Frequently Asked Questions
Can a heat pump heat my entire house? Yes. When properly sized for your house a heat pump will keep your house warm, especially If your house is insulated and your duct system is properly sized to provide air to all parts of your house. You also get the benefit of cooling with a heat pump. Ductless or “mini-split” heat pumps can be configured to provide heating and cooling to serve most of your house as well.
Will I be comfortable with a heat pump? Most people are very comfortable with heat pumps in their homes. The heated air temperature delivered by a heat pump is not as hot as from a natural gas, propane, or oil furnace, so some people liking the hot air coming from those systems may be less comfortable.
How is a heat pump different from an air conditioner? There are only minor differences between a heat pump and an air conditioner. Like air conditioners, a heat pump transfers heat between inside and outside the house. When cooling, the heat pump transfers heat from inside the house and expels it to outside the house. When heating, the heat pump transfers heat from outside the house to the inside. Heat pumps have the benefit of providing both efficient heating and cooling using electricity.
Will a heat pump cool my house too? Yes. A heat pump will cool a house in the same way as an air conditioner. While you can have an air conditioner that’s not a heat pump, you will not get a heat pump that is not an air conditioner.
Will my bills go up? Maybe. If you already have an air conditioner, cooling bills will be similar. The cost to heat your home depends on your climate, the cost of the fuel, efficiency of the heating system, and if your duct system is sealed and insulated.. Heat pumps use electricity and heat at efficiencies of 200% - 300% throughout the year. It is good to consider the fuel and equipment you use to heat your house today when trying to determine the effect on your future bills heating with a heat pump. A well-insulated home with sealed, insulated, and properly sized ducts will help reduce energy losses.
How can I reduce my bills when heating with a heat pump? There are many considerations that need to be considered when switching to a heat pump. Reducing the amount of heat the house needs by reducing air leaks, insulating the house, making sure the ducts do not leak, and insulating the ducts will help. Making sure that the heat pump is sized for your house and that the ducts are appropriately sized will help as well. Heat pumps often need a backup heat source (often an electric resistance furnace) to heat the house at lower outdoor temperatures. A heat pump that is not big enough for your house will cause the less efficient backup heat source to be used more often, increasing your bills. Your thermostat can be used to minimize the use of less efficient backup heat through its efficiency settings. Keeping your thermostat set at a constant temperature that is not too high will help. In most cases, reducing your thermostat settings when sleeping or when away and heating the house back up will increase your energy use.
What is a “cold climate” heat pump? Heat pumps use the heat in outside air – even very cold air – and transfer it into heat for your home indoors. But at some point, the outside air can reach a temperature where the heat pump can’t extract heat from it. A “cold climate” heat pump can still get all of that heat when the temperature outside is low (sometimes down to 0 degrees Fahrenheit.) Most heat pumps provide less heat when the outdoor temperature is lower. A “cold climate” heat pump can provide similar amounts of heat at low outdoor temperatures (sometimes down to 0 degrees Fahrenheit) before the amount of heat output is reduced. The heat pump’s efficiency is reduced at lower temperatures but is still more efficient than using electric resistance heating. Sometimes, “cold climate” heat pumps do not need to be installed with a backup heat source.
Will my heat pump need a backup heat source? Your heat pump will probably need a backup heat source. As it gets colder outside, the house needs more heat. Also, as it gets colder outside, most heat pumps put out less heat. Once the heat pump cannot meet the heating needs of the house, a backup heat source is needed. Most ducted heat pumps use electric resistance in the indoor unit to provide additional heat. Some systems utilize natural gas or propane as a backup heat source. The heat pump can heat most homes that are insulated when the outside temps are down to 20-30 degrees before backup heat is needed. “Cold climate” heat pumps can often heat homes down to 10 degrees or less without backup heat.
Should I install a ducted or a ductless heat pump? If you already have a ducted heating or cooling system, you will likely prefer to install a ducted heat pump. Your indoor air handler will connect to those ducts. Your contractor should still ensure that the ducts are appropriately sized for your heat pump and sealed and insulated.
Ductless systems are beneficial in homes with open floor plans and with existing baseboard, radiator or other hydronic heat.
How many indoor ductless units should be installed? Every house has different heating and cooling needs, and every occupant has different expectations. Placing a ductless unit in every room is usually expensive and leads to systems in smaller rooms being oversized. It is preferable for systems to run for long periods of time. Oversized units will turn off and on instead of running for long periods, leading to comfort and noise issues, and reduces system efficiency. A mini-split heat pump with combination of ducted and ductless systems may be a good solution for some homes.
