Comments about cost/benefit of installing heat pump??

I’m in Seattle, climate is mild:
Hottest Month August (68 °F avg)
Coldest Month December (42 °F avg)

➡️House, built 2007, with ducted natural gas heating
3,700 sq ft; 19 vents

looking at installing an electric heat pump I had thought could get a 4 ton 14 SEER unit for maybe $3500 plus installation ....maybe $8k all in?

BUT, got a quote for $12K, another for $10k

total cost seems really high!!


➡️➡️what kind of energy bill cost savings can I expect IF I do install electric heat pump?

seems like a really loooong payback time horizon for this capital outlay. Wondering if it’s smarter to just go with solar on the roof

also, these vendors are not giving me a written out J heat/cooling estimate

thx for feedback, commendation for either equipment or contractors , or even tips to get an energy rebate out of the utility company !

 

Welcome to the forums.

Based on your temps..... a heat pump would be a good standalone choice.
Adding a heat pump to a gas furnace is called a dual fuel system.
That's good for places where it gets very cold as nothing beats a gas furnace.

So... unless your natural gas prices are very high and electric rates are very low.... I wouldn't add a heat pump to a gas furnace. In my area natural gas prices are very low and it would make sense.

I would think you'd be better staying with the gas furnace and add a split A/C system to it.
That's a coil that goes in the existing furnace with the outside condenser.

 

In order to compare operating costs for you, I would need your delivered natural gas and electricity prices.

Do need to make sure your existing furnace blower and air ducts are sufficient for 4 ton.

The thing is that energy prices can change and it is unwise to make a decision based on today's energy costs alone. Natural gas has been cheap over the last decade, it is on the rise.

I believe your area is ideal for a heatpump - mild climate combined with renewable hydro electricity.
A air source heatpump could almost completely eliminate fossil fuel use for heating in your area, which is great.

This is the main benefit, not saving money necessarily.

A heatpump can also be more comfortable than a furnace in mild weather, due to capacity more closely matching heat loss and you get a/c from it too.

It is unreasonable to expect a new heatpump to give a payback - do you do a kitchen renovation and expect a payback?

Now, to add a basic hp to a furnace, I do think $12k is ridiculous. The equipment is not very expensive before markup.