The range of quotes a Seattle homeowner gets when they call around for heat pump installation is one of the strangest things in home services. Two contractors visit the same house, walk the same rooms, look at the same furnace, and hand over numbers that can differ by $10,000 or more. I have been on both ends of those conversations: the customer who didn’t understand what they were looking at, and the contractor trying to explain a price that sounds enormous until you break it down.
At Product Air Heating, Cooling and Electric, we made a decision a few years ago to stop hiding our prices. Most HVAC companies don’t publish numbers. They prefer a free estimate so they can adjust the quote to whatever the room suggests the customer might pay. We think that is the wrong approach, and we have thought so since the beginning. You deserve to understand what goes into the price before anyone shows up at your door.
Below you will find twelve specific scenarios with real prices: four equipment categories, three installation types, and the honest math behind each number. All of it current as of 2026, based on real jobs our teams have completed in Wedgwood, Sandpoint, Lake City, Windermere, the University District, and across greater Seattle. Read this the way you would read a menu: the numbers are real, and the right answer for your home depends on what the estimate actually reveals.
Five Key Scenarios at a Glance
| Scenario | Price Range (before rebates) |
| Home Depot equipment + Product Air professional installation | $3,500 – $5,000 |
| Most affordable full-cycle professional option | From $8,520 |
| Most common (what most Seattle homeowners choose) | $13,500 – $15,000 |
| Premium multi-zone or Cold Climate system | $17,600 – $22,700 |
| Complex full retrofit with ductwork and electrical | Up to $22,700+ |
All prices +tax. Rebates and incentives can reduce the final number by $600 to $4,000 depending on your utility provider and income level.
How the Price Breaks Down
When you look at a heat pump quote and try to understand where the money is going, the breakdown follows roughly the same pattern across every contractor and every market. Equipment accounts for the largest share, usually around 45% of the total. Labor and installation run around 30%. Permits and ancillary materials cover the rest.
Equipment: Around 45% of a Typical Budget
The equipment cost depends on two things: the brand and tier you select, and how that equipment is sourced. At Product Air, we purchase all of our equipment through Gensco, the largest regional HVAC distributor in the Pacific Northwest, a family-owned business founded in 1948 with 26 branches across five states. As a Gensco dealer, we have access to the full catalog, Mitsubishi, Trane, American Standard, Midea, Coleman, and more, at dealer pricing that we pass directly to our customers.
This matters in practice. When you buy heat pump equipment through an authorized dealer rather than a hardware store or an online marketplace, the manufacturer warranty is valid, the equipment has been stored correctly, and the contractor is accountable for what was installed. When the equipment comes through an unauthorized channel, the manufacturer can and does void the warranty on a system that cost $20,000. We see this happen. It is not a hypothetical.
Installation and Labor: Around 30% of a Typical Budget
Our Seattle office is in the city, which means travel is effectively free for any job inside Seattle proper. We do not add a mileage surcharge for Wedgwood, Sandpoint, Lake City, or the University District. Jobs well outside our service radius are different, but for Seattle addresses that cost does not apply.
Something worth saying plainly: an unlicensed installer can offer prices noticeably lower than what a licensed contractor will charge. Sometimes $2,000 lower, sometimes more. That gap is real, and I understand why some homeowners consider it. But the people who call us after a DIY or unlicensed installation (and we get those calls regularly) tend to spend more on the repair than they would have spent on a proper installation in the first place. I will say more about this in the section on DIY versus professional installation below.
Permits in Seattle: What They Actually Cost
Heat pump installation in Seattle requires two to three permits from Seattle SDCI: a mechanical permit, a refrigeration permit, and in most cases an electrical permit. The combined cost runs between $149 and $500 depending on the scope and the declared project value. Product Air handles all permits as part of every installation. In most cases we can pull the correct permits within four to 24 hours. The homeowner does not manage this process. We handle it from application through final inspection sign-off.
What a Permit Is and Why It Matters
A permit is not bureaucratic overhead. In Seattle, a heat pump installed without a permit cannot receive rebates from Seattle City Light or PSE. That is not a technicality. It is a condition of both programs. If you skip the permit to save $200, you lose access to rebates that can reduce your bill by $600, $1,500, or more. The math never works in favor of unpermitted work.