Does additional electrical work need to be performed to install a heat pump? Depending on your existing heating and cooling system, additional electrical work may be needed to install a heat pump. Electric wiring going from your electric panel to the outdoor unit is needed. If you already have a split system air conditioner, your wiring to the outdoor unit may be sufficient. If you need backup electric resistance heat for your ducted system, you will need to run new wiring for that. You may not need new wiring if you have natural gas or propane and want to use that for backup heat. Any new wiring running from your panel should be installed by a certified electrical professional.
If you are installing a new ductless (mini-split) heat pump system, you will need new wiring to run from your panel to the outdoor unit. Wires will be run between the outdoor unit and indoor units of a mini-split system.
You may also need to upgrade your electric service or panel to accommodate the additional electric load from your heat pump. A certified electrical professional should be consulted if there is any concern that your existing service is undersized and needs to be upgraded.
What are the parts of a heat pump? Heat pumps have parts to exchange heat between inside and outside. Most systems have separate indoor and outdoor units (split systems). The indoor unit has a fan that distributes heated or cooled air through a duct system or an individual room. The outdoor unit absorbs heat to send to the indoor unit for heating or expels heat to outside during cooling. Some heat pumps combine these in one unit (packaged systems.)
What are the different types of heat pumps? People are mostly familiar with split system air source heat pump systems. These have separate indoor and outdoor units to exchange heat with outdoor air to heat and cool indoor spaces. The indoor unit of these systems uses a fan to blow heated or cooled air through the duct system. More information can be found at https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/air-source-heat-pumps
A mini-split heat pump system (often referred to as a “ductless” system) also has indoor and outdoor units to exchange heat with outdoor air. Some mini-split systems connect to one indoor unit, while others can connect to multiple indoor units. The indoor units of mini-split systems may be ducted or ductless. Systems with multiple indoor units can be individually controlled in each room in which they are located. Ductless indoor units may hang from a wall, be on the floor, or be placed in the ceiling. More information can be found at https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/ductless-mini-split-heat-pumps
Packaged heat pump systems do the same exchange of heat with outdoor air to heat and cool indoor spaces but are in one combined unit. These systems are often seen on rooftops and can replace a packaged gas furnace with air conditioning with potentially minimal electrical upgrades (depending on the climate and need for backup heat.)
Geothermal heat pump systems exchange heat with the ground or an outside water source (instead of outside air) to heat or cool the house. The ground heat exchange may take place in a deep vertical well (hundreds of feet deep), in a horizonal loop system in a field five – ten feet below ground, or with a body of water. More information can be found at ENERGY STAR Geothermal Heat Pumps
What size should the heat pump be? Selecting the right size of heat pump for optimal performance and energy efficiency is crucial. The size of your home, insulation levels, window areas and direction, duct location and condition, and your local climate need to be considered. The contractor must calculate the size of heat pump needed based on those factors. Using rule-of-thumb will not be adequate to appropriately size your system for comfort and efficiency.
What does the contractor need to do to ensure the system works efficiently? Your contractor should size the system appropriately for your house and climate. The manufacturer specifications for airflow and pressure in the duct system should be followed and measured by the contractor after installation. Low airflow and undersized ducts can add hundreds of dollars to your annual bills. Your ducts should also be sealed and insulated if located in a crawlspace, attic, or garage. Using a good air filter (something thicker than one or two inches thick) and replacing it at appropriate intervals will also help improve operation. Your contractor should also make sure that the backup heat only operates at low outdoor temperatures by setting the thermostat to not allow the inefficient backup heat to operate above 20-35 degrees, depending on your climate and system type.
Should I keep my house at one temperature or change the temperature while away or asleep? Unlike when using a fossil fuel system or electric wall heaters, in most cases, maintaining a set temperature inside is better for your bills when using a heat pump for heating. Setting back your thermostat temperature while away or at night when cooling may help to reduce energy use. A maximum heating setback temperature of 3-5 degrees should be used with heat pumps when away or asleep. Heat pumps are designed to maintain a set temperature during heating and will not heat up your house quickly without the use of inefficient backup heat if the indoor temperature setpoint is increased after being away or asleep.
What should my contractor consider before installing a heat pump? Your contractor should talk to you to determine if a heat pump is the right choice for your heating and cooling needs. There are multiple types of heat pumps that come in different cost levels. The contractor should provide you options at different cost levels.
The system should be sized for your house and climate for best performance.
The contractor should assess the ducts for appropriate size for the heat pump to be installed. Leaks in the ducts should be sealed and duct should be insulated if they are in an attic, crawlspace, or garage.
The existing electrical system needs to be inspected to determine if it can handle the additional load of a heat pump and potentially the load of the backup heating system. This requires inspection of the current wiring and existing electrical panel. Both may need to be upgraded to add a heat pump to a house. Electrical upgrades need to be performed by a licensed electrical professional.
