Are you paying too much to cool your home?
You can save thousands on your energy bills with a new, energy efficient heat pump. To learn more about the costs and benefits of a new heat pump in Phoenix, start by giving us a call at (623) 581-5298, or reach out to schedule an appointment today.
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AZ Energy Efficient Home has won the ENERGY STAR Contractor of the Year – Sustained Excellence Award every year since 2016. No other contractor in the country has won the Contractor of the Year title more times than us.
What it's like - Heat pump installation in Phoenix
“I received a couple of quotes for the job and found the combination service from AZ Energy Efficient Home to be the best value – they were the only company I interviewed that could do both projects: insulate the attic and do the HVAC work… It was a very clean, efficient and professional job. There was good communication and the job was explained to me very thoroughly before they started.”
-Dave D in Phoenix, AZ (Read more AZ Energy Efficient Home reviews on Google)
All your heat pump replacement questions answered
If you're just starting to think about a heat pump:
If you're considering a heat pump for your home:
If you're trying to make a final decision about a heat pump:
Are heat pumps good in Phoenix?
The short answer: Definitely.
The longer answer: Check out The Benefits of Heat Pumps for Southwest Homes, a 2022 study by the Southwest Energy Efficiency Project (SWEEP).
In Phoenix, heat pumps are the most cost effective HVAC system
Upfront, you’ll pay slightly more to install a heat pump in Phoenix compared to an air conditioner and gas furnace.
However, heat pumps operate so efficiently that you save significant money on both your heating costs and cooling costs. How much?
SWEEP estimates that an average homeowner in Phoenix saves $2,040 over 15-years when they replace a gas furnace with a heat pump.
Even after accounting for the higher upfront cost, the average Phoenix homeowner comes out way ahead because of the savings on their heating bills.
And we haven’t even gotten to the cooling bills…
Replacing an older 13 SEER cooling system with an energy efficient 19 SEER heat pump will save $294 a year or $4,410 over 15-years for an average homeowner in Arizona (source).
What are the steps to install a heat pump in Phoenix?
#1. Reach Out
Start by giving us a call at (623) 581-5298, or send us a message to schedule an appointment.
#2. Appointment
Too many Phoenix HVAC contractors give estimates for oversized cooling systems that cause comfort issues and high energy bills.
When we design a heat pump or central air conditioning system, we consider your duct design, air leakage, static pressure, room pressure, and all the small things that add up to make a big difference for your home.
#3. Install Your System
There’s a reason that we’ve earned the ENERGY STAR Contractor of the Year Award for the last seven-years in a row. We care about the details and offer every client a satisfaction guarantee. We’ll do what it takes to make sure you’re satisfied with your new heat pump or central air conditioner.
When to replace heat pumps in Phoenix?
A heat pump can run for 20 to 30 years with proper maintenance. The rule of thumb: Replace your heat pump when you have to start investing significant resources just to keep it going.
At some point, you may have heard that you should replace your heat pump after 10 years.
That’s not very good advice.
Some HVAC contractors set out to install as many HVAC systems as possible. That’s partly why they tell homeowners to replace heat pumps after 10 years.
Start with Duct Sealing and Insulation
If you replace your heat pump after 10 years without addressing other issues that degrade the performance of the heat pump – like issues with ducts, air leaks, and insulation – then the new heat pump will continue to underperform just like the old heat pump.
Rather than shelling out $10,000 to $15,000 for a new heat pump, we recommend that our clients address the underlying issues first in order to relieve stress or pressure on their current heat pump.
When you do that, you’ll extend the life of your system, and you’ll be able to install a smaller, more efficient heat pump when it’s finally time to upgrade.
Get 30 Years from Your Heat Pump
To get 20 to 30 years of life out of your heat pump, you need the right amount of insulation in your Phoenix home, and your ducts need to move conditioned air without placing undue stress on the heat pump. Give us a call to talk about the heat pump in your home: (623) 581-5298.
What are the types of heat pumps, and which is best for me?
There are several types of heat pumps, and each has advantages and disadvantages. The type of heat pump that’s best for your home depends on things like the size and layout of your home, your budget, and what you need to keep your home comfortable.
Here we’ll give a rundown of the most popular heat pumps for homeowners in Phoenix.
