The Benefits of Switching to a Heat Pump in New England

If you need to replace your home’s heating system, consider installing a heat pump. Gas furnaces continue to be the most common source of heating in colder places like New England due to how effectively they heat.

 

However, heat pumps are quickly catching up in popularity and frequency of installation. This guide from Definition Heating, Cooling & Plumbing goes over the many benefits of heat pumps and explains why.

Heat Pumps: Cooling and Heating in One

What makes heat pumps unique is that they can provide both air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter. That means you only have to take care of one appliance instead of maintaining separate cooling and heating units.

 

A high-quality heat pump will usually cost a bit more to install than either a central AC or a furnace. But you’ll still save a few thousand dollars on installing a heat pump compared to what you’d pay to install both an air conditioner and a furnace.

 

During the summer, a heat pump cools exactly as an air conditioner does. That means you never need to worry about your house getting too hot. Heat pump technology has advanced to the point where it can also keep your home warm all winter. That’s why switching to a heat pump is one of the best investments you can make for your year-round comfort.

Heat Pumps Offer Reduced Heating Costs

One of the main reasons so many homeowners are switching from a gas furnace to a heat pump is that it costs much less to heat your home. Even the best gas furnace is only around 98% efficient, meaning some energy always goes to waste.

 

Most heat pumps, on the other hand, are around 300% to 400% efficient when operating in optimal conditions. That means they produce three to four times as much heat as they use electricity.

 

Heat pumps work so efficiently because they transfer heat rather than directly generate it. The refrigerant in the system pulls in heat from outside the home. Before being pumped into the house, the now-warm refrigerant is first compressed. This makes it boil, and its temperature skyrockets to around 120 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit. All this stored heat then gets transferred inside and released to heat the air flowing through the air handler.

 

A heat pump’s energy efficiency decreases as outdoor air temperature drops. Nonetheless, even in below-zero conditions, a heat pump will almost always work more efficiently and use less energy than a furnace. Depending on the make and model of the heat pump you install, you could easily reduce your yearly heating costs by at least a third or a half.

Heating in Cold Climate Conditions

Most cold-climate heat pumps can continue operating in conditions as cold as -15 degrees, and some can even run down to -22 degrees. That means you will rarely need to worry about it being too cold for your heat pump to keep your house warm.

 

Another thing to understand about cold-climate heat pump systems is that they have electric heat strips in the air handler. These strips serve as a backup heating source in case it’s ever too cold for the heat pump to run.

Heat Pump Saving Comparisons

Before rushing out to replace your gas furnace with a heat pump, you also have to consider the difference in how much you pay for electricity and natural gas. If your electricity rates are higher, you may not save much with a heat pump compared to what you’d pay to heat your house with a furnace.

Heat Pumps Offer Safer Heating

Gas furnaces and any type of electric resistance heating can create a safety hazard. The biggest risk with electric resistance heating is that the coils can get so hot that they ignite nearby objects. The risk of a gas furnace starting a fire is very low, but it does happen occasionally.

 

If you have a gas furnace, there is a potential for carbon monoxide poisoning. Although the combustion fumes from the furnace normally vent directly outside, repair issues can cause carbon monoxide to escape. This can happen because the exhaust flue is obstructed, damaged, or wasn’t installed correctly.

 

An even more serious issue arises if the furnace’s heat exchanger cracks. In this case, carbon monoxide can mix with the hot air from the furnace and then blow into every room in the house.

 

If you have a heat pump, you never need to worry about carbon monoxide because it produces no exhaust fumes. You typically won’t need to worry about it starting a fire. There’s a very small chance the system will develop an electrical issue. This risk is minimal, especially if you ensure a professional HVAC maintenance team inspects and services your heat pump system twice a year.

Heat Pumps Have Lower Carbon Footprint

Switching to a heat pump can be one of the best ways to lower your carbon footprint and make your home eco-friendlier. Running a gas furnace all winter long results in significant carbon emissions. Since heat pumps run on electricity only, they produce no emissions directly.

 

This isn’t to say that a heat pump always offers a carbon-neutral source of heating since carbon emissions are often still released when producing the electricity to run the heat pump. However, if your electricity comes from renewable energy sources, your heat pump will provide carbon-neutral heating.

Available Heat Pump Rebates in Massachusetts

There are currently multiple heat pump rebates available to homeowners in Massachusetts.  These range from a whole-home conversion rebate of up to $15,000 to a $ 250-per-ton rebate for supplemental use of heat pumps for home comfort.

 

For a limited time, there is also an instant rebate of $650–$1300 available for homeowners who install qualifying heat pump systems. Contact Definition Services to learn more, or review the Mass Save programs here.

Contact the Heat Pump experts at Definition Services

If you’re considering making the switch to a heat pump, we have a variety of outstanding options that can meet your homes or business’s heating and cooling needs. For more information about the heat pumps, we offer, or to help you decide if a heat pump is right for you, contact Definition Heating, Cooling & Plumbing at 508-682-5000 (call or text). You can also request an estimate online.