The outdoor unit may create larger than desired sound levels. It should be installed in a location where noise is of minimal concern.
Will I be comfortable with a heat pump? Most people are very comfortable with heat pumps in their homes. The heated air temperature delivered by a heat pump is not as hot as from a natural gas, propane, or oil furnace, so some people liking the hot air coming from those systems may be less comfortable.
How is a heat pump different from an air conditioner? There are only minor differences between a heat pump and an air conditioner. Like air conditioners, a heat pump transfers heat between inside and outside the house. When cooling, the heat pump transfers heat from inside the house and expels it to outside the house. When heating, the heat pump transfers heat from outside the house to the inside. Heat pumps have the benefit of providing both efficient heating and cooling using electricity.
Will a heat pump cool my house too? Yes. A heat pump will cool a house in the same way as an air conditioner. While you can have an air conditioner that’s not a heat pump, you will not get a heat pump that is not an air conditioner.
Will my bills go up? Maybe. If you already have an air conditioner, cooling bills will be similar. The cost to heat your home depends on your climate, the cost of the fuel, efficiency of the heating system, and if your duct system is sealed and insulated.. Heat pumps use electricity and heat at efficiencies of 200% - 300% throughout the year. It is good to consider the fuel and equipment you use to heat your house today when trying to determine the effect on your future bills heating with a heat pump. A well-insulated home with sealed, insulated, and properly sized ducts will help reduce energy losses.
How can I reduce my bills when heating with a heat pump? There are many considerations that need to be considered when switching to a heat pump. Reducing the amount of heat the house needs by reducing air leaks, insulating the house, making sure the ducts do not leak, and insulating the ducts will help. Making sure that the heat pump is sized for your house and that the ducts are appropriately sized will help as well. Heat pumps often need a backup heat source (often an electric resistance furnace) to heat the house at lower outdoor temperatures. A heat pump that is not big enough for your house will cause the less efficient backup heat source to be used more often, increasing your bills. Your thermostat can be used to minimize the use of less efficient backup heat through its efficiency settings. Keeping your thermostat set at a constant temperature that is not too high will help. In most cases, reducing your thermostat settings when sleeping or when away and heating the house back up will increase your energy use.
What is a “cold climate” heat pump? Heat pumps use the heat in outside air – even very cold air – and transfer it into heat for your home indoors. But at some point, the outside air can reach a temperature where the heat pump can’t extract heat from it. A “cold climate” heat pump can still get all of that heat when the temperature outside is low (sometimes down to 0 degrees Fahrenheit.) Most heat pumps provide less heat when the outdoor temperature is lower. A “cold climate” heat pump can provide similar amounts of heat at low outdoor temperatures (sometimes down to 0 degrees Fahrenheit) before the amount of heat output is reduced. The heat pump’s efficiency is reduced at lower temperatures but is still more efficient than using electric resistance heating. Sometimes, “cold climate” heat pumps do not need to be installed with a backup heat source.
Will my heat pump need a backup heat source? Your heat pump will probably need a backup heat source. As it gets colder outside, the house needs more heat. Also, as it gets colder outside, most heat pumps put out less heat. Once the heat pump cannot meet the heating needs of the house, a backup heat source is needed. Most ducted heat pumps use electric resistance in the indoor unit to provide additional heat. Some systems utilize natural gas or propane as a backup heat source. The heat pump can heat most homes that are insulated when the outside temps are down to 20-30 degrees before backup heat is needed. “Cold climate” heat pumps can often heat homes down to 10 degrees or less without backup heat.
Should I install a ducted or a ductless heat pump? If you already have a ducted heating or cooling system, you will likely prefer to install a ducted heat pump. Your indoor air handler will connect to those ducts. Your contractor should still ensure that the ducts are appropriately sized for your heat pump and sealed and insulated.
Ductless systems are beneficial in homes with open floor plans and with existing baseboard, radiator or other hydronic heat.
How many indoor ductless units should be installed? Every house has different heating and cooling needs, and every occupant has different expectations. Placing a ductless unit in every room is usually expensive and leads to systems in smaller rooms being oversized. It is preferable for systems to run for long periods of time. Oversized units will turn off and on instead of running for long periods, leading to comfort and noise issues, and reduces system efficiency. A mini-split heat pump with combination of ducted and ductless systems may be a good solution for some homes.
Does additional electrical work need to be performed to install a heat pump? Depending on your existing heating and cooling system, additional electrical work may be needed to install a heat pump. Electric wiring going from your electric panel to the outdoor unit is needed. If you already have a split system air conditioner, your wiring to the outdoor unit may be sufficient. If you need backup electric resistance heat for your ducted system, you will need to run new wiring for that. You may not need new wiring if you have natural gas or propane and want to use that for backup heat. Any new wiring running from your panel should be installed by a certified electrical professional.
