Air Source Heat Pumps
Click here for our Air Source Heat Pump FAQ
Click here for our Air Source Heat Pump Contractor Guide.
An air source heat pump transfers heat from one place to another to efficiently heat and cool your home in most weather. During warm months, it pulls warm air out of your home to make it cooler. In cooler months, it pulls heat from outside (even small amounts) into your home to warm it. Because air source heat pumps move heat rather than generate it, they are highly efficient.
Heat pumps can replace a central air conditioner and connect to existing ductwork, if you have it. If your home doesn’t have air ducts, they can be mounted separately in individual rooms (called “ductless” or “mini-split” air source heat pumps).
Air source heat pumps can provide heating down to very cold temperatures. A cold-climate heat pump can work efficiently at 5 degrees. Some units, particularly ductless heat pumps, can provide heat even in the teens below zero. However, nearly all Minnesota homes require a backup heating source, such as a furnace or baseboard heat, for the coldest days.
Air source heat pumps can typically save money for households that heat with electric resistance, propane, or fuel oil. The Center for Energy and Environment found that, in Minnesota, installing an efficient air source heat pump saved 30% on heating costs over a propane furnace, and 50% over electric resistance heating.
Many homes in Minnesota have natural gas-powered furnaces and boilers. Because the cost of gas tends to be lower than the cost of propane or electric resistance heating, air source heat pumps may not provide cost savings for homes heated with natural gas (though they can be cost effective in the right circumstances). If the cost of gas were to increase relative to the cost of electricity, heat pumps would become more cost competitive.
To optimize cost savings, consider the outdoor temperature at which you will switch from using the heat pump to your back-up heat. The Minnesota Air Source Heat Pump Collaborative offers a Cost of Heat Comparison tool to roughly compare your options. Keep in mind that these calculations will be affected by the cost of gas, which can swing greatly from year to year (as well as the cost of electricity, which changes more slowly).
If you are concerned about greenhouse gas emissions or burning fuel inside your home and want to reduce your household’s reliance of fossil fuels (such as gas, propane, or fuel oil), an air source heat pumps can be a great option. Because they run on electricity and Minnesota's electric grid is powered by increasing levels of carbon-free energy, converting from fossil fuel heat to electric heat lowers your carbon impact.