Home > My Energy > Heat pumps > Heat Pump Options

Which heat pump is right for me?

Which heat pump is right for me? 

air-source heat pumps

Air-source heat pumps extract heat from outside air that is then used for heating indoor spaces during the colder months. They can also extract heat from indoors and expel it outside to cool indoor spaces during the warmer months. Air-source heat pumps, like a ductless mini-split, can be used to heat or cool single rooms (partial load) and whole homes (full load).

Best suited for apartments, additions, or rooms that always seem too hot or too cold, no matter what you do to the thermostat. (See chart below.)
 
Up to 50% more efficient than oil-fueled systems. 
 
Estimated annual savings of up to $900.
(Efficiency calculated by comparing heating performance of a Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnership (NEEP)-certified air-source heat pumps to an ENERGY STAR-certified oil furnace.) 

GROUND-SOURCE/GEOTHERMAL HEAT PUMPS

A geothermal heat pump functions like a conventional heat pump, by using high-pressure refrigerant to capture and move heat between indoors and out. The difference is that conventional systems gather their heat—and get rid of it—through the outside air. Geothermal systems, in contrast, transfer heat through long loops of liquid-filled pipe buried in the ground. Since the underground temperatures stay at approximately 50 degrees, it doesn't take as much effort for the system to heat the air to a comfortable temperature, making it the most efficient type of heat pump. In the summer, the system works in reverse to cool the air. 

Best suited for single family homes with lawn space to accomodate geothermal loops. (See chart below.) 
 
Up to 3X more efficient than oil-fueled systems. 
 
Estimated annual savings of up to $1,500.
(Efficiency calculated by comparing heating performance of an ENERGY STAR-certified closed loop water-to-air geothermal heat pump to an ENERGY STAR-certified oil furnace.)

DUCTED, DUCTLESS OR GROUND-SOURCE/GEOTHERMAL

Do you have forced-air heating? If your home currently has ducts for heating or cooling, these can often be reused for ducted heat pump systems. No ducts? No problem. There are many ductless options for heat pumps. Additionally, multi-zone systems can combine a variety of ducted or ductless indoor heating/cooling distribution systems from a single outdoor heat pump unit.

Building Type

Existing Ductwork

 Ductless

Two Story
  • Ducted Air Source
  • Ground-Source (Geothermal)
  • Multi-Zone Air Source
  • Ductless Air-Source
  • Multi-Zone Air-Source

Single Story
  • Ducted Air-Source
  • Ground-Source
  • Ductless Air-Source
  • Multi-Zone Air-Source

Mobile Home
  • Ducted Air-Source
  • Ductless Air-Source

Townhome

 
  • Multi-Zone Air Source

Apartment

 
  • Ductless Air-Source

ELECTRIC HEAT PUMP WATER HEATERS

Heat pump water heaters extract heat from the air surrounding the unit to heat water. They can replace electric or fossil fuel-powered water heaters that require much more energy to run efficiently— leading to big savings.

Best suited for residences with basements or separate utility rooms. (These units lose efficiency if installed in closets without ample clearance.)
 
Approx. 3x more efficient than conventional electric resistance water heaters.
 
Estimated annual savings of up to $350 when compared to conventional electric unit.