Payne Heat Pump Prices and Reviews 2023

Payne heat pumps are considered better than average because they are built with quality components. 

Payne Heat Pump Cost

The cost to have a Payne heat pump installed ranges from about $4,300 for a small, basic model to more than $10,000 for a large 2-stage heat pump. Payne doesn’t offer variable-capacity heat pumps, which can exceed $12,000 in cost. 

See the pricing table below for current, accurate Payne heat pump prices. 

About Payne

Payne heat pumps are made by Carrier, and though the lineup is limited to just four models, those heat pumps are identical or nearly so to Carrier and Bryant models.

Payne’s lineup of heat pumps offer good quality and midrange efficiency at a competitive cost. 

In this Payne heat pumps review, you’ll find relevant information on each model, its features, sizes and efficiency ratings, as well as the pros and cons. Helpful charts are included so you can easily see pricing details at a glance. 

Payne’s Features

There isn’t anything particularly unique about Payne heat pumps, but the brand does use quality components. That’s the primary reason Payne gets higher-than-average marks from homeowners and from HVAC technicians for reliability.

Scroll Compressor Technology

The heart of any AC or heat pump is the compressor. Of Payne’s lineup of four heat pumps, three of them operate on single-stage compressors and one operates on a two-stage compressor. These are all “scroll” compressors, which results in a significant increase of the thermodynamic efficiency over traditional rotary or reciprocating compressors. The two-stage compressor on the PH16NA has the ability to run on low stage nearly continuously to deliver extra efficiency with up to 17 SEER cooling. When more extreme conditions call for it, the high-stage operation reliably ensures continued heating and cooling comfort. 

Advanced Electronics

This is found in two important areas of Payne’s heat pumps. First, the Advanced electronic control quietly switches between heating, cooling and defrost modes, minimizing noise.

Second, a high pressure switch and a low pressure switch are protective devices for the compressor and refrigeration circuit. Together, they give peace of mind that in case of a malfunction, the system will shut down before more serious damage can occur. These switches are common to decent heat pumps of any brand, and they do ensure greater durability.

Energy Star

Three of the four Payne heat pumps are Energy Star qualified, meaning they have a SEER of at least 15, and an HSPF of at least 8.5. Frankly, those ratings aren’t all that high, because the minimum SEER for heat pumps is 13 in northern states and 14 in southern states. We expect the DOE/Energy Star program to raise minimum qualifications in the next few years. Still, since they use less energy, Energy Star products save you money on your electricity bill and help protect the environment by causing fewer harmful emissions from power plants. 

Warranty

The standard warranty for Payne heat pumps is a 10-year parts limited warranty. Unfortunately, this warranty is to the original purchasing residential owner only and is not available for subsequent owners. Registration within 90 days is required for 10-year parts limited warranty, otherwise, it will revert to a 5-year warranty. The requirement to register your warranty within 60 or 90 days is standard in the HVAC industry. 

Payne Pros

• Quality products from a solid company.
• Nearly identical to higher-priced Carrier models.
• 3 of the 4 models are Energy Star certified.
• 10-year warranties for all units. 

Payne Cons

• Average SEER and HSPF ratings.
• Limited selection of models.
• No variable capacity models (the most efficient and providing the best climate control). 

Payne Heat Pump Model Analysis 

An overview of the models are found in the chart below. Models are available starting at 18,000 or 24,000 BTU/hour. The largest are 60,000 BTU. This is also called 1.5 to 5.0 tons, which is not a reference to the weight of the units. One ton = 12,000 BTU.

Model	SEER & HSPF	Compressor	Sound
PH16NA	16 & 9.5	Two Stage	71 decibels
PH16NC	16 & 9.0	Single Stage	68
PH15NB	15 & 9.0	Single Stage	69
PH14NB	14 & 8.2	Single Stage	69

Product Lineup and Features

 Here is a quick overview of the four models – size, efficiency, compressor function, etc. 

PH16NA Two-Stage Heat Pump

• 16-17 SEER Cooling and 9.5 HSPF Heating.
• Two-stage Scroll Compressor.
• ENERGY STAR Qualified.

PH16NC Single-Stage Heat Pump

• 16 SEER Cooling and 9.0 HSPF Heating.
• Single-Stage Compressor Operation.
• ENERGY STAR Qualified.

PH15NB Single-Stage Heat Pump

• 15.5 SEER Cooling and 9.0 HSPF Heating.
• Single-Stage Compressor and Fan.
• ENERGY STAR Qualified.

PH14NB Single-Stage Heat Pump

• 14 SEER Cooling and 8.2 HSPF Heating.
• Single-Stage Scroll Compressor.
• Single-Speed Fan Motor.

Payne Heat Pump Cost by Model

Model	Installed Cost
PH16NA	$6,600 – $10,350
PH16NC	$5,550 – $9,150
PH15NB	$4,750 – $7,600
PH14NB	$4,300 – $6,900

Payne Heat Pump Cost by Size

Heat Pump Size	Home Size	System Only	System Installed
1.5 ton	600 – 1000 sf	$2,575 – $5,775	$4,300 – $7,300
2 ton	1001 – 1300 sf	$2,950 – $6,125	$4,950 – $7,900
2.5 ton	1301 – 1600 sf	$3,295 – $6,975	$5,600 – $8,750
3 ton	1601 – 1900 sf	$3,755 – $7,195	$6,300 – $9,000
3.5 ton	1901 – 2200 sf	$3,945 – $7,665	$6,650 – $9,500
4 ton	2201 – 2600 sf	$4,250 – $8,335	$6,900 – $9,950
5 ton	2601 – 3200 sf	$4,650 – $8,685	$7,200 – $10,350

How to Get the Best Payne Heat Pump Prices?

• Firstly, keep in mind that installation quality is always the most important thing for heat pump project. So never sacrifice contractor quality for lower price.
• Secondly, remember to look up the latest tax credit and rebates.
• Thirdly, ask for at least 3 bids before you make the decision. You can click here to get 3 free estimates from your local contractors, and this estimate already takes rebates and tax credit into consideration and filter unqualified contractors automatically.

At last, once you chose the right contractor, remember to use the tactics from this guide: homeowners tactics when negotiating with HVAC dealer to get the final best price.

Feel free to ask any question by leaving a comment, we will answer any question with actionable tips.

Conclusion

If you buy a Payne heat pump, you’re getting a Carrier heat pump, essentially. The one significant difference is that Payne allows any licensed HVAC technician to install its products, while Carrier is a little more choosy – requiring its installers to have advanced training. So, you’ll save money with Payne vs Carrier or Bryant, but be sure to hire an installer with a proven track record of quality work.