With less daylight and cooler temperatures on the way, it’s increasingly important that your heating system is energy efficient. If you’re in the market for a new heating system, consider the latest in HVAC tech, a heat pump. 

Contrary to their name, heat pumps can both heat and cool your home and are the most efficient option for many homeowners that currently heat with electricity, oil, or propane. We’ve provided a Q&A below with some of the most common questions about heat pumps:

• How do heat pumps work?
  • Like a refrigerator or air conditioner, a heat pump runs on electricity, and a refrigerant transfers heat from one location to another. To heat your home, heat is extracted from outdoors and transferred to the inside of your home. To cool your house, heat pumps take hot air from indoors and move it outdoors
  • Because heat pumps transfer heat energy rather than produce hot or cold air, they are a more efficient option than most conventional heating and cooling systems, reducing both carbon emissions and your energy bill. Geothermal or “ground source” heat pumps make the most of this phenomenon by transferring heat to and from water circulated underground where it is a constant temperature year-round

• What are the benefits of having a heat pump?
  • Convenience - Heat pumps provide all-in-one comfort: heating, cooling, and dehumidification are all in one system
  • Customized Comfort – Heat pump systems allow you to customize your home heating and cooling by room, all with the click of your smart phone. With a heat pump, you can make that one room that’s always a bit colder, nicer and more comfortable without over-heating the rest of your house
  • Flexibility - Heat pumps can be installed with or without ductwork, so it can fit easily within your home’s current systems
  • Cost Competitive - Compared to heating and cooling with oil, propane, or electric resistance, heat pumps allow you to save money on energy bills
  • Lower Greenhouse Gas Emissions - Heat pumps result in less greenhouse gas emissions, which is better for the environment

• How do I know if a heat pump is right for me?
  • There are heat pump systems to fit all types of homes. With today’s energy prices, heating your home with heat pumps instead of oil, propane, or electric resistance will lower your heating operating expenses
  • There are both centrally ducted and ductless heat pumps - making them suited to homes with or without existing ductwork
    • Ducted: Ducted systems can work well for homes that already have ducts or where the homeowner is planning to install ductwork
    • Ductless: Ductless heads can be mounted on a wall, mounted to the floor, or embedded in the ceiling. Ductless systems are a great option for houses that have no existing ductwork

• Do heat pumps work in cold weather?
  • Heat pumps are effective in all kinds of weather. Heat pumps are so effective in cold weather that Nordic countries Norway, Sweden, and Finland have the highest rate of heat pump use across Europe

• I’ve decided to get a heat pump, what do I do now?
  • Understand the costs and plan how you will finance the project
    • The cost to install a heat pump in your home will depend on the specific characteristics of the building, the kind of system and the features you choose, as well as your installer
    • Eversource, a sponsor of Mass Save, offers incentives up to $15,000 and may provide 0% interest for the installation of a qualifying heat pump system
  • Contact installers. Eversource recommends contacting at least three installers for quotes. Installers may also give multiple quotes for different installation or unit configurations so you can understand all your options
  • Prepare your home. Consider preliminary measures to get your home ready for a new heating system, such as upgrading your electrical service and completing weatherization work, like air sealing and adding insulation. If you are planning to improve the weatherization of your home, make sure your installer is aware so that they take the reduced heating and cooling needs of your home into account when designing your heat pump system
  • Install your heat pump. It usually takes between 3 days and 2 weeks to install a heat pump. Installation can vary based on your home’s size and system complexity. For more information about what you should expect, talk to your installer

Heat pumps are a great option for customers who currently heat their homes with electric resistant heat. Whether you’re looking to improve the comfort of your home, save on your energy bill, or help save the environment, Eversource has several budget-friendly solutions to help you get started. Visit Eversource.com to learn more about Eversource’s residential offerings and additional ways to save.

Bill Stack is Eversource’s energy efficiency spokesperson in Massachusetts. If you’re a member of the media and would like to arrange an interview with Bill, please contact a member of the Media Relations team.