Central ducted heat pump
An outdoor unit paired with an indoor air handler, using the ductwork you already have. Usually set up with backup heat strips. A good fit for all-electric homes.
Heat pump installation in Spokane, WA
One system that heats your home all winter and cools it all summer. We install Bosch heat pumps, set up dual fuel systems with a gas furnace, and repair heat pumps of every make across Spokane, Spokane Valley and Mead.
10-year parts and labor warranty
Financing from $99/mo
Free estimates
Heats and coolsOne outdoor unit does both jobs
Bosch installerHeat pumps and air handlers
We fix all makesRepair and yearly service
Lic# PNWSPSH772R2Licensed and insured in Washington
How a heat pump works
It moves heat instead of making it
A furnace burns gas to make heat. A heat pump doesn't burn anything. It uses electricity to move heat from one place to another, the same way your refrigerator pulls heat out of the food and pushes it into your kitchen.
In summer, it works like a central air conditioner, pulling heat out of your house. In winter, it runs in reverse. Even cold outdoor air holds some heat, and the heat pump gathers it up and brings it inside. Because it moves heat instead of creating it, a heat pump can deliver more heat energy than the electricity it uses.
Do heat pumps work in a Spokane winter?
Older heat pumps struggled once it got truly cold. Today's cold-climate models keep heating well below freezing, which covers most of what a typical Spokane winter throws at us, with January lows averaging in the mid 20s.
Every heat pump loses some output as the temperature drops, so for the coldest nights you want a backup. Most homes here go one of two ways. Some pair the heat pump with a gas furnace, called dual fuel, so the furnace takes over on the coldest days. Others use electric backup heat strips in the air handler. We'll tell you which fits your house and utility rates, and we won't promise more than the equipment can do.
Your options
Three ways to put a heat pump in your home
The right setup depends on what you have now and whether your home has ducts.
Dual fuel with a gas furnace
The heat pump handles cooling and most of your heating. When it gets cold enough that gas is the better deal, the furnace takes over on its own.
Ductless mini split
No ducts at all. Slim wall units heat and cool one room or several. Great for additions, shops and homes with boilers or baseboard heat. Ductless mini splits
The equipment
Bosch heat pumps, installed by a local crew
We install Bosch heat pumps and Bosch air handlers. They're well built and quiet, and many Bosch systems use variable speed compressors that slow down and run steady instead of cycling on and off all day. That means more even temperatures. We look at your home first, then show you the options that fit it. We also repair most other major makes.
Sizing comes first
A heat pump that's too big short cycles and leaves the house clammy in summer. One that's too small runs nonstop and leans on backup heat. We size the system to your house: square footage, windows, insulation and which way it faces.
Checking the ductwork and electrical
Heat pumps often need more airflow than an older furnace, and old ducts can be too small or leaky. We check duct sizes, returns and connections before we quote. We also look at your electrical panel, since a heat pump and backup heat need the right breakers and wiring. More about our ductwork service.
What we look at before we quote
- Square footage, insulation and window area
- Duct sizes, returns and any obvious leaks
- Electrical panel space and breaker capacity
- Where the outdoor unit can sit, clear of roof runoff and snow piles
- Your existing furnace, if you're thinking about dual fuel
Install day and before
How a heat pump install goes
Most home installs take a day or two. You'll know the plan and the price before we set a date.
Home visit
We measure, check the ducts and panel, and give you a written quote with your options.
Prep and pad
We set a level pad for the outdoor unit, raised enough to keep it out of snow and standing water.
Install and connect
Outdoor unit, air handler or coil, refrigerant lines, wiring and thermostat, all installed and sealed.
Start up and walk through
We test heating and cooling, check the refrigerant charge and airflow, then show you how to run it.
Cost and incentives
Making a new heat pump easier on the budget
Your quote spells out the equipment, the labor and anything extra like duct or electrical work. Financing is available as low as $99 a month on approved credit, and qualifying installs come with our 10-year parts and labor warranty.
