Introduction
If you’re considering a serious HVAC upgrade—whether for cooling, heating or both—you’re entering a world of trade‑offs, sizing calculations, budget surprises and long‑term consequences. I’m Mike Sanders, and in this guide I’ll walk you through the realistic costs of major HVAC systems when there’s ductwork in the equation: things like ducted heating system cost, furnace pump replacement cost, and the cost to install a heat pump and ducts. I’ll tie those into the Goodman 3‑Ton 14.5 SEER2 R‑32 bundle you’re looking at—and help you decide how it all fits your home.
By the end you’ll know: what to budget, what to ask your contractor, how ductwork plays into cost, when it makes sense to upgrade now, and what strategies will help you avoid surprise costs.
Why ductwork and heating cost matter just as much as cooling
Many homeowners focus on the outdoor condenser, the air handler, the efficiency rating (SEER, SEER2) of the cooling system—but what’s often under‑appreciated is how the heating side (whether furnace or heat pump) and the ductwork infrastructure play a major role in cost and performance.
When you’re looking at a “ducted heating system cost,” that means you have forced‑air ducts that carry heated air from a furnace or heat pump into rooms. If those ducts are old, leaky, poorly sized, or in awkward locations (attics, crawl spaces, multi‑level builds) they become cost drivers.
Similarly: the “cost to install a heat pump and ducts” isn’t just the outdoor unit cost—if the ducts are substandard, you’ll pay for modifications. And “furnace pump replacement cost” (more precisely, “furnace and blower/air‑handler replacement cost” or “heat pump replacement cost with ductwork”) factors into the overall heating upgrade.
Because you’re looking at a bundle primarily for cooling (Goodman 3‑Ton 14.5 SEER2 R‑32), you should treat this as a whole‑system decision—cooling + heating + ducts—so you don’t end up upgrading half your house now and half later at higher cost.
Understanding cost ranges: what the data shows
Let’s ground this with real cost data so you have benchmarks.
Ducted system and ductwork cost
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According to one expert build‑out guide, installing a new HVAC system with ductwork:
→ 3‑ton HVAC with new ductwork: $9,500‑$13,500. They note that new ductwork typically costs $2,000‑$3,000 per ton. (HVAC.com) -
Duct replacement alone can cost from a few thousand dollars upward. For example, one source shows duct replacement costs ranging from $1,500 to over $10,000 depending on size/complexity. (This Old House)
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Another ductwork installation cost guide suggests a broad range: “$1,500 to well over $20,000” depending on home size, layout and labor. (Trane)
So, when you’re budgeting for a ducted heating system or upgrading heating + ducts, you should expect thousands to tens of thousands of dollars in ductwork alone depending on scale.
Heat pump / heating system replacement cost
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One manufacturer/brand heat pump cost guide shows heat pump installation cost ranges from $6,000 to $25,000 or more depending on size, home, and ductwork. (Carrier)
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Another local installer site gives ranges for heat pump replacement from around $8,200 to $21,000, citing that the average in Ohio for full heat pump + air handler + install was ~$12,500. (Watkins Heating & Cooling)
As you can see: heating system replacement cost is substantial and has wide variation. If you add ductwork or major modifications it goes up.
Full HVAC (heating + cooling + ducts) replacement cost
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According to a general HVAC replacement cost guide, a complete system (heating + cooling) typically runs ~$5,000‑$12,500 for many homes, with more if ductwork or complexities exist. (Angi)
Putting this all together: if you’re replacing an entire system (cooling bundle + heating system + ductwork) you need to budget on the higher side of these ranges.
How the Goodman 3‑Ton 14.5 SEER2 R‑32 bundle fits your cost picture
Now that we have cost benchmarks, let’s see how the Goodman bundle fits into your scenario—and how the heating/ductwork side influences your total investment.