What is a ductless heat pump, and when to install a ductless heat pump in Phoenix?
In contrast to a central air system, which heats and cools an entire home, a ductless heat pump (also known as a ductless mini split or mini split heat pump) delivers conditioned air to a single area of your home.
A ductless heat pump has two main parts: (1) an outdoor compressor/condenser unit; and (2) an indoor air-handler, which typically comes with a remote control. These two units are connected by a conduit that contains the power cable and refrigerant tubing along with a few other things.
So when does it make sense to install a ductless heat pump in Phoenix?
Add to your home: Ductless heat pumps are a great choice for any new addition – like a garage apartment, bonus space, sunroom, or man cave. If you smoke cigars in your man cave, for example, you won’t have to worry about sharing ductwork with the rest of the house.
One of the main advantages of using a ductless system in these situations is that it can be properly sized for the new space without overloading your existing HVAC system or stealing air from other rooms.
Customize your heating and cooling: Some families can never seem to agree on where they should set the thermostat. That’s fair. Every home and every room is different. A ductless heat pump delivers what’s called “zonal” heating and cooling. That means you can set specific temperatures for different zones or rooms of your home.
Address problem areas: If you notice issues heating and cooling a specific room, consider a ductless heat pump. For example, if you have an upstairs bedroom that never seems to maintain a consistent temperature with the rest of the house, it may make sense to install a ductless heat pump to condition the space after first addressing issues with air sealing and insulation.
If you have limited space, get a side discharge inverter heat pump
A side discharge inverter heat pump uses a variable speed compressor and a side discharge fan to provide heating and cooling to a home or building.
A side discharge inverter heat pump may be the best fit for your home if you have the following three priorities.
#1. Flexibility of Installation
The side discharge design of these heat pumps allows for more flexible installation options, especially in areas where space is limited or where vertical clearance is restricted.
They can be easily installed in tight spaces, and their design also ensures that the hot air is directed away from the unit, preventing recirculation and improving their overall efficiency.
#2 Energy Efficiency
The inverter technology used in side discharge inverter heat pumps allows the compressor to operate at varying speeds, consuming only the necessary amount of energy to maintain the desired temperature.
This results in reduced energy consumption, making them more efficient and cost-effective to operate than traditional single-speed heat pumps.
#3. Whisper-Quiet Operation
The side discharge inverter heat pumps operate at lower sound levels than traditional heat pumps due to the placement of the fan and the improved compressor technology.
The lower noise levels make them ideal for residential areas, and their quieter operation ensures they are not a disturbance to occupants or neighbors.
Should I replace my furnace with a heat pump?
The answer depends on the details of your home. Give us a call to talk more: (623) 581-5298.
In general, it makes sense to replace a furnace with a heat pump in Phoenix, especially if you have an older, inefficient furnace.
The Southwest Energy Efficiency Project (SWEEP) estimates that the average homeowner will save 30% on their heating bills or about $136 a year when replacing a furnace with a heat pump in Phoenix.
Heat pump vs. gas furnace: What’s safer?
It’s unlikely that a new, well maintained gas furnace will make your family sick. However, if you have an older furnace or if you don’t get regular maintenance, then it’s much more likely that you’ll get exposed to carbon monoxide and other air pollutants.
Carbon monoxide (CO) can cause serious problems. Every year, exposure to CO sends about 50,000 people to emergency rooms, and at least 430 people die in the U.S.
Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that enters the air when you burn gas in your furnace, stove, or other combustion appliances. If your furnace has any of the following issues, then carbon monoxide and other gasses have potential to build up in your home:
- Cracked or corroded heat exchanger
- Blocked, leaking, or damaged flue
- Lack of supply air, which can cause older furnaces to backdraft
If you’d like a technician from AZ Energy Efficient Home to evaluate your HVAC system, start by giving us a call at (623) 581-5298, or send us a message to schedule.
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A heat pump is safer to operate than a gas furnace because it runs entirely on electricity. If you don’t burn natural gas in your home, then you don’t need to worry about exposure to carbon monoxide and other byproducts of the combustion process.
To take your indoor air quality to the next level, consider adding an energy recovery ventilator (ERV), which automatically and invisibly filters 99.97% of allergens and other microscopic particles from the air that you breathe at home.
What’s the difference between a ducted and ductless heat pump?