If you are installing a new ductless (mini-split) heat pump system, you will need new wiring to run from your panel to the outdoor unit. Wires will be run between the outdoor unit and indoor units of a mini-split system.
You may also need to upgrade your electric service or panel to accommodate the additional electric load from your heat pump. A certified electrical professional should be consulted if there is any concern that your existing service is undersized and needs to be upgraded.
What are the parts of a heat pump? Heat pumps have parts to exchange heat between inside and outside. Most systems have separate indoor and outdoor units (split systems). The indoor unit has a fan that distributes heated or cooled air through a duct system or an individual room. The outdoor unit absorbs heat to send to the indoor unit for heating or expels heat to outside during cooling. Some heat pumps combine these in one unit (packaged systems.)
What are the different types of heat pumps? People are mostly familiar with split system air source heat pump systems. These have separate indoor and outdoor units to exchange heat with outdoor air to heat and cool indoor spaces. The indoor unit of these systems uses a fan to blow heated or cooled air through the duct system. More information can be found at https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/air-source-heat-pumps
A mini-split heat pump system (often referred to as a “ductless” system) also has indoor and outdoor units to exchange heat with outdoor air. Some mini-split systems connect to one indoor unit, while others can connect to multiple indoor units. The indoor units of mini-split systems may be ducted or ductless. Systems with multiple indoor units can be individually controlled in each room in which they are located. Ductless indoor units may hang from a wall, be on the floor, or be placed in the ceiling. More information can be found at https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/ductless-mini-split-heat-pumps
Packaged heat pump systems do the same exchange of heat with outdoor air to heat and cool indoor spaces but are in one combined unit. These systems are often seen on rooftops and can replace a packaged gas furnace with air conditioning with potentially minimal electrical upgrades (depending on the climate and need for backup heat.)
Geothermal heat pump systems exchange heat with the ground or an outside water source (instead of outside air) to heat or cool the house. The ground heat exchange may take place in a deep vertical well (hundreds of feet deep), in a horizonal loop system in a field five – ten feet below ground, or with a body of water. More information can be found at ENERGY STAR Geothermal Heat Pumps
What size should the heat pump be? Selecting the right size of heat pump for optimal performance and energy efficiency is crucial. The size of your home, insulation levels, window areas and direction, duct location and condition, and your local climate need to be considered. The contractor must calculate the size of heat pump needed based on those factors. Using rule-of-thumb will not be adequate to appropriately size your system for comfort and efficiency.
What does the contractor need to do to ensure the system works efficiently? Your contractor should size the system appropriately for your house and climate. The manufacturer specifications for airflow and pressure in the duct system should be followed and measured by the contractor after installation. Low airflow and undersized ducts can add hundreds of dollars to your annual bills. Your ducts should also be sealed and insulated if located in a crawlspace, attic, or garage. Using a good air filter (something thicker than one or two inches thick) and replacing it at appropriate intervals will also help improve operation. Your contractor should also make sure that the backup heat only operates at low outdoor temperatures by setting the thermostat to not allow the inefficient backup heat to operate above 20-35 degrees, depending on your climate and system type.
Should I keep my house at one temperature or change the temperature while away or asleep? Unlike when using a fossil fuel system or electric wall heaters, in most cases, maintaining a set temperature inside is better for your bills when using a heat pump for heating. Setting back your thermostat temperature while away or at night when cooling may help to reduce energy use. A maximum heating setback temperature of 3-5 degrees should be used with heat pumps when away or asleep. Heat pumps are designed to maintain a set temperature during heating and will not heat up your house quickly without the use of inefficient backup heat if the indoor temperature setpoint is increased after being away or asleep.
What should my contractor consider before installing a heat pump? Your contractor should talk to you to determine if a heat pump is the right choice for your heating and cooling needs. There are multiple types of heat pumps that come in different cost levels. The contractor should provide you options at different cost levels.
The system should be sized for your house and climate for best performance.
The contractor should assess the ducts for appropriate size for the heat pump to be installed. Leaks in the ducts should be sealed and duct should be insulated if they are in an attic, crawlspace, or garage.
The existing electrical system needs to be inspected to determine if it can handle the additional load of a heat pump and potentially the load of the backup heating system. This requires inspection of the current wiring and existing electrical panel. Both may need to be upgraded to add a heat pump to a house. Electrical upgrades need to be performed by a licensed electrical professional.
The outdoor unit may create larger than desired sound levels. It should be installed in a location where noise is of minimal concern.