Heat pump (ducted, outdoor unit + air handler) replacement cost in Seattle, WA
Installed, 3 ton system
A typical heat pump (3 ton system) costs about $6,050 installed in the Seattle area, 5% above the national figure, because HVAC technicians here earn a median $39 an hour against $29 nationally.
Prices by size in Seattle
| Size | Low | Typical | High | National typical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 ton system | $4,000 | $5,050 | $7,300 | $4,850 |
| 3 ton system | $5,200 | $6,050 | $8,200 | $5,750 |
| 4 ton system | $6,750 | $7,600 | $10,200 | $7,150 |
| 5 ton system | $8,100 | $9,150 | $12,100 | $8,450 |
Local labor: what HVAC technicians earn here
| Hourly wage | Seattle metro | United States |
|---|---|---|
| 25th percentile | $30 | $23 |
| Median | $39 | $29 |
| 75th percentile | $49 | $37 |
The Seattle market
Seattle splits permits between two agencies. The Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI) requires a permit for any furnace replacement or alteration and a refrigeration permit for any split-system heat pump or air conditioner. Plumbing and gas permits come from Public Health Seattle and King County, and no page found says whether a straight water heater replacement needs one, so check with Public Health. Homeowners may pull furnace and plumbing permits, but refrigeration permits go only to licensed refrigeration contractors. HVAC jobs need a cover inspection and a final inspection. Fees for these items were not confirmed. Many homes were built without air conditioning: EIA found only 53% of Washington homes use any AC, while 62% heat water with electricity. Tacoma, Bellevue and King County suburbs issue their own permits.
Heat pumps fit Seattle's mild climate well. Washington's state-funded HEAR program, paid for by the Climate Commitment Act, offers rebates through local administrators for households at or below 150% of area median income. The separate federal program has not launched yet. Ask for the unit's heating capacity on the coldest nights and how large the backup heat is. Get the efficiency ratings in writing.
Permits in Seattle
| Permit for this job | Yes (SDCI permit for any furnace replacement; refrigeration permit for split-system heat pumps and ACs) (source) |
|---|---|
| Fee | Unclear for these items. Context: PHSKC plumbing/gas permits issued on/after Jan 1, 2025 use a $132 base fee plus $26 per fixture (water heater counting not stated); SDCI 2026 base hourly rate $292/hr with 6.5% inflationary increase to most fees. |
| Who can pull it | Furnace/mechanical STFI: homeowner or contractor; refrigeration (heat pump/AC): licensed refrigeration contractor only; plumbing: homeowner permit or registered contractor via PHSKC |
| Inspection | Yes (HVAC: cover inspection and final inspection) |
Rebates in Washington
HEAR: announced, not open yet. HOMES: announced, not open yet. Source: Washington State Department of Commerce, Energy Division, checked October 13, 2026.
- Washington State HEAR (Climate Commitment Act): State-funded rebates via ~40 local administrators for heat pumps, HPWH, induction, panels; households <=150% AMI ($39.3M recently awarded)
What these programs cover, and other states
Other systems in Seattle
Heat pump (ducted, outdoor unit + air handler) cost in other metros
Sources
- SDCI: Furnace and heat pump permit infographic
- Public Health Seattle and King County: plumbing and gas piping permits
- King County: Installing a new water heater
- SDCI Building Connections: changes to plumbing and gas permit fees
- Washington Commerce: state HEAR program
- Washington Commerce: IRA home energy rebates
- EIA, 2020 RECS: Highlights for space heating in U.S. homes by state
- EIA, 2020 RECS: Highlights for water heating in U.S. homes by state
- EIA, 2020 RECS: Highlights for air conditioning in U.S. homes by state
- https://seattle.gov/documents/Departments/SDCI/Codes/2026FeeSummary.pdf
- BLS OEWS May 2025, Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA (49-9021 HVAC mechanics and installers)
- DOE Residential CAC & Heat Pumps Direct Final Rule TSD (Dec 2016), Table 8.2.30, split heat pump (2015$; 4-ton interpolated)