Local Projects · Installation & Replacement
From furnace to heat pump in Kirkland
At our first visit to this Kirkland home, the gas furnace was still working. The homeowner wanted to compare a furnace replacement with a heat pump.
We talked through how the home moved air, what cooling would look like and the work needed to bring the new system together.
With the furnace still working, the homeowner had room to compare the project costs and consider what each option would mean for heating and cooling in the years ahead. Planning before a breakdown helped keep the decision focused on the home and the homeowner’s priorities.
Kirkland, Washington · October 2026
Mitsubishi ducted heat-pump installation
The finished outdoor unit, with its refrigerant lines routed up the exterior wall.
Walking through the home
The assessment started with the floor plan and a walkthrough. Our comfort advisor looked at the vaulted and standard-ceiling areas separately and discussed the measurements needed for a heating load calculation, also called a heat-loss calculation.
Ceiling heights, window dimensions and insulation information were part of that picture. He explained that he would use those details to calculate the home’s heat loss, work out the equipment size and prepare quotes.
Comparing the options
The homeowner could consider both a replacement gas furnace and a heat pump. We looked at the electrical panel, the space around the existing furnace and how the new equipment would fit. The advisor outlined the next steps: send detailed proposals, give the homeowner time to review them and work through any questions.
We also reviewed the existing ductwork and return air. A heat pump can supply heating and cooling through ducts, but getting air to a room is only part of the picture. The air also needs a path back to the system.
We discussed that distinction as we looked at cooling for the home. It helped put the equipment choices in context: the system and the house have to be considered together.
A different system in a familiar space
The selected installation paired a Mitsubishi Hyper-Heating outdoor unit with a matching indoor air handler and an MHK2 wireless controller. The old furnace came out, and the new air handler took its place in the utility area.
The photographs show the change clearly. The water heater provides a familiar reference point beside the old furnace and the new equipment.
Before
The existing gas furnace, photographed during the assessment before replacement.
After
The Mitsubishi air handler installed in the same utility area.
Connecting the pieces
Outside, the heat pump sits on a pad beside the house. Inside, the air handler connects the new system to the home’s ductwork. The installation also included the dedicated electrical circuit, GFCI protection, panel-space work and fittings specified for this project.
Those details are easy to overlook when comparing equipment alone. Here, they were part of the scope that took the project from a conversation about furnace replacement to a completed ducted heat-pump installation.
Equipment in this project
Mitsubishi SUZ-AK36NLHZ outdoor heat pump
Mitsubishi SVZ-AP36NL indoor air handler
MHK2 wireless controller
For the homeowner, the walkthrough connected a future replacement decision with the house they already knew. Understanding the indoor changes, outdoor placement and electrical work made the options more concrete before choosing a system.
Thinking about a similar switch?
Your existing furnace, ducts, electrical setup and comfort goals all help shape the right approach. Explore our heat-pump installation guide, see what affects installation cost, or let us take a look at your home.