Three other things a permit protects. First, your insurance: if an unpermitted system causes damage, your homeowner’s policy may deny the claim. Second, your home sale: an unpermitted installation must be disclosed, and in Seattle’s current inspection environment, buyers notice and negotiate accordingly. Third, the manufacturer warranty: the 10-year or 12-year warranty on your equipment can be voided if the installation lacks a valid permit. A $400 permit protects a $20,000 investment. We have never been able to understand why homeowners skip it, and we have never had a customer who was glad they did.
Four Equipment Categories in Seattle
Not every heat pump is built for the same home or the same budget. Here is how we break down what we actually install in Seattle in 2026.
Home Depot Option: Midea, Carrier, Lennox
When customers ask about equipment they can purchase at Home Depot, we can install it. Product Air is a Home Depot trusted partner. The important distinction: the openly displayed DIY equipment such as Mr. Cool Universal and similar low-tier mini-splits are designed for self-installation. When a recognized local brand like Carrier or Lennox is sold through Home Depot, they require a certified installer to handle the job. That is the tier we work with as partners.
If you purchase the equipment yourself and we install it, you are looking at $3,500 to $5,000 for a professional installation. If the equipment has not been stored or transported correctly, we will tell you before we begin rather than install it and let you find out later.
Entry-Level: Runtru by Trane (14 SEER2)
Runtru by Trane is a single-stage heat pump designed for homes that need a reliable, warrantied, professionally installed system at the lowest professional price point. It is not the most efficient option on the market, but it is a real Trane product with a real 10-year manufacturer warranty, and it is the right answer for homeowners who need the economics to work above everything else.
In Seattle, one ton of capacity covers approximately 450 to 700 square feet depending on the age of the home and its sun exposure. A three-ton unit is the most common size for the homes we work in.
Mid-Range: Midea EVOX G3 and Trane Resolute Quest (15–19 SEER2)
The mid-range category is where the majority of Seattle homeowners land. Inverter-driven compressors, SEER2 ratings in the 15 to 19 range, significantly better performance across Seattle’s mild but wet winters, and a price point that makes sense for a home you plan to stay in for the next decade. The Midea EVOX G3 and Trane Resolute Quest are both strong performers here. The Trane carries the brand recognition some customers want; the Midea often comes in slightly lower in price with comparable specifications.
Premium: Mitsubishi PUZ, SUZ Cold Climate, and MXZ Multi-Zone
At the top of the range is Mitsubishi Electric. Product Air is a Mitsubishi Diamond Elite Contractor, the highest certification available to a small number of contractors nationwide. That status means our technicians are trained and certified specifically on Mitsubishi systems, which is how we can offer a 12-year manufacturer warranty on their equipment rather than the standard 10.
The PUZ is Mitsubishi’s standard three-ton outdoor unit for ducted systems. The SUZ Cold Climate H2i can operate down to negative 13 degrees Fahrenheit, which matters in Seattle winters in older, less-insulated homes. The MXZ is their multi-zone platform, capable of feeding two, three, four, or five independent indoor zones from a single outdoor unit. For homes without ductwork, or homes where different rooms need different temperatures, the MXZ changes what is possible.
Three Installation Types: What Each One Includes
The same equipment costs a different amount to install depending on what the job actually requires.
Simple Installation
A simple installation is a direct add-on to an existing system: short refrigerant lines, no electrical work required, and an exact match to the existing system layout. The outdoor unit goes where the old one was, the lines run where lines already run, and no structural changes are needed. This is the fastest and least expensive installation type. If your existing ductwork is in good condition, your electrical panel already supports the load, and the outdoor unit placement is straightforward, this is what the job looks like.
Standard Installation
A standard installation covers the more common scenario in Seattle: the outdoor unit ends up on the opposite side of the house from where the furnace or air handler is located, refrigerant lines run longer distances, electrical work is needed, multiple permits are required, and duct modification may be necessary. This is what most jobs look like in the older Seattle housing stock: 1940s and 1950s single-story homes in Wedgwood, two-story craftsmen in Sandpoint and the University District, post-war construction in Lake City. The house was not designed with a heat pump in mind, and the installation reflects that reality.
