FAQs and Information

- How much does a heat pump cost?

Heat pump costs depend greatly on the type and size of system you get. A base line price for a smaller or simpler model is around $5,000. This includes the cost of the system, as well as installation. This does not include the fee that the electrician will charge. This is a separate bill that will come from the electrician.

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-Are there tax credits available to help me get a heat pump installed?

There are a number of different tax credits and rebates available. To read more about them, we recommend checking this website: AK Heat Smart FAQs and discussing it with your tax professional. While we can try to answer questions, we cannot give tax advice or guarantees.

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- Can a heat pump be my sole heat source?

While heat pumps do a great job at heating homes, I always recommend having a supplemental heat source. Specific heat pumps are rated down to different temperatures. Discuss this with your heat pump installer to decide what the most efficient option is for your home.

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- How can I prepare for the installation?

The site prep will be done by your heat pump installer, but clearing your belongings away from the agreed upon area is very important. Also, the electrical work needs to be done by the electrician before the installation can be finished. Whom you use is your preference, but we do give recommendations as needed. There will be a separate bill from the electrician for all electrical work. You should discuss this with the electrician before the job begins.

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- Will a heat pump heat a two story home?

Possibly depending on the size of the heat pump and the layout of the home. Typically one indoor unit will provide heat for one room or area of a home. If you have the indoor unit in a space like a hallway, it will push heat throughout the space. Heat rises so you can expect some heat to travel upstairs, but it likely won't be enough to consistently keep an upper floor warm.

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-I got a free quote, now what happens?

Once you've had a site visit and received a quote, the next step is to return your signed quote with the deposit listed on the quote. This is usually for half of the total quoted amount. Electronically signed or physically signed is fine. Once your deposit is received, that secures your place in line for installation. Typically installation does not happen for two to three months after deposit depending on how many installation jobs are in front of you. As your install date nears, we will reach out and schedule a time that works for you to have your installation begin. Our office is not fully staffed so the best way to stay in touch is through email. Make sure that we have a good email address for you.

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-How do I care for my heat pump once it is installed?

The indoor units of your heat pump move a lot of air and in the process collect a lot of dust. It is very important to keep the filters clear to maintain air flow through the heat exchanger. This is important to maintain the efficiency of the system and prevent unnecessary strain on the system. We recommend that homeowners do this monthly. It is also recommended that you have your heat pump system serviced annually. We provide this service and would be happy to put you on an annual cleaning schedule and reach out to you when your system is due. You can ask about this during your site visit or anytime after your unit has been installed.

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Additional Information

Apart from deciding which heat pump system you want for your home, there are some options you can add on. Below is a list of some of the additional choices we offer.

 

Drain pan heater - A drain pan heater is a small heating element that can be installed in the heat pump that turns on in very cold temperatures to ensure that ice does not build up and block the drain holes at the bottom of the outdoor unit. In very cold weather heat pumps tend to accumulate ice on the outdoor unit, particularly at the bottom of the heat exchanger. This can potentially damage the heat exchanger, leading to system downtime and costly repairs. It is recommended that a drain pan heater be installed to avoid this. 

 

Surge protector - Juneau’s power grid is generally very stable and clean, but there have been power surges in the past and many types of appliances, including heat pumps, sustained damage to their circuit boards. These events are rare, but the damage they cause can be avoided by installing a surge protector. Some electricians offer another type of surge protector that costs a bit more but is designed to protect the whole home from power surges. One or both surge protectors would be a good idea to safeguard the circuit board of your new heat pump.

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WiFi Adapter - This is a module that can be installed in one or more indoor units. It enables the heat pump to connect to your home WiFi network. The heat pump can then be monitored and controlled remotely through a smartphone app from anywhere with an internet connection. In addition to the convenience of remote control and monitoring, the WiFi adapters allow you to easily program your heat pump on a weekly schedule.

 

Wind Baffle - In very windy areas it is advisable to install a wind baffle to protect the outdoor unit fan motor from being damaged by strong wind. This is a component that is fastened to the front of the outdoor unit.