Cooling bundle baseline
The Goodman 3‑Ton 14.5 SEER2 R‑32 bundle (indoor + outdoor matched) provides your cooling side replacement. It’s likely to cost less than premium variable‑speed systems because of its efficiency rating and brand positioning. But you still need to account for installation, labor, refrigerant lines, possibly new air handler, and ensure proper sizing.
Heating + ductwork side
If your home currently uses existing ducts and a furnace or heat pump, you must evaluate:
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Are the ducts in good condition (sealed, sized, insulated)?
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Is the heating unit (furnace or heat pump) still in good shape, or is it older/inefficient?
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If you were to upgrade heating at the same time, what is the cost increment?
For example, if your ducts are fine and heating unit is OK, you may just do the cooling bundle now and plan heating later. But if you know ducts are marginal and heating is due for replacement, bundling heating + cooling now often saves labor and avoids second disruption.
Estimated combined cost scenario
Here’s a hypothetical scenario for your home:
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Cooling bundle (Goodman 3‑Ton) installed: say ~$7,000‑$9,000 (gear + install) depending on region and access.
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Heating system replacement (say a heat pump) + ductwork modifications: say $10,000‑$20,000 depending on size, ductwork, access.
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Combined this means you might budget $15,000‑$25,000+ for a full replacement (cooling bundle + heating system + ducts) depending on your home size and condition.
With those numbers you’re in the ball‑park of the higher ranges we saw for full heat pump installs ($17,000‑$23,000 for a 1,500‑2,500 sq ft home).
This shows why it’s essential to factor in ducts and heating when evaluating a “cooling bundle” replacement decision—if you omit those, you may under‑budget.
Key cost drivers: What raises or lowers your expenditure
In my experience advising homeowners, these are the elements that dramatically influence ducted heating system cost, the cost to install a heat pump and ducts, and furnace/heat pump replacement cost.
Home size & load requirements
Larger homes, multi‑story homes, homes with poor insulation or many windows will have increased cost because they need larger equipment and more ductwork.
Ductwork condition & layout
If your ductwork is old, leaky, undersized, or poorly routed (attic, crawl space, concealed walls) you’ll pay for modifications. Many quotes list “ductwork replacement” as a major add‑on. If you need new sheet‐metal ducts rather than flexible duct, cost goes up. (See duct cost article above)
Heating system age & type
If your existing heating unit (furnace or heat pump) is nearing end of life, replacing it at same time as cooling often makes financial sense (labor overlap). If you have a furnace but considering switch to a heat pump, that adds cost (and opportunity) but also complexity.
Installation access & complexity
Equipment in attic, rooftop, second floor adds extra labor/time. Long refrigerant lines, challenging indoor unit placement, difficult duct access—all raise cost.
Efficiency and equipment premium
Higher efficiency ratings, variable‐speed compressors/blowers, premium brands all cost more upfront. Yes you may save energy long term—but you must decide whether you will stay long enough or have usage high enough to capture payoff.
Regional labor/materials & permit costs
Labor rates vary significantly by region (Midwest vs West Coast vs Northeast). Permit costs, building codes, refrigerant type (R‑32 vs older refrigerants) may affect cost.
Sequencing and bundling
If you replace cooling and heating at the same time, you may save on common labor, disposal, access. If you do them separately you might pay more over time because of repeated mobilization, permit duplication, and outdated components staying in place.
Practical steps for YOU: Decision framework
Here’s what you should do (in my Mike Sanders voice) to make sure you go into this upgrade well‑informed and avoid surprises.
1. Inspect your ductwork
Ask a contractor to inspect your ducts: are they sealed, insulated, appropriately sized for your blower, do they have excessive leaks? If ducts are bad, “cost to install heat pump and ducts” will include a big component for ductwork.
2. Evaluate your heating unit status
Is your furnace or heat pump nearing end of life? Are you already seeing rising repair bills or poor performance? If yes, then plan for heating replacement now rather than delaying.