Complex Installation
A complex installation is what happens when the job requires significant structural work: ductwork that needs to be rebuilt or extended into new rooms, an indoor unit that needs to be relocated, electrical panel upgrades, multiple trade coordination, and multiple permit inspections. This is the full retrofit scenario: an older home converting from a different heating system entirely, or a home where a previous contractor’s decisions created challenges the new installation has to work around.
Full Table with 12 Real Numbers for Seattle
| Equipment | Simple | Standard | Complex |
| Home Depot equipment (Product Air installs) | $3,500 – $5,000 | N/A | N/A |
| Entry-level — Runtru by Trane (14 SEER2) | $8,520 | $10,419 | $14,659 |
| Mid-range — Midea EVOX G3 / Trane Resolute (15–19 SEER2) | $13,532 – $13,870 | $14,392 – $14,714 | $18,194 – $19,002 |
| Premium — Mitsubishi PUZ / MXZ multi-zone | $16,532 | $17,672 – $20,705 | $20,399 – $22,663 |
All prices +tax, current as of May 2026. Permit cost ($149–$500) is included in the totals above. Rebates are not reflected. See the next section.
No price in this table is a starting point that grows after you sign. What you see is what the job costs before Washington state sales tax and before applicable rebates. Every quote from Product Air comes with three to four options so you can see exactly how the price shifts when you move up or down a tier.
To get an accurate number for your specific home, an in-person estimate is required. Every house is different: the age of the ductwork, the location of the electrical panel, the outdoor unit placement, the square footage and room layout all change the math. At Product Air, the estimate is free, and you will have a quote within 15 minutes of the visit.
Rebates and Incentives in 2026: What Changes the Final Price
Washington State and Seattle utilities currently offer some of the most accessible heat pump rebate programs in the country. Which programs apply to you depends on your utility provider, your income level, and the equipment you choose.
Seattle City Light
If your address is served by Seattle City Light, which covers most of Seattle proper, two base rebate levels apply in 2026. A system meeting SEER2 15.2 or HSPF2 8.1 earns a $300 rebate. A higher-efficiency system at SEER2 16 or HSPF2 9.1 earns $600.
For Seattle homes currently heated with oil, the No More Oil Heat program offers up to $2,000 as an instant rebate, with an additional $4,000 available for income-qualified households. This program currently requires Mitsubishi equipment.
Direct link: ductlesshomecomfort.com/no-more-oil-heat
PSE (Puget Sound Energy)
PSE operates across King County outside Seattle, Snohomish County, and Skagit County. Their base rebates mirror Seattle City Light: $300 at SEER2 15.2, $600 at SEER2 16. Their upgrade programs go further. Upgrading to a higher-efficiency heat pump earns $1,500, or $2,400 for lower-income households. Converting a gas-plus-heat-pump hybrid system earns $1,500 ($2,400 lower income). Converting from electric resistance heat to a heat pump earns the same. Converting from gas to a heat pump as an income-qualified household can earn up to $4,000.
Direct link: pse.com/en/rebates/heating
For homeowners in Issaquah, Bellevue, Mercer Island, Kirkland, Redmond, and Sammamish, the Energy Smart Eastside program offers $1,000 to $10,000 depending on income. Direct link: energysmarteastside.org/incentive-calculator
Snohomish PUD
Snohomish PUD offers its own heat pump rebates independent of PSE. A ducted conversion system meeting a minimum of HSPF2 7.5 and SEER2 13.8 earns $1,800. An inverter-driven ducted system at HSPF2 8.5 and SEER2 13.8 earns $2,500.
Direct link: snopud.com/save-energy/residential/rebates/heating
Washington State HEAR Program
The Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates program is currently pending in Washington State. Once it goes live, it will add another layer of incentive for heat pump installations. We are tracking this closely and will apply it to new quotes the moment the program is active. Current status: commerce.wa.gov/energy-incentives/ira-home-energy-rebates
Federal IRA 25C: Expired January 1, 2026
The 25C tax credit, which allowed homeowners to claim up to 30% of heat pump installation costs against their federal tax liability, expired on January 1, 2026. It is no longer available. If a contractor or website is advertising it, their information is out of date.
