Install a Heat Pump for space heating and cooling

Avoid 4-8 Tons of carbon emissions per year

If your gas furnace is more than 10 or 12 years old, or if you are feeling the need for AC, you may want to upgrade to a super efficient heat pump. Heat pumps are the most efficient way to heat or cool your home and dramatically reduce your homes carbon emissions. Federal and state incentives can reduce the installation costs by thousands of dollars. Be sure to ask your installer if the equipment they are recommending will qualify for IRA tax credits before you purchase!

Scroll down to find our list of recommended contractors

“We love our new heat pump furnace! The temperature in the house is far more consistent than it was previously, and Jo and I have been blown away (no pun intended ;-) by how remarkably quiet the new system is.” Ernest and Johanna, Portland OR

Things to know about Heat Pumps for space heating and cooling.

• Efficiency: Heat pumps are 2 -3 times more efficient than electric resistance heating or gas furnaces and much more efficient than conventional AC for cooling. This is why these devices are an economic and environmental benefit.

• Cold Climates: Modern heat pumps are plenty capable of heating homes in even the coldest parts of the country like Vermont. If you live in a cold climate, be sure you are getting one of these high efficiency units to avoid gas or propane backup heating.

• Reliability: This technology is decades old and proven. Heat pumps will come with good warranties and are very reliable when installed by reputable contractors.

• Insulation and weatherization: Heat pumps will work better in homes that are adequately insulated. Be sure to ask your contractor about this if you are concerned that your home may need weatherization or if your ductwork is old and potentially in need of attention.

• Air Filtration: Ducted systems can be installed with 4 inch filters which are very effective at removing dust, smoke and other particles from you indoor air. Because the systems tend to run more continuously, you will enjoy cleaner indoor air this way. Be sure to ask for a 4 inch filter - 1 inch filters are not effective. Ductless systems do not filter air well and you should look for separate stand alone air filters - they are not expensive.

Heat Pump Resources and Fact Sheets

Air Source Heat Pumps Fact Sheet

Download this fact sheet to get a quick overview of the advantages of heat pumps and how to get started if you want to install one in your home. Our Air Source Heat Pump webinar is another good resource.

How to find and work with a good HVAC contractor

Use this factsheet as a guide to help you locate qualified contractors, make sure you are working with a good one, and ask them the right questions to ensure you get the best solution for your home. Find out more on this topic with our How to Find a Good HVAC Contractor webinar.

How to Avoid a Panel Upgrade

Download this fact sheet for tips on how to avoid an expensive panel upgrade and how to take advantage of power efficient appliances and circuit sharing to reduce your home power requirements. For more information, check out our Electrical Panel Upgrades webinar.

Room Heat Pump Guide

Room Heat Pumps are DIY installed, self contained units that provide powerful cooling and supplemental heating for individual rooms or small apartments. These small heat pumps will provide heat at twice the efficiency of an electric resistance space heater. They can help to keep you comfortable for most of the year, but only provide heat when the outside temperature is over 40 degrees F. They come in several configurations - check out our fact sheet with more information, recommendations and a model comparison, or watch our Room Heat Pumps webinar.

Geothermal Heat Pump Guide

Geothermal Heat Pumps take advantage of the constant temperature of the earth’s surface to deliver the most efficient heating and cooling technology available. While more expensive to install, the lower operating costs make them competitive with air source heat pumps - especially in very cold climates or in new construction. This Geothermal Heat Pump Guide discusses the benefits of and considerations related to this important electrification solution. For more information, check out our Geothermal Heat Pump webinar.

Combined Water and Space Heating

A combi heat pump, also known as a multi-function heat pump, is a heat pump system that provides space heating and cooling, as well as domestic hot water. Combi heat pumps can include thermal storage—water tanks that allow the system to shift the operation of the heat pump to coincide with warmer outdoor air temperatures and lower electricity costs. This can improve system efficiency and lower energy costs. This Combi Heat Pumps System Guide describes how these systems work and their benefits. For more information, check out our Combined Water and Space Heating webinar.

Webinars with industry experts

Learn How to Find a Good HVAC Contractor and how to work with them to get the best solution for your home.

Learn about Cold Climate Heat Pumps and how they are being used in Vermont and other areas with cold winters and how they could work for your home.

Watch our recorded webinar on Ductless Heat Pumps to learn about super high efficiency “mini splits” and where they are most applicable.

Watch our Combined Water and Space Heating webinar to learn about the benefits of these systems - often called combi heat pumps because they use a single heat pump to heat and cool your space and also provide domestic hot water.

Learn how to avoid a panel upgrade. Owners of older homes are often told they need a panel upgrade in order to electrify. In some cases this is true, but most homes can fully electrify on a 100Amp panel - a common size in older homes that were built before 200 Amps became standard. Find out how you can save thousands of dollars through power efficient design in this webinar.

Our Room Heat Pump webinar discusses how these small portable devices work, what models are available and their benefits and limitations. Learn how these products can be used to reduce your use of gas heating or inefficient electric baseboard heat.

Dual Fuel systems refer to hybrid heating and cooling systems where a heat pump is connected to a gas furnace. The heat pump provides cooling and also reduces the use of the furnace except in very cold temperatures. This is a good way to reduce emissions and get the benefits of a heat pump without replacing your furnace and way more energy efficient than central AC.

Recommended Contractors

We highly recommend the suppliers below for the Portland metro area. Go to Electrify Oregon for installers in other Oregon cities, or Switch is On for installers in California and Washington. Rewiring America has a national list of contractor directories by state.

We do not have any formal relationship with them, nor do we get any payments from them. We know they are professional and reliable and that the products they sell and install are industry leading. Be sure to mention that you found them through Electrify Now in order to qualify for discounts.