How Much Does It Cost To Install A Heat Pump In Florida? 

December 20, 2017

If you’re in the market for a new heat pump, you’re probably wondering “How much is this going to cost me?”

The answer? Well, the cost to install a heat pump in Florida ranges from $5,274 to $6,975 with the average homeowner paying $6,130.

Of course, the only way to get the exact price of your heat pump installation is to get an estimate from an HVAC tech. But, if you want to do a little more research first, read on.

We’ll explain how the following 4 factors determine the price of a heat pump installation:

• The unit itself
  
• Labor
• Warranties provided
• Additional costs

Cost factor #1: The heat pump unit

When you’re looking for a new heat pump, you’ll have several important decisions to make concerning the heat pump unit itself.

Heat pump units vary in price according to the:

• Size
  
• Brand
• SEER & HSPF rating

Size

Heat pumps are sized according to how much heat they can move in an hour—measured in “tonnage”. Residential heat pumps are usually sized anywhere from 1 to 5 tons.

But what’s most important to know is that you don’t have a choice in what heat pump size you get. The amount of cooling or heating your home needs determines what size heat pump you’ll get.

In order to (correctly) determine the size heat pump your home needs, a professional should inspect your home and take into consideration various factors such as:

• How many people live in the home?
  
• The square footage of the home
• Amount of insulation
• Amount of windows/doors
• Orientation of the home (i.e. facing west vs east)
• Etc.

The bottom line? You need a professional to determine the size heat pump you need. And beware contractors who rely on “rule-of-thumbs” like only looking at the square footage of your home.

Brand

Typically, the “bigger” the brand, the more you’ll pay for your heat pump unit. But here’s a little secret: there’s usually very little variance in quality from brand to brand. So, our suggestion is to focus less on the brand and more on the SEER & HSPF rating of the unit.

Which takes us to our next factor…

SEER & HSPF ratings

Because a heat pump can provide both cooling and heating, each unit receives two efficiency ratings:

1. SEER rating (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating) determines how efficient the unit is at cooling. Heat pumps can range in SEER rating from 13 to 26+.
   
2. HSPF rating (Heating Seasonal Performance Factor) determines how efficient the unit is at heating. Heat pumps can range in HSPF rating from 7.7 to 12.5.

Basically, the higher the rating, the more efficient the unit and the higher its upfront cost. BUT it’s important to remember that higher ratings also mean higher lifetime savings on energy costs.

Our suggestion? Get a heat pump with a:

• SEER rating no lower than 15
  
• HSPF rating no lower than 8.5

Cost factor #2: Labor

Just like any service, the higher the quality and more experienced the contractor, the higher they typically charge for labor.

But beyond that, contractors charge 2 different ways:

• Flat-rate pricing
  
• Hourly pricing

Our suggestion is to choose a contractor that offers flat-rate pricing so that there are no surprises when you get the bill. But more importantly, make sure that you choose an installer who:

• Is licensed and insured in the state of Florida
  
• Offers a flat-rate estimate in writing after they inspect your home (avoid companies who give over-the-phone estimates)
• Offers quality Energy Star products
• Works locally in an office or shop

Need more guidance? Just check out our blog “Top 10 Essential Qualities to Look for in an HVAC Contractor”.

Cost factor #3: Warranty provided

Oftentimes, a heat pump’s warranty is built into the overall installation price. The longer the coverage of your warranty, the higher the overall installation price.

3 types of warranties you’ll be offered for your heat pump include:

1. Labor warranty. This warranty is sometimes referred to as the “installation warranty” and covers the time and labor for any needed repair after installation. Labor warranties are offered by the contractor who installed your heat pump and generally last for 1 to 2 years.
   
2. HVAC parts warranty. This warranty covers the cost for any replacement parts needed after your heat pump is installed. Parts warranties are offered by the manufacturer (Carrier, Lennox, etc.) and typically last anywhere from 5 to 10 years.
3. Extended warranty. Manufacturers and dealers (i.e. installation contractors) will often offer “extended” warranties that allow you to keep your heat pump under warranty beyond the basic 1-2 year labor warranty and 1-10 year parts warranty. These warranties can cost anywhere from $500 to over $1,000 depending on how many extra years they add to your warranty.

Cost factor #4: Additional costs

Like most big projects, there are a lot of “unknowns” when it comes to a heat pump installation, which could raise the total price of what you’ll pay.

For example, you could be looking at a higher-than-average price tag for your heat pump installation if:

• Your home doesn’t currently have air ducts
  
• You have a large home that needs to be zoned (for more information on “zoning”, refer to our blog “Is a Zoned Heating/Cooling System Right for You?”)
• You opt for additional “comfort features” such as a two-stage compressor
• You need to add additional return or supply vents throughout your home

Want a specific quote for your Florida heat pump installation?

Just contact us.

We’ll send out a professional who will inspect your home then give you a fair, flat-rate price on your heat pump installation.

Posted in: Buyer's Guide