If you only need to heat or cool a particular room or area of your home, you’ll want to install a Mitsubishi ductless heat pump, also known as a “ductless mini split” or “mini split heat pump”.
A ductless heat pump has a single indoor unit or “head” and an outdoor compressor similar to a traditional air conditioner.
Check out this video overview of how Mitsubishi ductless heat pumps work:
A ducted heat pump typically replaces a furnace and uses the existing ducts to distribute conditioned air throughout the home. This video helps to explain how ducted heat pumps work:
Do I need to update my ducts for a ducted heat pump?
It depends on the condition of your ducts. Below, we break down four common issues with ducts in Pheonix homes. If any of the follow looks familiar, you’ll need to update your ducts.
It’s like this – If you have a blocked artery, blood can’t move through the body like it should. In the same way, if you have a pinched duct, air can’t move through the home like it should.
The good news – Fixing your ducts is a relatively inexpensive upgrade that can cut heating and cooling costs by 15% and even out the temperature differences in your home.
Give us a call to talk about fixing the ducts in your home: (623) 581-5298
Common Issues with Ducts in Phoenix Homes
Pinched Ducts Over Rafters
We see it all the time. An installer cuts a corner and drapes a duct over the framing in an attic. As you can see in the image above, the framing pinches the duct and significantly restricts airflow.
Snaking Ductwork
An excessively long ducts adds resistance, reduces air flow, and makes your HVAC system work harder than it needs to. When we see a duct like this, we disconnect it, remove as much of the excess length as we can, then reconnect the duct with the inner lining pulled tight.
Uninsulated Duct
If you have ducts running through an unconditioned space, like your attic, then it’s essential to insulate the ducts so that they don’t gain too much heat during the summer months. We find the most issues with duct sealing and insulation around the connection points (where two or more ducts come together).
Disconnected Duct
Over the years, we’ve found so many supply ducts blowing conditioned air into attics with return ducts sucking super-heated attic air back into the system.
Disconnected ducts can pose a major challenge to the safe and efficient operation of your heat pump. Sometimes it’s easy to find the problem, but not always.
Here’s an easy place to start – If a supply duct has become disconnected, then you won’t feel conditioned air coming out of the vent at the end of the duct. Make sure your heat pump is running, then check the air flow coming out of the vent in your home. This will help you start finding any disconnected ducts.
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What’s the best brand of heat pump for Phoenix homeowners?
The short answer: We’re flexible on the brands we recommend (more below). For the most reliable, energy efficient performance, we generally recommend Trane and Mitsubishi, but if you’re on a budget, consider Day and Night.
The longer answer: The brand you choose matters less than you might think.
What Determines the Longevity of Your Heat Pump in Phoenix?
The most important thing is to hire a quality installer. Any new heat pump needs to be properly sized and balanced with consideration for your insulation, ductwork, and other important features of your home.
If you hire an installer who cuts corners, even a high end heat pump will run constantly, resulting in comfort issues, dust, and high energy bills. We see it all the time.
If you have questions about installing a heat pump in Phoenix, don’t hesitate to hit reply, or give us a call at (623) 581-5298.
How long does it take to get a heat pump installed in Phoenix?
Timelines vary. For the latest estimates, please give us a call at (623) 581-5298.
At this time, we have openings within the next few weeks. It’s possible that we could install a heat pump in your Phoenix home within the next two to four weeks, depending of course on the availability of the type and brand of heat pump system that you want.
How much does a heat pump cost?
It’s a big range, so we usually ask, “What’s your budget?” We find the best heat pump for each customer at a price that works for them.
Here are a few things to know about heat pump costs:
#1. Not all heat pumps are created equal
If you pay less upfront, you’ll end up paying more for operation and maintenance.
For low energy bills and reliable performance, I recommend choosing a heat pump with variable speed air flow and an efficiency rating of at least 16 SEER.
#2. Most customers pay between $90 and $130 a month
The details: Many of our clients choose to finance their heat pump installation with EnerBank, which offers a competitive 0% interest, 60-month term.
In general, a variable speed 16 SEER heat pump ranges between $7K and $9K. A 14 SEER heat pump starts at $5.5K. Please note that pricing is subject to change.