How We Handle the Rebate Process
When a rebate is available for a job, we discount it on the quote before you sign anything. In most cases the customer sees only the final price after the rebate has been applied, the number on the invoice is already reduced. Our office team handles the paperwork and program filing. The customer typically needs to sign a few forms and, for income-qualified programs, share household income documentation. The savings appear on the day of installation, not weeks later after a processing wait.
Three Real Heat Pump Jobs in Seattle From Product Air
Tyler in Wedgwood: Mitsubishi Cold Climate, Full System to the Attic
Tyler called in March. He had no central air conditioning anywhere in his 1951 single-story home at 52nd Avenue Northeast, and he was done with the electric baseboard heat: noisy, inefficient, taking up a closet he wanted back. The Bryant furnace was eight to ten years old and running fine, but Tyler had already decided he wanted something fundamentally better.
Eli and Luis came out together. They walked Tyler through four options: add AC only, add a heat pump, upgrade the furnace and add AC, or do the full system and move the air handler to the attic. That last option was the one that solved everything simultaneously: quieter than anything he had been living with, more efficient, the closet freed up, and full air conditioning through the summer.
Tyler chose the full system. We installed a Mitsubishi Cold Climate SUZ/SVZ: the SVZAP30NL air handler, the SUZAK30NLHZ outdoor unit. The system runs down to negative 13 degrees Fahrenheit, modulates continuously between 30% and 100% capacity to hold a consistent temperature rather than cycling on and off, and delivers filtered air through the existing ductwork. The air handler in the attic is not heard from the living space.
Fischer Heating had also come out to estimate. Tyler chose Product Air.
Seattle City Light midstream rebate: $400. Mitsubishi spring manufacturer rebate: $950. Total rebates: $1,350.
Final price after rebates: $29,280.76. Paid out of pocket. Permit sign-off came through the following morning.
Read the full case: Tyler’s heat pump replacement in Wedgwood.
Jason in Wedgwood: Hybrid System, Trane Furnace and Mitsubishi Heat Pump
Jason had been in his 1942 home on 30th Avenue Northeast for five years when he called. The 2007 Rheem furnace had been repaired twice, and he was losing confidence in it. He was not in a crisis. The system was still running, but the noise had been building and the reliability felt like a question rather than a given. His kids were growing up in the house. He did not want to find out in January what it felt like to lose heat.
He had also called CM Heating and Seatown. He chose us because his neighbor, who had used Product Air the year before, told him he had been treated like family. When Jason said that to Eli, Eli recognized it immediately. It is the kind of thing that does not come from marketing.
Eli’s first questions at the start of the visit had nothing to do with equipment. What is important to you and your family? What does a perfect climate look like for you? Do you care who installs this system?
What came back: Jason wanted a system that was efficient but could fall back on gas heat when temperatures dropped hard. His son had seasonal allergies. The summer smoke from eastern Washington bothered the whole family every year. Reliability mattered more to him than hitting the lowest possible price point.
Eli put together a few options. At the top: a Trane S8V2B080M4 modulating gas furnace paired with a Mitsubishi PUZHA42NKA heat pump and MCO air handler, plus a five-inch filter cabinet. A hybrid system: the heat pump handles the load through Seattle’s mild months, the furnace steps in when temperatures drop below the heat pump’s efficient operating range. The five-inch filter addresses the smoke and the allergens.
“Jason,” Eli told him, “I heard you want a system that lasts, stays efficient, and can switch to gas in a pinch. I also heard that the fires bother you and your son has seasonal allergies. This is a big investment, but look at the top option. It meets every one of those criteria. I also wrote up some more budget-friendly choices if you want to compare.”
Jason chose the top option.
Midstream rebate: $600. Federal tax credit applied at installation in early 2026: $2,000. Final price after rebates: $20,227.62. Warranties: 10-year manufacturer on the Trane furnace, 12-year on the Mitsubishi system, five-year Product Air labor warranty with no strings attached.
After the work was done, Jason called back. “I’m so happy I chose you. I could speak freely about all my needs. Yes, it was a big investment, but it’s one I don’t regret.”
Read the full case: Jason’s hybrid system on 30th Avenue Northeast.
