So you want to know about heat pumps, or: why heat pumps are awesome and probably a great choice for your home.

What is a heat pump?

Heat pumps efficiently transfer heat between indoor and outdoor to heat and cool your home. They use refrigerant to absorb and release heat, providing warmth in winter, and reversing the process to cool in summer.  

Heat pumps are more energy-efficient than traditional heating and cooling systems because they use electricity to move (pump) heat rather than generate it, resulting in lower bills and a smaller carbon footprint.

Typically, heat pumps come in two varieties: ducted heat pumps, which use your existing ductwork just like an AC & furnace would; and ductless mini splits, which do not need ductwork and allow each room or zone to be controlled individually.

How do heat pumps work?
(8 minutes)

Will I save money on my utility bills?

Short answer: Yes. Long answer: Probably; there are a lot of variables — the insulation value of your home, number and type of windows, natural drafts, condition and size of the existing ductwork, electricity rates in your area, etc. For most, your overall utility bill will go down. Heat pumps are more than 3x as efficient as traditional heating and cooling solutions.

Am I eligible for a rebate?

Very likely! You should know that rebates differ depending on where you live. On top of that, there are federal rebates and tax incentives as well.

At Tetra, we’ll not only help you figure out if you qualify for a whole-home (or partial-home) rebate, we’ll make sure you get the largest rebate you qualify for, and we’ll do all your rebate paperwork too.

View the list of qualifications
See if I qualify (3 minutes)
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Do heat pumps work in cold climates?

Yes. Our best selling heat pump can provide heat down to negative -12 degrees. That said, heat pump efficiency may decrease as the temperature drops. That doesn’t mean they simply stop working though (like some olders models might). In very cold climates, you may want to supplement a heat pump with another heating source, such as heat strips, to maintain comfortable temperatures inside your home. Most homeowners don’t find they need to do this.

What does less efficient mean? Well, in negative temperatures, instead of heating your home to 72°, you may only get up to 65°.

Will my electric bill go up?

Yes, you’ll be heating and cooling your home entirely with electricity instead of with gas or oil. That said, your gas or oil bill will significantly decrease because you are no longer using that fuel to heat your home.

According to the Dept. of Energy, heat pumps save homeowners $500 a year on average.

What does a ductless mini split look like?

An outdoor unit (condenser), with line set running to the indoor unit.
An indoor unit or head. These come in a variety of styles.
Ceiling cassettes are a very discreet alternative to typical indoor units.
Floor consoles can be easier maintenance and more discreet profile.

What’s the average cost of an installation?

On average, the cost to install a heat pump ranges from $18,000 to $24,000. However, typical incentives for a heat pump are $10,000 from your utility provider and $2,000 in federal tax incentives, which brings the cost down considerably. Every home is unique, so this is just a rough average.

Example whole home heat pump project cost
Project cost
$24,000
Rebates
-$10,000
Tax credits
-$2,000
Costs after rebates & credits
$12,000
Monthly cost
$143/mo

Ready to save on your bills, save the planet, and keep your home comfortable year round? Go to tetra.com and start configuring your brand new heat pump today.

Find the best HVAC rebates for your new system
Rebates! How much $$$ can you save?
We'll calculate just how much money you can get back from your state, local, and federal government. Then we’ll do all the paperwork for you.
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