Has anyone replaced an air source heat pump lately? Outdoor unit plus the air handler.
if so, can you give me an idea of how much you paid and for what tonage? This is something I have to do this spring… unless I put it off a year and just go with window a/c units this summer.
ANyone? Anyone? (doing my best impression from ferris bueller 
)
You know there are quite a few variables involved in this question, right?
They cost about $2500 - $4,000, but what your local “expert” is going to charge you is anyone’s guess.
I got one estimate of about 6,000 but that seems steep. Planning to get more estimates in the spring. I have a 2.5 ton unit currently, which I believe to be more on the smaller side. All of the duct work and everything is in place and is fine.
Just thought i’d try to compare prices with what anyone else has done lately.
What region do you live in, what type and how big is your home and when was it built?
1940’s, north east, Cape cod, about 1600 sq ft. The whole house was renovated about 10 yrs ago - which included a new roof, new siding, new windows, new insulation on the 2nd floor, etc. Current heat pump unit is on its last legs and is 25 yrs old. It had 3 repairs last summer and i didn’t bother calling them out a 4th time. Just turned it off for good. No sense putting any more bandaids on it.
I usually use it for A/c all summer, heat in November and then heat again in march/april timeframe. I use my oil burner for the dec/jan/feb timeframe. This year i’[l be using the oil the whole time. Thankfully oil has gone down in price and isn’t nearly as steep as it was last year. I do know some of the newer heat pumps can be efficient all the way down to zero, so it may be possible to get something that I can use year round, but i’m sure those cost a pretty penny. My two units (oil burner and heat pump) are separate from each other and not tied in. The heat pump has electric as its backup.
Cheapest upfront cost will be a replacement air source heat pump and air handler. Even the cheap ones will be more efficient than your last unit. Unfortunately, they probably won’t last as long. Fair value of the hardware is about $1,700. Fair cost to install is about $1,000 - $1,250. They will try to get markup on you.
A high efficiency ductless minisplit would be a preferred choice in terms of ease and long-term energy efficiency. They cost maybe $3,500 and have install costs of $2,500-$3,000. Keep the oil backup until you determine it’s no longer needed.
This is the website where you can get good advice. Be prepared to explain you r current equip and what you are looking for. You will need your location and your home’s sq footage. There are a lot of very knowledgeable people there.
http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/hvac/
Discovered heat pumps at a Door County, WI condo years ago. When it got too cold the electric heat kicked in. Had gas forced air in homes elsewhere but only propane source available there, hence choices when development built…
Now in Florida where heat pumps rule and air conditioning, not heating, is the norm. Needed to replace ours last year (older, needed A/C repairs…). Check on choices in your area- most efficient, reliable etc. Winter temps/lows matter.