Consider a Heat Pump to Replace Your Central Air Conditioner
Author
Date
Summary
As temperatures rise this summer, you might be noticing that your central air conditioner (AC) isn’t keeping your home as cool as it used to.
As temperatures rise this summer, you might be noticing that your central air conditioner (AC) isn’t keeping your home as cool as it used to.
If you’re feeling the heat, it might be time to replace your central AC. Older ACs, especially systems over 10-12 years old, are not only more prone to breakdowns and performance issues but are also less efficient. So if the temperature is high, expect your electricity bill to be high, too.
Time to Replace Your Central Air Conditioner? Consider a Heat Pump Instead
Before you start looking for a new central AC, consider another option that could end up saving you more in the long run – an ENERGY STAR certified air source heat pump. Today, with generous heat pump tax credits and rebates through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), there has never been a better time to make the switch.
Benefits of Heat Pumps over Central ACs
Before rebates and incentives, the price tags of heat pumps and central ACs are comparable. However, a heat pump is an all-in-one cooling and heating system that provides year-round energy and cost savings, especially if your heating system is also in need of replacement. These systems provide several benefits over central ACs and offer better returns over the system’s life.
- Combined Cooling and Heating. During the summer, a central heat pump works the same as a central AC, cooling your home by moving heat from the inside to the outside. Unlike central ACs, heat pumps can run in reverse to heat your home in the winter. These all-in-one systems cool and heat your home using the same ductwork as your current central AC or furnace, so no additional renovations or electrical upgrades are required for installation. Having a combined system also streamlines maintenance and reduces maintenance costs.
- Energy Bill Savings. When used for cooling, heat pumps can be even more efficient than central ACs, so you should see immediate impacts on your comfort and electricity bills with a switch this summer. Replacing your older central AC with an ENERGY STAR certified heat pump could save you nearly $600 over the life of the product, on cooling costs alone.
In the winter, these efficiency and savings benefits are even greater. Since heat pumps move heat rather than create heat, they are much more efficient than conventional oil, gas, or electric heating. An ENERGY STAR certified ASHP can provide heating for approximately 1/3 the cost of traditional electric heating, depending on where you live, and approximately 1/2 the cost of oil heat. An ASHP is so efficient it can deliver up to three times more heat energy to a home than the electrical energy it consumes.
- Year-Round Comfort. Don’t be confused by the name—heat pumps provide exceptional cooling to meet your comfort needs even on the hottest summer days. Heat pumps also dehumidify the air more efficiently than standard central ACs, providing added cooling benefits with less energy. And unlike central ACs, heat pumps continue providing home comfort after the summer ends. With advancements in heat pump technologies, you can be confident that an all-in-one heat pump will keep you comfortable from the hottest summers through the coldest winters.
- Cleaner Air. On top of the savings benefits, heat pumps are good for the environment and your health. By eliminating or reducing on-site fossil fuel combustion to heat your home, heat pumps can improve indoor and outdoor air quality while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Even if you keep your existing heating system as back-up, a heat pump can help you reduce your home’s greenhouse gas emissions.
If the energy bill savings aren’t convincing enough, the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) plus generous utility rebates in many areas have made the decision to switch from a central AC to a heat pump even easier. With IRA tax credits, any homeowner can now reduce the upfront cost of a heat pump by 30%, up to $2,000. States are beginning to roll out new IRA rebate programs for low- and moderate-income households. And utilities around the country continue offering generous rebates to reduce the upfront costs of purchasing an ENEGY STAR certified heat pump.
These federal, state, and utility programs are making heat pumps and their benefits more accessible and affordable than ever. You can use the ENERGY STAR Home Improvement Savings Tool to find heat pump rebates available in your area.
Ready For a Switch to a Heat Pump?
With the savings from the Inflation Reduction Act, there has never been a better opportunity to upgrade your home’s central AC to a central heat pump.
If you are ready to make the switch or want to learn more, ask your contractor about ENERGY STAR certified heat pumps. You can use the ENERGY STAR Heat Pump Product Finder to search and compare certified models from a wide range of manufactures. To get the most out of a heat pump system, consider pairing it with other rebate-eligible products in the ENERGY STAR Home Upgrade.