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| | | By moving heat from one area to another, a heat pump heats your home in winter and cools it in summer using just one system instead of two (such as a furnace and air conditioner). Heat pumps are best suited for climates with moderate heating and cooling needs, but dual-fuel models can be paired with back-up fossil-fuel furnaces for reasonable comfort in colder regions. There are two basic types -- air-source heat pumps capture and move heat between the indoors and outdoors, while geothermal (ground-source or water-source) heat pumps capture and move heat between the indoors and the relatively constant temperatures just below the earth's surface. | | |
| Typical costs: | - Installing a small through-the-wall or window unit air-source heat pump to cool and heat a single room runs about $500 -$1,500.
- For a whole house system with existing ductwork, a typical split system (one unit inside, one outside) air-source heat pump runs $2,000 -$5,000 for an average home (3 ton capacity). For homes without existing ducting, professional installation of a ductless mini-split electric air-source heat pump can run $4,500 -$6,000 or more, depending on the number of indoor units (zones).
- For less moderate climates, installing a dual-fuel air source heat pump that works with a natural gas or propane furnace under a single control system can run $2,500 -$5,500 to install just the heat pump, or $5,000 -$10,000 or more for a complete system that includes both the electric heat pump and a fossil-fuel furnace.
- Complete installation of a geothermal heat pump (ground-source or water-source) runs $10,000 -$25,000 or more, depending on the length and depth of the underground pipes, soil conditions and other excavation and installation factors. More expensive systems may include options such as a two-stage compressor or a hot water heater.
- The technology is still evolving for residential use of absorption heat pumps, which are air-source heat pumps driven by natural gas, propane or solar-heated or geothermal-heated water. Also called gas-fired heat pumps, most current absorption heat pumps are sized for industrial or commercial use, or for residences of 4,000 square feet or larger (and usually without an outside electricity source).
What should be included: | - Because heat pumps move heat rather than generating it, they are an energy-efficient alternative to furnaces and air-conditioners, according to the US Department of Energy. A properly working heat pump warms a house slowly and maintains an even temperature, sometimes without the blasts of hot air provided by other methods, such as a forced-air furnace. Kansas City Power & Light provides a detailed overview of the different types and uses of heat pumps.
- The most common type is the air-source heat pump, which transfers heat between indoor and outdoor air, bringing warmth inside in the winter and expelling it in summer. Generally, all heat pumps require ductwork (like any central air system), except for ductless mini-split heat pumps. For colder climates, a dual fuel heat pump is an air-source unit designed to operate as a single system with a gas or propane-powered furnace providing back-up heat when outside temperatures drop below freezing. Often called geothermal systems, a ground-source or water-source heat pump transfers heat between your home and the earth (or underground water) by circulating fluid through long loops of underground pipe. Geothermal systems are the most energy-efficient, but are expensive to buy and install.
Additional costs: | - In an older home, adding an electric heat pump might require hiring an electrician to upgrade the electrical panel to 200 amps, which can cost an additional $1,300 -$3,000.
Discounts: | - Utility companies and other agencies may offer rebates when you purchase an energy-efficient heat pump; check with your local power company or search for rebates listed at EnergyStar.gov.
- An energy-efficient heat pump may qualify for $300-$2,000 in federal tax credits, effective through 2009.
Shopping for a heat pump: | - The Department of Energy lists factors to consider in buying an energy-efficient air-source heat pump, and explains the advanced features to look for that will improve your heat pump's performance.
- The Cornhusker Public Power District provides a checklist for hiring a heat pump contractor.
- Get several estimates, making clear what is (and isn't) include in each quote. Request and check references; ask about the contractor's length and type of experience; and be sure the company is properly bonded, insured and licensed in your state. Check whether there are any complaints with the Better Business Bureau.
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Article updated February 2009 |
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