Bart in Lake Stevens: Trane Resolute and Coleman Furnace, Working Family Schedule
Bart did not ask for much. His 1976 home on Hartford-Getchell Road had a 25-year-old furnace that had finally reached the end of its life, and he needed a contractor who would come out at 5 in the afternoon, after work, like an adult. He had been on Angi for weeks. No one would accommodate the schedule. Every estimate required time off that a working family with four kids does not have to spare.
Robert showed up at 5 pm. The 1,950-square-foot four-bedroom home was a clear job with a clear priority: reliable heat replacement, air conditioning capability added for the first time, and a budget that fit a family planning to stay in the house for the next five to ten years. No need for the top of the range. The Trane Resolute: inverter-driven, 16 to 19 SEER2, two to three tons paired with a Coleman Z8ET080C16LMPS1 gas furnace at 80% efficiency hit that target precisely.
“We heard you’re planning to be here for the next five to ten years,” Robert told him, “and you want a unit that will serve you well but not go crazy on the budget.” That was exactly right.
Two HVAC technicians and two electricians completed the full installation in a single day. Permits were signed off the following morning. No rebates applied at this address.
Final price: $14,828.54. Financed at 0% APR for 12 months through GreenSky. No interest if paid within the term.
Read the full case: Bart’s heat pump installation in Lake Stevens.
What’s Important to Know Before Installation
DIY vs Professional Installation
The customers who call us after a DIY or unlicensed installation fall into two categories. The ones who did the work themselves and are now dealing with refrigerant problems they cannot legally touch without an EPA 608 certification. And the ones who hired someone who sounded like a deal and is no longer answering the phone.
In both cases, the repair costs more than the original professional installation would have. That is the consistent finding across every story we have heard. A DIY installation voids the manufacturer warranty. An unlicensed installation cannot receive a rebate, does not pass permit inspection, and creates a disclosure obligation when you try to sell the home. When something goes wrong with an unlicensed installation and something eventually does. There is no warranty and often no contractor to call back.
We are not the cheapest option when you compare our full licensed price to a number from a Facebook Marketplace ad. We are the most affordable option when you account for everything that comes after.
Warranty and Support
Every heat pump we install carries a manufacturer warranty of at least 10 years: Trane, Coleman, Goodman, Carrier, Midea, American Standard. Mitsubishi equipment installed by a Diamond Elite Contractor carries 12 years; Daikin also offers 12. Product Air’s own labor warranty runs five to ten years with no fine print. If you have a problem with the installation, we come back.
The manufacturer provides the parts, we provide the labor. The warranty voids in three situations only: an unauthorized contractor performs work on the system after we install it, the equipment was purchased through an unauthorized channel, or the system has not received required maintenance.
Energy Efficiency as Long-Term Value
The payback period for a heat pump replacement in Seattle depends on what the home was previously using for heat. Homeowners who replaced gas furnaces with heat pumps have seen their utility bills drop between 20% and 50%. That range comes from real customers, not modeling. If you were planning to add air conditioning at some point anyway, a heat pump gives you both in one installation at a combined cost lower than doing them separately. The math changes significantly in favor of doing it now rather than later.
At $299 per year for two maintenance visits, the annual cost to keep the system running at rated efficiency is predictable and low relative to what the equipment costs to replace. A well-maintained heat pump in Seattle’s climate has an expected service life of 15 to 20 years.
Why We Openly Share Our Prices
Most HVAC companies do not do this. They want you in a room with a salesperson before any number is mentioned, because that is where quotes flex toward whatever the house suggests the customer can afford. We gave you 12 numbers in a table. We gave you real model names, real rebate amounts, real permit costs, and three real case studies with final prices to the cent.
That is the Tech Brother from Another Mother philosophy in practice. Not a line on the website. A policy.
When your own brother the HVAC technician comes over to look at your furnace, he does not hide the price until he has you committed. He tells you what the job costs, explains why, and lets you decide. That is what we are doing here, in print, for every homeowner in Seattle who reads this before they call a single contractor.
How to Get an Accurate Quote in 24 Hours
The numbers in the table above are a starting point. An accurate quote for your specific home requires a free in-person estimate: the ductwork condition, the electrical panel, the outdoor unit placement, the room count, and the existing system all affect the final number in ways that square footage alone cannot predict.
