Heat pump (ducted, outdoor unit + air handler) replacement cost in Salt Lake City, UT
Installed, 3 ton system
A typical heat pump (3 ton system) costs about $5,750 installed in the Salt Lake City area, about the same as the national figure, because HVAC technicians here earn a median $29 an hour against $29 nationally.
Prices by size in Salt Lake City
| Size | Low | Typical | High | National typical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 ton system | $3,900 | $4,850 | $6,950 | $4,850 |
| 3 ton system | $4,950 | $5,750 | $7,600 | $5,750 |
| 4 ton system | $6,400 | $7,100 | $9,300 | $7,150 |
| 5 ton system | $7,650 | $8,450 | $10,900 | $8,450 |
Local labor: what HVAC technicians earn here
| Hourly wage | Salt Lake City metro | United States |
|---|---|---|
| 25th percentile | $23 | $23 |
| Median | $29 | $29 |
| 75th percentile | $36 | $37 |
The Salt Lake City market
Salt Lake City's Consolidated Fee Schedule prices water heaters, furnaces and heating and cooling appliances under its plumbing and mechanical permits, which indicates a permit for each replacement even though no city page says so in words. Mechanical permits carry a $59 base fee plus $30 for a furnace up to 200,000 Btu/h, and repairs or alterations to heating or cooling units start at $42 for work up to $1,000. Plumbing permits are $59 base plus $16 per water heater. A property owner may pull permits for a primary residence with an Owner/Builder Certification; when a contractor is hired, state law makes the contractor responsible for the permit and inspections, which are scheduled through the Citizen Access Portal. Utah is gas country: EIA's 2020 survey found 86% of homes heat with natural gas and 90% use a furnace.
Heat pumps remain rare in Utah, where gas furnaces dominate, but a cold-climate heat pump can take over the furnace's mild-weather work and replace the AC. Utah's federally funded Home Energy Rebate program was on hold until further notice in October 2026. Check Rocky Mountain Power's and Enbridge Gas Utah's official sites for utility offers. Ask at what outdoor temperature the furnace takes over.
Permits in Salt Lake City
| Permit for this job | Yes (inferred from mechanical permit fee lines for furnaces and heating/cooling appliances) (source) |
|---|---|
| Fee | Mechanical: base fee $59 + furnace (<=200,000 BTU/h) $30. Plumbing: base fee $59 + water heater $16 each. |
| Who can pull it | Property owner (primary residence, with Owner/Builder Certification) or licensed contractor (contractor responsible for permit under state law) |
| Inspection | Yes (inspections scheduled after permit issuance; contractor responsible for seeing inspections done) |
Rebates in Utah
HEAR: paused. HOMES: paused. Source: Utah Office of Energy Development, checked October 13, 2026.
What these programs cover, and other states
Other systems in Salt Lake City
Heat pump (ducted, outdoor unit + air handler) cost in other metros
Sources
- Salt Lake City, UT permit source (water heater permit)
- Salt Lake City, UT permit source (who can pull)
- Salt Lake City, UT permit source (inspection)
- Salt Lake City, UT permit source: Mechanical and Plumbing Fee Worksheets; Owner Builder Certification
- Utah Office of Energy Development: energy efficiency
- EIA RECS 2020: Highlights for space heating fuel in U.S. homes by state
- EIA RECS 2020: Highlights for space heating in U.S. homes by state
- EIA RECS 2020: Highlights for air conditioning in U.S. homes by state
- EIA RECS 2020: Highlights for water heating in U.S. homes by state
- BLS OEWS May 2025, Salt Lake City-Murray, UT (49-9021 HVAC mechanics and installers)
- DOE Residential CAC & Heat Pumps Direct Final Rule TSD (Dec 2016), Table 8.2.30, split heat pump (2015$; 4-ton interpolated)