Choosing the right type of heat pump system depends on your home’s current heating and cooling systems. Jump to the section that matches your home:

Forced air

Option 1: Ducted heat pump (Recommended)

If you have an existing furnace or a central air conditioner that delivers hot/cool air through ducts, you should consider a ducted heat pump. Ducted heat pumps use your home’s existing ductwork to heat and cool your home. In order to work efficiently, your ductwork must be well air sealed and insulated.

1. An outdoor compressor captures heat from the air outside and pumps the heat into your home. In warm weather, it works in reverse.
2. An air handler sits in your basement, attic, or crawlspace. It blows the warm or cool air through your ducts.
3. Your duct system delivers the warm or cool air to rooms throughout your home.

Cold climates

Cold climate heat pumps can work even when the temperature outside is below zero. However, it is important to have a source of backup heat for particularly cold days. You have two options:

• ‍Keep current system as backup: If your current furnace is still functional, you can keep it to provide supplemental heat for particularly cold days. Your heat pump will run most often, and your furnace can be turned on at the lowest temperatures.‍
• Add additional electric heating: You can install an electric resistance heating strip inside your air handler. The strip will provide supplemental heat for particularly cold days.

Option 2: Ductless heat pump

Installing this type of heat pump in your main living area can be more affordable than a ducted system, especially if your ductwork is not properly air sealed and insulated.

1. An outdoor compressor captures heat from the air outside and pumps the heat into your home. In warm weather, it works in reverse.
2. Indoor unit(s) – often called “mini-splits” – are installed in one or more specific rooms and distribute heat and cool air throughout the space.

Cold climates

Cold climate heat pumps can work even when the temperature outside is below zero. However, it is important to have a source of backup heat for particularly cold days. You have two options:

• ‍Keep current system as backup: If your current furnace is still functional, you can keep it to heat rooms that your mini-split can’t reach. It can also provide supplemental heat for particularly cold days.‍
• Add additional electric heating: If you want to remove your furnace completely, you can install additional mini-splits in rooms. Or you can add an electric back up system to heat rooms without indoor units. Options include electric baseboards, infrared heaters, and more.

Radiators or radiant floors

Option 1: Ductless heat pump (Recommended)

For homes with radiators or radiant floors, you can install a ductless heat pump. These systems are great for homes without duct work.

1. An outdoor compressor captures heat from the air outside and pumps the heat into your home. In warm weather, it works in reverse.
2. Indoor unit(s) – often called “mini-splits” – are installed in one or more specific rooms and distribute heat and cool air throughout the space.

Cold climates

Cold climate heat pumps can work even when the temperature outside is below zero. However, it is important to have a source of backup heat for particularly cold days. You have two options:

• Keep current system as backup: If your current boiler is still functional, keep it to heat rooms without mini-splits and to add supplemental heat for particularly cold days. Your heat pump will run most often, and your boiler can be turned on at the lowest temperatures.
• Add additional electrical heating: If you want to remove your current boiler, you can install an electric back up system to heat rooms without indoor units. Options include an electric boiler, electric baseboards, infrared heaters, and more.

Option 2: Hydronic heat pump

These systems use radiators or radiant floors to distribute heat – and can also provide hot water. They are great for new builds, but are difficult and expensive (over $30,000) to retrofit in existing homes.

1. An outdoor compressor captures heat from the air outside and use it to heat water. The warm water is pushed throughout the home in pipes.
2. The heat is transferred to an indoor water tank, which provides hot water to your heating system and water faucets.
3. Low temperature radiators or under-floor tubing delivers radiant heat throughout your home. Hydronic heat pumps cannot work with older cast iron radiators.

Cold climates

Cold climate heat pumps can work even when the temperature outside is below zero. However, it is important to have a source of backup heat for particularly cold days. You can:

• Keep current system as backup: If your current boiler is still functional, consider keeping it as backup. Your heat pump will run most often, and your boiler will kick on at the lowest temperatures.

Option 3: Ducted heat pump

If you prefer a whole home solution, you can add ductwork to your home and install a ducted heat pump to heat and cool your home. Installing ducts will require retrofitting, which may be more difficult and expensive.

1. Ductwork is installed throughout the home. Options include standard ducting or small high velocity ductwork.
2. An outdoor compressor captures heat from the air outside and pumps the heat into your home. In warm weather, it works in reverse.
3. An air handler sits in your garage, basement, attic, or crawlspace. It blows the warm or cool air through your ducts.
4. Your duct system delivers the warm or cool air to rooms throughout your home.

Cold climates

Cold climate heat pumps can work even when the temperature outside is below zero. However, it is important to have a source of backup heat for particularly cold days. You can:

• Keep current system as backup: If your current boiler is still functional, you can keep it to provide supplemental heat for particularly cold days. Your heat pump will run most often, and your boiler can be turned on at the lowest temperatures.
• Additional electric heating: You can install an electric resistance heating strip inside your air handler. The strip will provide supplemental heat for particularly cold days.

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Any other heating systems

Option 1: Ductless heat pump (Recommended)

For homes with other heating mechanisms and no duct work for cooling, you can install a ductless heat pump. These systems are great for homes without duct work.

1. An outdoor compressor captures heat from the air outside and pumps the heat into your home. In warm weather, it works in reverse.
2. Indoor unit(s) – often called “mini-splits” – are installed in one or more specific rooms and distribute heat and cool air throughout the space.

Cold climates

Cold climate heat pumps can work even when the temperature outside is below zero. However, it is important to have a source of backup heat for particularly cold days. You can:

• Keep current system as backup: If your current heating system is still functional, keep it to heat rooms without indoor units and to add supplemental heat for particularly cold days. Your heat pump will run most often, and your existing heating system can be turned on at the lowest temperatures.
• Additional electric heating: If you want to remove your current system completely, you can install additional mini-splits in rooms. Or you can add an electric back up system to heat rooms without indoor units. Options include electric baseboards, infrared heaters, and more.

Option 2: Ducted heat pump

If you prefer a whole home solution, you can add ductwork to your home and install a ducted heat pump to heat and cool your home. Installing ducts will require retrofitting, which may be more difficult and expensive.

1. Ductwork is installed throughout the home. Options include standard ducting or small high velocity ductwork.
2. An outdoor compressor captures heat from the air outside and pumps the heat into your home. In warm weather, it works in reverse.
3. An air handler sits in your garage, basement, attic, or crawlspace. It blows the warm or cool air through your ducts.
4. Your duct system delivers the warm or cool air to rooms throughout your home.

Cold climates

Cold climate heat pumps can work even when the temperature outside is below zero. However, it is important to have a source of backup heat for particularly cold days. You can:

• Keep current system as backup: If your current heating system is still functional, you can keep it to provide supplemental heat for particularly cold days. Your heat pump will run most often, and your existing heating system can be turned on at the lowest temperatures.
• Additional electric heating: You can install an electric resistance heating strip inside your air handler. The strip will provide supplemental heat for particularly cold days.

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