Call us, fill out the form on our website, or text us a description of your home and what you are trying to accomplish. We will schedule a visit, walk the house, and come back to you with three to four written options within 15 minutes. You choose the one that fits. The estimate takes about an hour. There is no charge and no obligation.
FAQ
Do I need a permit for heat pump installation in Seattle?
Yes. Seattle SDCI requires a mechanical permit, a refrigeration permit, and in most cases an electrical permit for any heat pump installation. The combined cost runs $149 to $500. Product Air pulls all required permits as part of every job: the homeowner does not manage this. An unpermitted installation voids manufacturer warranties, disqualifies you from rebates, and creates a disclosure obligation when you sell your home.
What rebates are available for heat pump installation in Seattle in 2026?
If your address is on Seattle City Light: $300 or $600 depending on equipment efficiency. Converting from oil heat through the No More Oil Heat program: $2,000 instantly, plus up to $4,000 income-qualified. If you are on PSE in King County or Snohomish County: $1,500 to $4,000 depending on what system you are replacing and your household income. We calculate all available rebates during the estimate and apply them directly to the invoice. The customer sees only the reduced final price.
Has the federal IRA 25C tax credit expired?
Yes. The 25C energy efficiency tax credit expired on January 1, 2026. If a contractor or a website is still advertising it, the information is out of date. It is no longer available.
How long does permit processing take in Seattle?
In most cases, Product Air can pull the required permits within 4 to 24 hours. We schedule permit inspections to align with the completion of the installation so the homeowner is not waiting additional days between job completion and sign-off.
How long does heat pump installation take?
A simple add-on installation runs 8 to 10 hours. Standard installations with electrical work run 10 to 12 hours. Complex full-system replacements with ductwork modification run 12 to 16 hours and may continue into a second day. Permit inspections happen the day after the installation is complete.
What brands does Product Air install?
We install Mitsubishi Electric (Diamond Elite Certified), Trane, Runtru by Trane, Trane Resolute, Midea EVOX, Coleman, American Standard, Carrier, and Lennox, among others. All equipment comes through our dealer relationship with Gensco, the largest regional HVAC distributor in the Pacific Northwest. No gray market, no unauthorized channels.
What size heat pump does my Seattle home need?
In Seattle, one ton of capacity covers approximately 450 to 700 square feet depending on the age and insulation of the home. A 1,400 to 2,100 square foot home typically requires a three-ton unit, but the accurate answer comes from a Manual J load calculation at the estimate, not from square footage alone. Oversizing a heat pump is as much of a problem as undersizing it.
Does Product Air offer financing?
Yes. Through GreenSky, financing starts at a $1,000 minimum. The standard plan is 12 months at 0% APR. A longer-term fixed-rate plan runs at 10.99% APR for up to 180 months. We include financing options in every written quote so you can compare the cost of financing against paying out of pocket.
How long does a heat pump last in Seattle?
A professionally installed and properly maintained heat pump in Seattle’s climate has an expected service life of 15 to 20 years. The factors that shorten that life: improper installation, skipped maintenance visits, dirty filters forcing the compressor to overwork, dirty coils reducing heat exchange efficiency, and minor issues that become major ones because they were left unaddressed.
How much does annual heat pump maintenance cost?
Product Air’s maintenance plan covers two visits per year (spring and fall) at $299. Each visit covers a full system check: refrigerant levels, coil cleaning, electrical component inspection, and filter service. Regular maintenance is also a condition of keeping the manufacturer warranty valid. Skipping it is one of three things that can void coverage on a $20,000 system.
Disclaimer
This article is current as of June 2026. All prices are examples based on Product Air’s real installation experience, with equipment and labor costs current as of June 2026. This is not an offer or a binding quote. An accurate price for any specific home is only possible after an in-person estimate. At Product Air, the estimate is free. Rebate program terms, amounts, and eligibility requirements are controlled by the issuing utility or government agency and are subject to change. Verify current terms directly with each program before making purchase decisions based on rebate availability.
— Serge Nikolin, Co-Founder
Product Air Heating, Cooling and Electric
Marysville · Issaquah · Seattle · Western Washington