5 Reasons Why People Are Switching To Air Source Heat Pumps

What exactly is an air source heat pump?

Heat pumps are like the Swiss Army knife of heating and cooling. Unlike traditional furnaces and boilers, which only provide heat, an air source heat pump is also an air conditioner, a dehumidifier, and an air filter. And it does all these jobs efficiently. In fact, according to the U.S.Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR® program, air source heat pumps deliver about three times more heat energy to your home than the electrical energy they consume.

How, you might ask, do they do that? Well, air source heat pumps are efficient because they transfer heat rather than create it. While furnaces produce heat by burning fossil fuels like oil or propane, air source heat pumps work much like a refrigerator by extracting the heat from the outside air in winter (yes, there is heat in cold air!) and bringing it into your home, then in the summer, working in reverse to pull hot air out of our home.

Should you consider an air source heat pump? Are they good for any type of home? Can they replace other fossil fuel systems? Yes, yes, yes, and more!

Here are the top five reasons to consider upgrading to an air source heat pump.

1. Efficiency and cost savings: We said this earlier, but heat pumps are very efficient. Depending upon your temperature preferences and the size of your home, annual savings can range from hundreds of dollars for natural gas heated homes to well about $1,000 for homes currently using a propane or oil system.

Overall, heat pumps are up to three times more efficient than traditional heating, like propane furnaces, because they use less energy to produce the same amount of heat. This can cut down on your home’s energy waste in a big way.

See what you might save with a heat pump. Use this easy comparison tool.

2. Low carbon footprint: If you want to reduce your impact on the planet, heat pumps are a way to help. Unlike burning oil or gas, which produce high carbon emissions, heat pumps are cleaner than fossil fuels.

3. Cleaner and safer: Because heat pumps filter air and dehumidify it, the air you breathe in your home will be better quality. And, with a heat pump, you won’t need to worry about gas leaks or carbon monoxide poisoning—which is also what makes a heat pump safer and contributes to cleaner air in your home.

4. Available in ducted or ductless models: Want central AC but don’t have ductwork? No problem. Whether or not you have ducts in your home, there are so many ways to configure a heat pump system. You can put a unit (called a mini-split) in a single room or have a multizone plan. Or use your home’s ductwork for whole-house system comfort or just for certain rooms. Work with a contractor to find the right solution for your home.

5. Tax credits, incentives, rebates, and low financing rates available: There are several ways to reduce the cost of switching to a heat pump.

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) provides for federal income tax credits of up to $2,000 annually for the installation of qualifying heat pumps. This can lower the cost of a heat pump installation by up to 30%. But that’s just the start.

Here are more ways to save:

Air Source Heat Pump and Heat Pump Water Heater

• 30% of the cost paid by the customer, up to $2,000/year

Energy Efficiency Upgrades Including Exterior Doors, Windows, Skylights, Insulation and Air Sealing Material

• $1,200 for energy property costs and certain energy-efficient home improvements, with limits on doors ($250 per door and $500 total) and windows ($600)

Home Energy Audits

• A home energy audit may qualify you for a tax credit of up to $150

Electric Service Upgrades (Panels) Associated with Heat Pump Installations

• Save up to $1,200 a year based on the costs of electrical components needed for your heat pump

Residential Clean Energy Credit

• Geothermal heat pumps earn you a 30% credit based on the cost you paid, per year

If you want to learn more about the amazing technology of air source heat pumps, how much you could save, and how to locate a contractor to help you find what’s right for your home, PSEG Long Island has all the information you need.