3. Get cooling bundle quotes (Goodman 3‑Ton)
Get bids for the Goodman 3‑Ton 14.5 SEER2 R‑32 bundle (cooling side) including installation, removal of existing equipment, tests. Note cost and ask: “If I also replace heating/ducts at the same time, what’s the incremental cost?”
4. Get heating + ductwork quotes
Ask contractors for quotes for heating replacement + ductwork (if needed), using the same home and access conditions. Use heat pump cost guides and ductwork cost guides to benchmark. If you get quotes in the $10K‑$20K range for heating + ductwork, that aligns with data. If much higher/lower, ask why.
5. Compare doing both now vs staging
Calculate cost:
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Option A: Cooling now, heating later → cost separate, possibly higher labor later.
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Option B: Cooling + heating + ductwork now → higher up‑front cost, but possibly lower total cost and less disruption.
Ask yourself: How many years am I staying in the home? How important is comfort/uniform heating/cooling now? What is my budget?
6. Use cost‐benchmark tools
Use “ducted heating system cost” and “cost to install heat pump and ducts” benchmarks to check your quotes. Example: if your heating + duct quote is $30K for a typical 2,000 sq ft home but data says $12K‑$20K, you should question the difference.
7. Ask for line‑item breakdowns
Make sure each quote shows equipment cost, labor cost, ductwork cost, permit/disposal. Compare apples to apples.
8. Make sure your cooling and heating systems integrate
If you replace only one side now (cooling or heating) make sure the other side will still match in terms of airflow, blower capacity, duct sizing, controls so you don’t impair the performance of the new system.
A sample budget illustration
Let’s run a sample scenario to illustrate:
Home: 2,000 sq ft, moderate insulation, existing ductwork lightly sealed, current furnace ~15 years old.
Goal: Replace cooling with Goodman 3‑Ton bundle. Evaluate whether to replace heating + ducts now.
Cooling only scenario:
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Goodman bundle gear + installation: ~$8,000
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Minor ductwork tweaks: ~$1,000
Total cooling only cost: ~$9,000
Heating + ductwork scenario:
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New heat pump or furnace + install: ~$11,000
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Ductwork upgrades/sealing: ~$3,000
Total heating+ducts cost: ~$14,000
Combined scenario (cooling + heating + ducts together):
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Might reduce overlap costs (single mobilization) → say ~$9,000 + ~$14,000 – some savings ~$2,000
Estimated combined cost: ~$21,000
Compare this to data: data showed whole home heat‑pump costs for 1,500‑2,500 sq ft ~$17,000‑$23,000 (median ~$19,500) in one dataset. So your sample fits in that ball‑park, which means your budgeting is realistic.
Final thoughts: My advice for you
If I were sitting at your kitchen table, here’s what I’d tell you:
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Don’t separate cooling and heating upgrades without thinking of the ducts. A “cooling bundle only” might look cheap now, but if your ducts or heating unit are dated you’ll pay more later.
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Use cost benchmarks: The data we pulled show ductwork can cost thousands, heating system replacement can cost $6K‑$20K+, full systems even more. Don’t assume “just change the outdoor unit.”
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The Goodman 3‑Ton 14.5 SEER2 R‑32 bundle is a solid value for cooling. But if your ducts or heating side are weak, you’ll reduce the value of that investment.
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If you can afford it and you’re staying long term, replacing cooling + heating + ductwork now may make sense—less disruption, better matched system, likely better efficiency and comfort.
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If your heating is still okay, ducts are decent, and budget is tight, you might start with the cooling bundle now—and plan heating/ducts later—but do it knowingly.
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Get multiple bids, check line items, demand a duct inspection, ask “What happens if I upgrade heating/ducts later?”
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Consider long‑term savings: Better ductwork + modern equipment = lower bills, better comfort, fewer repairs.
You’re doing the right thing by analyzing this now rather than waiting and being surprised by cost. My hope is you walk away with clarity, confidence in your decision, and a budget that works.
