at least you know you won’t have to fork out any money in labor for a full 10 years. You can also bet they will follow all of the manufacturer’s installation recommendations to ensure the installation is done to last. The last thing they want to do is skip steps and have to come back and pay for labor costs to fix it for free. This is much better than COMPANY A is offering and in the long run, I believe the company B heat pump system cost will be less than the COMPANY A heat pump system cost.
Company C Offers lifetime parts and labor warranty. This may be a good option if you plan on staying in the home for a very long time. However, the only thing I don’t like it after 15 -18 years goes by the system really needs to be replaced even if it’s still running. The reason I say that is because as technology advances in that long of a time. It won’t matter if it’s still running and under warranty. The system will really need to be replaced. I’m not saying this is a bad deal because it’s not. I think it’s an awesome deal. But If I had to pick out of these 3 I would pick company B.
Everyone has different circumstances but I believe the warranty that has the cheapest cost of overall ownership would be company B. Yes, you will pay more on the front end but having a 10-year labor warranty will pay off big-time on the overall cost of ownership.
What installers will be installing the system?
The Cost To Replace A Heat Pump system has a lot to do with the skill level, compensation, and happiness of the technicians putting your system in.
It’s unfortunate that a low price often means the people working for that company have no benefits, low wages, and lack the technical training to do the job correctly. They may be unhappy working at that company and, rightfully so. Do you think happy workers or unhappy workers will do a better installation?
I know from first-hand experience technicians that who work for good companies do much better work.
The Cost To Replace A Heat Pump is not just the up-front price you pay the day of the job. The Cost To Replace A Heat Pump is about the overall price of ownership for many years to come.
Don’t just pick a company and a heat pump system because the price is low. No one wants to make a $5,000 dollar mistake. It’s much better to take your time and pick a company and heat pump system that lasts you for 15 years or more of trouble stress-free operation.
I hope you got some value out of this post on The Cost To Replace A Heat Pump. If you have any comments or statements please comment below.