By CHRISTOPHER KAZARIAN
With the state of Massachusetts setting a goal of reducing carbon emissions by 50 percent by 2030, 75% by 2040 and net zero by 2050, it is providing generous incentives for homeowners to convert to heat pumps.
Offered through Mass Save, the rebate for a whole-home heat pump is $3,000 per ton up to $10,000. Partial-home heat pumps are $1,250 per ton up to $10,000. Additional HEAT Loans through Mass Save can be used to finance the purchase of heat pumps for up to seven years, depending on a household’s income.
The devices, which were popular in the 1970s during the oil crisis, are making a resurgence due to the rebates. Unlike then, Jared Grier, owner of Cape Cod Heat Pumps in Marstons Mills, said, “Heat pumps today are much more efficient than the ones we had before.”
He explained how they work by referencing air conditioners, which remove heat from inside one’s home to the outside. “A heat pump does that in reverse. It takes heat from the outside and moves it inside to someone’s home or business,” he said. “All heat pumps are air-to-air, meaning they are pulling heat out of the air and pushing it back into the home.”
The most-effective heat pumps, Mr. Grier said, are 100 percent effective at an outdoor temperature as low as 5 degrees Fahrenheit and are guaranteed to operate at minus-13 degrees. They far outperform the pumps that were being installed five decades ago, he said.
His company’s customers are often not only looking to take advantage of current rebates but seeking to replace their old heating systems, which might be failing and more expensive to operate.
The first step his company takes is to meet with customers at their homes to look at their current heating system, explain what a heat pump is and review their options. “It is more educational than salesy,” he said. “We see what their existing electrical services are and their needs for equipment. And then we’ll educate them to what their options are.”
Today’s heat pumps come in a variety of options and can tie into the existing furnace or cooling system. The most common are the ductless heat pumps that hang high on a wall.
There are heat pump radiators that sit on a floor while others look like picture frames mounted on a wall. There are also four-way and one-way cassette units.
“There are lots of different options out there, which is why it is important for us to meet with customers on site and go over what those options might be,” Mr. Grier said, noting geothermal as another possibility, though they are not as common on the Cape because of the costs associated with installing them and the region’s sandy soil.
While heat pumps tend to be more efficient than natural gas, propane and even oil, Mr. Grier said, it does not mean they will be more cost effective.
That is an important distinction, said Scott Reid, an HVAC in-home estimator with E.F. Winslow in South Yarmouth. “They are using electricity to perform their task so when in heating mode they use a lot of energy, even the most-efficient ones,” he said. “Due to Eversource’s rates, it can end up costing people more to heat their home or spaces, whether its commercial or residential, as opposed to other fuel sources like natural gas, oil or propane.”
He, too, starts every project with a conversation with customers to understand their needs to determine if a heat pump is the most appropriate for their home.
“The best homes for heat pumps have solar and have had it for multiple years and have all this surplus energy they are not using,” he said. In those cases, homeowners will use their energy credit to offset the cost to operate a heat pump.
Homes that have been newly constructed, he said, are also ideal for heat pumps. “They are very tight and don’t require many BTUs to heat so an electric heat pump may be appropriate for them,” he said.
The current rebates have made it attractive for homeowners to invest in the devices, though he stressed “they are not for everyone and not for every home.”
For homeowners who do want to go this route, it starts with an initial consultation that includes education; identifying which areas of the home underperform and overperform when it comes to heating; and doing load calculations to determine what size equipment meets the needs for their space.
A quote is typically issued within a day after which point, he said, customers can expect to have their heat pump installed within a few weeks, depending on the time of year and the availability of product. Installs are usually done within a day.
The advantage of going with a firm such as E.F. Winslow, he said, is “we handle everything in house. We have carpenters, electricians and plumbers.”
The devices can be susceptible to mold and mildew, and also attract mice. A musty smell from a heat pump can indicate it needs to be serviced. It’s why both Mr. Reid and Mr. Grier recommend routine annual checkups that can help prolong the life of a heat pump which, on average, lasts anywhere from 15 to 20 years.
Both agree that homeowners should do their research ahead of time and also seek out at least three contractors to determine who can best meet their needs. “I don’t encourage getting more than three quotes because then customers will get confused,” Mr. Grier said. “Do research on a contractor. Look at their Yelp reviews, Facebook comments, Google reviews, and ask for references. By doing their research, customers will find out if a heat pump is appropriate for them.”
Find Out If A Heat Pump Is Right For You
Cape Cod Heat Pumps (Marstons Mills) — www.ccheatpumps.com
E.F. Winslow (South Yarmouth) — www.efwinslow.com