Should I Get a Heat Pump?
Answer a few honest questions and our Decision Guide will tell you whether a heat pump is the right replacement, a bad fit for your climate or bills, or a decision that depends on specific fixes you'd need first.
Published
For most homeowners replacing an aging HVAC system in 2026, yes — a heat pump is likely the right call, but the math is meaningfully harder now that the federal 25C credit expired December 31, 2025. The DOE is clear on the physics: modern cold-climate air-source heat pumps deliver 2-4x more heat energy than the electricity they consume, work reliably down to 5°F (and colder with premium cold-climate units), and save the average Northeast homeowner $459-$948 per year compared to electric resistance or oil heating. The decision flips against a heat pump if you're in a state with cheap natural gas and expensive electricity (a 96% gas furnace often wins on operating cost when your electric-to-gas price ratio is above about 5:1), if your current furnace still has years of life left, or if your home is so poorly insulated that any heating system will struggle (fix insulation first). State and utility rebates are now the primary incentive — Mass Save offers up to $8,500 in Massachusetts, Clean Heat RI up to $11,500 in Rhode Island, NJ Whole Home up to $7,500 — so if you're in a rebate-heavy state, the economics can still work beautifully. If you're in a state with weak rebates and cheap gas, the case is harder but can still work in the right home with the right cold-climate install.
Sources
- Heat Pump Systems — U.S. Department of Energy — Energy Saver
- Air-Source Heat Pumps — U.S. Department of Energy — Energy Saver
- FAQs for Modification of Sections 25C, 25D, 25E, 30C, 30D under the One Big Beautiful Bill — Internal Revenue Service