Heat pumps often qualify for rebates and tax incentives, and those programs change. We can point you to current utility and federal incentives when we put your quote together.
12 to 15Typical heat pump lifespan in years
$99/moFinancing on approved credit
10 yrParts and labor warranty on qualifying installs
Heat pump repair
When your heat pump needs a look
We repair most major brands, not just the ones we install. These are the calls we get most.
- Thick ice that won't clear. A light frost that melts off every so often is normal. A solid block of ice covering the coil is not.
- Lukewarm air all the time, even on mild days when the heat pump should be keeping up easily.
- Backup heat running constantly, which shows up fast as a jump in your electric bill.
- The outdoor fan isn't spinning while the unit hums, or the unit won't start at all.
- Grinding, screeching or rattling from the outdoor unit that wasn't there before.
- Water leaking around the indoor air handler or ice forming on the refrigerant lines inside.
Winter in the Inland Northwest
Ice on the outdoor unit: normal or not?
Frost on the outdoor coil in winter is expected. Every so often the unit runs a defrost cycle to melt it off. The fan stops, you may hear a whoosh, and you might see steam rising. It looks alarming the first time, but it's the system doing its job.
What's not normal is ice that keeps building until the coil is buried, or ice on top of the unit and the fan. That usually points to a defrost control problem, low refrigerant, a bad fan motor, or water dripping from a roof edge. Left alone, it can damage the coil.
Don't chip at heavy ice. It's easy to puncture the thin fins. Switch the thermostat to emergency heat if you have it, then call us at (509) 410-0769. We're available 24/7.
Our heat pump service visit
- Test heating, cooling and the defrost cycle
- Check refrigerant pressures and temperatures
- Clean the outdoor coil and clear debris
- Inspect the fan motor, capacitors and contactor
- Test backup heat strips or furnace changeover
- Check the indoor coil, drain line and filter
Because it runs year round, a heat pump does best with service every year. See maintenance plans
Our work
Heat pump jobs from around Spokane
Our own installs and service calls. No stock photos.
Heat pump FAQ
Heat pump questions we hear a lot
Still wondering if a heat pump is right for your home? Call (509) 410-0769 and talk to a real person.
A properly sized cold-climate heat pump handles most Spokane winter weather on its own. For the coldest stretches, it gets help from backup heat strips or a gas furnace in a dual fuel setup.
Often, yes. That's a dual fuel system. The heat pump replaces your air conditioner and does most of the heating, and the furnace takes over when it's colder. If your furnace is in good shape, it's a smart way to add a heat pump without replacing everything at once.
That's almost always the defrost cycle. The unit briefly warms the outdoor coil to melt frost, which gives off steam for a few minutes. Heavy ice that never clears is when to call us.
Most heat pumps last 12 to 15 years. Since it runs for both heating and cooling, it works more hours than a furnace or AC alone. Yearly service helps it reach the long end of that range.
Heat pumps are often eligible for rebates and tax incentives, but the programs change. We can point you to current utility and federal incentives that may apply to your install.
Not always. Many homes can use the existing ducts. Some need a larger return or a few repaired joints. We check before quoting so there are no surprises. No ducts at all? A ductless mini split may be the better route.
A modern variable speed heat pump is usually quieter than an older AC because it spends most of its time at low speed. In winter you may hear a short whoosh during defrost.
Yes. We repair most major heat pump brands, whoever put them in. You get the price upfront before any work starts. If someone told you to replace it, we're happy to give a free second opinion.
Related services
More ways to heat and cool your home
Heat pump installation and repair across Spokane County, from our shop in Mead.
- Spokane
- Spokane Valley
- Mead
- Colbert
- Green Bluff
- Nine Mile Falls
- Deer Park
- Liberty Lake
- Airway Heights
Book service
Thinking about a heat pump? Let's talk it through
Tell us a little about your home and what you heat with now. We'll set up a free visit, look at your ductwork and electrical, and give you honest options with the price in writing.