ServicesHeat Pumps
Heat Pumps in Rathdrum
One outdoor unit handles both jobs: warming your home through winter and cooling it through summer. Before we suggest one, we check your home, your electrical panel and the equipment you run today. Then you get a plain answer on whether it fits and what size.
One System for Heat and Cooling
A heat pump does not burn fuel. It moves warmth around. In summer it pulls heat out of your rooms and dumps it outside, just like an air conditioner. In winter it runs in reverse, gathering heat from the outdoor air, even air that feels bitter, and bringing it indoors. Newer cold-climate models keep working well into single digits, and many homes here pair one with a furnace or electric backup for the coldest nights.
We do not sell a heat pump to every caller. Some homes are a great fit. Others need a panel upgrade first, or would do better with a furnace and a separate AC. We look before we recommend, and we show you what we found.
If you want heat and cooling in a room or addition with no ducts, our Ductless Mini-Splits page covers that work.
What Our Heat Pump Work Covers
Sizing worked out for your house
We go room by room, look at the windows, the insulation and the attic, and figure out how much heat the house needs. That math sets the size, not whatever was stamped on the old equipment.
Electrical panel review
The outdoor unit and its backup heat strips draw serious current. Before we quote, we make sure your panel can carry the load and has open breaker slots, so nothing unexpected comes up on install day.
Picking equipment built for cold
We lay out what separates a standard model from a cold-climate one, and when it pays to run a heat pump alongside your furnace. The trade-offs come in everyday language.
Full installation
The outdoor unit goes up on a tall pad or a wall bracket so snow and ice stay off the coil. We connect the indoor coil or air handler, run the refrigerant lines, check them for leaks and charge the system.
Fixing the heat pump you have
When an existing heat pump stops heating or cooling, we test the capacitors, the reversing valve, the defrost controls and the refrigerant charge. Then you hear what failed and what fixing it takes.
Rebate and tax credit paperwork
We work through Avista rebates and federal tax credits with you. We sort out which forms apply to your install and hand over the model and efficiency numbers they ask for. Call us if anything comes up afterward.
Signs a Heat Pump Is Worth a Look
Your AC is near the end
If your air conditioner is old and due for replacement, a heat pump costs a bit more but adds heating. It is the best time to compare both.
High propane or electric heat bills
Baseboard heaters and propane furnaces can be costly to run. A heat pump often heats the same space for less, and we can show you why for your home.
Your heat pump blows cool air in heat mode
That can point to a stuck reversing valve, low refrigerant or a failed defrost board. It is a repair call, not always a replacement.
Ice that will not clear
A thin frost layer is normal in winter. A thick block of ice on the outdoor coil that stays for hours means the defrost cycle is not working.
Short cycling or loud noises
A unit that starts and stops every few minutes, or grinds and rattles, is wearing itself out. Catching it early usually costs less.
How a Heat Pump Job Goes
- 1
You call and we set a visit
Tell us what you have now and what bothers you about it. We set a time to come out and look.
- 2
We inspect and explain
We check your home, the panel, the old equipment and the spots where an outdoor unit could sit. Then we go over each finding with you and show you pictures of anything hard to see for yourself.
- 3
Your quote on paper
No work starts until you hold a written quote that lists equipment and labor as separate lines. Estimates on installations and replacements are free.
- 4
Install day
Most installs take a day. We cover floors where we walk, remove the old equipment, set the new system and haul away the debris.
- 5
Startup and walkthrough
We test heating and cooling, check the defrost cycle and show you how to use the thermostat. Then we go over the rebate paperwork with you.
What Moves the Price of a Heat Pump
Every house is built and insulated a little differently, so we set a price only after the inspection. Your quote is written down and splits the job into its parts. These are the things that usually change the total.
- Size and efficiency
- Bigger homes need more capacity. Higher-efficiency and cold-climate units cost more up front but use less power over the winter.
- Backup heat setup
- Pairing with an existing furnace, adding electric heat strips or going heat pump only all price differently.
- Electrical work
- If your panel needs a new circuit or more capacity, that adds to the job. We check this before we quote.
- Indoor equipment
- Some homes can keep the current furnace as the air handler. Others need a new air handler or coil to match the outdoor unit.
- Rebates and credits
- Avista rebates and federal tax credits can lower what you pay in the end. We help you claim them.
Heat Pump Questions We Get
Something not covered here? (208) 974-9411
Can a heat pump handle our coldest nights?
Cold-climate models keep making heat when it's frigid out, but they put out less as the temperature falls. So most homes around here keep backup heat, either a furnace or electric strips. We size the two as a pair so the house stays warm in January.
Does my gas furnace have to go?
No, not necessarily. In a dual-fuel system, the heat pump carries most of the year and the furnace takes over when it gets truly cold. We check the furnace first to make sure it's in good shape and will work with the new controls.
Ducted heat pump or mini-split: which suits my home?
If your house already has forced-air ducts, a ducted heat pump is usually the fit. For a room, garage or addition with nothing in it now, a mini-split often works better. We'll give you our answer after we've seen the space.
How many days does installation take?
Most replacements are finished in a day. Panel upgrades or a new air handler can add a second day. We go over the plan with you before work starts.
My heat pump quit on a winter night. Now what?
Call us any hour; emergency HVAC repair runs 24/7 and carries no emergency or after-hours fees. If the thermostat has an emergency heat mode, turn it on first, then give us a call.
Find Out If a Heat Pump Fits Your Home
We will look at your home and your current system, then give you a straight answer and a written quote. If a heat pump is not the right move, we will say so.