A homeowner in the Portland, Maine, area posted heat pump quotes on Reddit for advice after seeing estimates that seemed unusually high for a roughly 900-square-foot house.
The cost was only part of the concern. The homeowner also wanted to know whether a 36,000-BTU system with four indoor units made sense for a house that small.
Here's what to know
In a Reddit post, the homeowner said contractors were recommending Mitsubishi Hyper Heat equipment, usually with four heads and a combination of outdoor units for the upstairs and downstairs.
"We've gotten quotes in the 20-25k range for the whole job (parts, labor, electrical)," the original poster wrote.
While commenters largely said a total in the $20,000-to-$25,000 range wasn't especially shocking for Maine, they were more doubtful about the proposed system size. One commenter described themselves as "an electrician out of Windham and an Efficiency Maine heat pump installer" and said, "My baseline is $5k per head average."
That same person also questioned the sizing, saying, "That seems like a lot of BTU for your sq ft."
For many households, upgrading heating and cooling is one of the best ways to save money on utility bills and protect against rising energy prices. For homeowners with questions like the OP, Palmetto can help them understand their HVAC options, lower energy bills with newer, more efficient HVAC systems and heat pumps, and connect with vetted installers through its Comfort Plan network.
More background
More details in the thread suggested the home itself is a challenge: a 1949 Cape with closed-off rooms, older fiberglass insulation, and a design meant to heat the house year-round.
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The discussion also noted that the house has a gravity furnace that will be removed, and the existing floor ductwork "isn't reusable," making the job more complicated than a simple replacement. One quote included about $6,000 for labor alone.
Along with questions about the 36,000-BTU recommendation, other practical issues came up as well: one commenter said a preferred installer had a three-month lead time, and another noted that seacoast-area installs should use an aluminum or stainless-steel stand, "or it will rot out."
What can be done?
Commenters urged the homeowner to keep gathering written quotes and to ask each installer how they determined the load calculation. One contractor reportedly used software on an iPad, but commenters still recommended reviewing a Manual J and a Manual S before committing to four heads and 36,000 BTU.
The planned addition of propane also mattered, since backup fuel could make a smaller heat pump system workable if the home wouldn't have to rely on it alone through the coldest winter stretches.
For homeowners who aren't ready to spend up front, Palmetto's Comfort Plan includes $0-down options that can cut heating and cooling costs by up to 50%, plus 12 years of free maintenance.
Homeowners can also pair solar panels with electric appliances, including efficient HVACs, to lower utility costs even further. EnergySage makes it easier to compare solar options and find the best solar system and installer for a home and budget, and it can help homeowners save up to $10,000 on solar installations.
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