Homeowner decision guide
Heat pump repair or replace: include heating and cooling scope
A heat pump serves both heating and cooling, so a replacement bid should explain more than its summer efficiency. Keep the repair diagnosis, proposed indoor/outdoor pairing, backup-heat arrangement, electrical scope, and installed price together before comparing proposals.
Include both seasons before comparing price
- Ask whether the fault is in controls, airflow, refrigerant circuit, outdoor unit, or backup heat, and what test supports that conclusion.
- Request a home-specific sizing explanation and how the proposed system will meet heating needs during colder conditions. A nearby climate normal is discussion context, not a load calculation.
- Treat a rebate as zero in the cash comparison until your state program, project, amount, and eligibility are confirmed. The DOE says availability differs by state.
Heat-pump scope on the proposal
A missing cell means the quote has not said. Ask whether that work is excluded or will be priced later. Do not treat a blank as included.
| Written item | On a repair quote | On a replacement quote |
|---|---|---|
| Heating in cold weather | Which circuit failed and how it was tested | How the proposed pair meets the heating load, plus backup heat |
| Cooling | Whether the same fault affects summer operation | Indoor and outdoor models rated for both seasons |
| Electrical | Only the circuit the repair needs | Panel, breaker, and wiring changes, and who pays |
| Rebate | Not a repair credit unless a program says so | Entered as zero until this model and household are confirmed |
- Matched indoor and outdoor models, capacity, and performance ratings
- Sizing method, backup heat, duct and electrical changes
- Permit, commissioning tests, removal, labor warranty, and exclusions
Questions for the heat-pump contractor
- What will happen to heating performance in the coldest conditions expected here?
- What backup heat is included, and who pays for electrical changes?
- Which rebate is confirmed for this exact model and household?
Compare repair cash with the installed heat pump
A heat-pump quote has to cover heating, cooling, and backup heat. Enter the repair quote even if the replacement price is still blank, and keep each proposal's rebate on its own line.
Use the free worksheetWhat a heat-pump worksheet cannot decide
Neither climate degree days nor a state-average electricity rate establishes your future bill. Fuel switching, duct condition, thermostat settings, and installation quality all matter; use only documented proposal savings as an optional scenario.
Sources
- ENERGY STAR: HVAC quality installation
- DOE: Home Energy Rebates
- FTC: comparing written home-improvement estimates
Reviewed October 9, 2026. Program eligibility and local requirements should be confirmed before approving work.