#3. Choose a reputable installer
Because of issues related to the installation, most new heat pumps operate at about half their rated capacity – somewhere between 45% and 65%.
Here at AZ Energy Efficient Home, we test every heat pump installed by our team to make sure they operate between 92% to 98% of their capacity – exactly where they should be.
If you have questions about heat pump costs in Phoenix, don’t hesitate to give us a call at 623) 581-5298 or send us a message.
Is there an AC / heat pump rebate for homeowners in Phoenix?
Yes! Both APS and SRP offer rebates for ACs and heat pumps. For the latest, please visit the rebate page for your electricity provider – APS or SRP.
Rebates are subject to change and availability. If you’re serious about an AC or heat pump replacement, don’t wait. You’ll lock in the largest rebate by doing the project sooner rather than later. Give us a call to get started: (623) 581-5298
APS - AC / Heat Pump Rebate
Get $200 from APS when you work with a participating contractor to install an AC or heat pump with an efficiency rating of 15 SEER or more. Rebates typically take 6 – 8 weeks to process.
APS offers an additional $1,000 to $1,200 to help income-qualified homeowners with emergency AC / heat pump replacements.
SRP - AC / Heat Pump Rebate
If you’re an SRP customer, you can get a rebate between $75 and $,1,125 depending on the size and efficiency of the system you install.
That’s a big range, so let’s break it down.
You would get $75 per ton for the least efficient AC / heat pump or $225 per ton for the most efficient. Our average customer goes with a a 16 SEER variable capacity, 4-ton unit.
You could claim a $900 rebate if you get electricity from SRP and install a 16 SEER variable capacacity, 4-ton heat pump or AC. Send us a message to find out what your rebate would be.
How much will a heat pump save on my energy bills?
Every home is different, but on average, a homeowner who replaces an older heat pump with a new heat pump in Phoenix will save about $353 a year or almost $5,300 over 15-years.
An average homeowner who replaces a furnace and AC with a new heat pump will save even more – about $430 a year or $6,452 over 15-years.
We’ll break it down below.
Replace an older heat pump with a new heat pump
ENERGY STAR created a calculator you can use to estimate energy savings based on the efficiency ratings of your current heat pump and new heat pump.
In the table below, we entered typical estimates for heating and cooling efficiencies for heat pumps in Phoenix. The Energy Information Administration estimates the cost of electricity to be $0.13 per kWh in Arizona, but your costs (and savings) will likely be more because of taxes and fees.
Phoenix heat pump operating costs
| System Type | Heating Efficiency | Cooling Efficiency | Fuel Type | Annual Operating Costs | 15-Year Savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Ducted Heat Pump | 10.4 HSPF | 18.4 SEER | Electricity (kWh) | $880 | $5,295 |
| Old Ducted Heat Pump | 7.5 HPF | 13.0 SEER | Electricity (kWh) | $1,233 | $0 |
Replace a furnace and AC with a heat pump in Phoenix
The Southwest Energy Efficiency Project estimates that an average homeowner in Phoenix who replaces an existing gas furnace with a heat pump will save about $136 a year or $2,040 over 15-years.
Because heat pumps provide energy efficient heating and cooling, you can also rid of your air conditioner. Using a SEER Energy Savings Calculator, you’ll see that an average homeowner in Phoenix saves about $294 a year or $4,410 over 15-years by replacing an older AC with a new heat pump.
Heat pump vs. AC costs
| System Type | Cooling Efficiency | Fuel Type | Annual Operating Costs | 15-Year Savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Heat Pump | 18.4 SEER | Electricity (kWh) | $638 | $4,410 |
| Older Air Conditioner | 13.0 SEER | Electricity (kWh) | $932 | $0 |
Adding up the savings, an average homeowner in Phoenix can expect to save about $6,452 over 15-years by replacing a furnace and AC with a heat pump.
What's different about AZ Energy Efficient Home?
In short, we work with care.
Too many HVAC contractors recommend larger systems than you need without taking the time to assess your duct leakage, duct design, air leakage, static pressure, or room pressure.
We properly size and scope every heat pump system. The result – You get consistent temperatures throughout your home, and you pay less on your energy bills over months and years. Every client gets a satisfaction guarantee.
No other contractor in the country has won the ENERGY STAR Contractor of the Year Award more times than AZ Energy Efficient Home.