“Change before you have to.”
Jack Welch
Part of the master plan to slowly electrify our home was to ditch our furnace for a heat pump when the time came. Unfortunately, that time came sooner than expected, so we recently took the plunge. I thought it might be helpful to share our experience with switching to a heat pump.
Last month, we found out our furnace had a major problem. The scary part is it had been spewing a dangerous amount of carbon monoxide into our crawl space. Once we got a second opinion confirming the problem, it was decision time.
The quickest and simplest solution would have been to just replace the furnace with another one. Instead, we took a breath and considered our options. Our AC unit was old, and would probably be on its way out soon. Heat pumps do the work of both a heater and and air conditioner, and the cost is substantially less than buying them separately. Weighing this, along with all the other benefits (see below), we chose a heat pump.
Why a heat pump?
Heating and cooling is one of the major ways we contribute to climate change, so for people wanting to reduce their CO2 emissions, this is a logical place to turn. You can learn more here, but, in a nutshell, heat pumps are electric, so they don’t burn oil or gas. This fact alone makes them safer and cleaner in our homes. They are also 3x more efficient, so they require less energy and expense to operate. On top of that, they dehumidify more effectively than air conditioners.
Through the Inflation Reduction Act, incentives are up for grabs to help us transition away from fossil fuels. Tax credits are available for people who switch to more efficient and climate-friendly choices, like electric cars, solar energy, and heat pumps. In addition, there are potential incentives through federal and state programs, as well as energy companies.
Pro tips:
- A heat pump replaces both your furnace and AC unit, so timing matters
- If your systems are old, follow the boy scout motto and be prepared by doing some research ahead of time
- Your HVAC company may not suggest a heat pump (ours did not – I had to ask)
- Get 2 or 3 quotes…they can be wildly different!
- The options are overwhelming, ranging from very basic to Cadillac models
- Be sure to confirm with the HVAC company that the unit you choose qualifies for tax credits
It’s never fun to dump money into home maintenance, so I hope your current heating and cooling system has nine lives. But when it’s time, check out a heat pump. We’re happy we did. Feel free to email me if I can help.
Let’s do something about climate change. Learn about it. Think about it. Talk about it.