Air Source Heat Pump Guide
This page contains helpful information on a variety of topics related to air source heat pumps.
Scroll down or click on the appropriate link below for the following topics:
- Air Source Heat Pumps Basics
- Get a No-Cost Home Energy Assessment
- Talk to a Heat Pump Specialist
- Get Help Finding an Installer
- The Preapproval Process
- Available Rebates
- The Heat Pump Rebate Process
- Heat Pump Case Studies
Air Source Heat Pumps Basics
Why should I consider an air source heat pump?
Air source heat pumps provide many advantages over traditional fossil-fuel or electric resistance systems including:
Energy bill savings. If you heat with propane, oil, or electric resistance heating, you could save hundreds of dollars per year on your heating bill by installing a heat pump.
Efficient all-in-one heating and cooling. Heat pumps provide heating, cooling, and dehumidification in the same system. Improve the comfort of your home year-round!
Flexibility. Heat pumps come in ductless and ducted varieties and can be installed to address different needs—whether you want to replace your existing system or just want to add heating or cooling to one or a few rooms.
Improved air quality. Unlike fossil-fuel heating, hear pumps do not produce harmful emissions like nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter.
Lowered carbon footprint. Recognized by the State as a clean heating and cooling technology, heat pumps will help you reduce your greenhouse gas emissions.
Consider cold climate air source heat pumps to be the cleaner, greener alternative to fossil fuels—an alternative that also provides high-efficiency air conditioning at the same time!
How do air source heat pumps work?
Rather than generating heat, a heat pump transfers it in and out of a building. Heat pumps use the same process that makes a refrigerator or air conditioner work: think about it as an air conditioner that can also run in reverse!
Heat pumps can be ductless, providing heating and cooling to individual rooms of your home, or ducted, using your existing or new ductwork to serve as a central heating and cooling system.
Is a heat pump right for me?
Do you heat with oil, propane, or electric resistance and want to save on your energy bill?
Switching to a heat pump system could save you hundreds of dollars a year on your home heating bill even if you’re not ready to replace your whole system yet.
Do you want to add air conditioning but don’t have the ductwork for a central system (or just want to ditch the window units)?
Ductless air source heat pumps can help you reclaim your windows from noisy window AC units and provide you with all of the benefits of a quiet, central air conditioning system without needing to spend thousands just to put in the ductwork!
Does your home have hot and/or cold spots?
No need to replace your whole system: a ductless heat pump can be installed in the zone of the hot or cold spot to provide extra heating or cooling.
Do you want to convert your home to gas but don’t have access in your neighborhood?
Consider a heat pump system to be a cleaner, greener alternative! Heat pumps can provide heat at comparable prices to gas with lower emissions—and you get high-efficiency air conditioning at the same time!
Do you want to have more control over the temperature in individual rooms?
Ductless heat pumps are often referred to as “zoned home comfort solutions.” With ductless heat pumps, you can place indoor units in different zones of your home so that you only need to heat or cool the room that you’re in.
Is your furnace or central AC system over 20 years old?
If so, your system may be at the end of its expected lifetime.Consider replacing your system before it breaks with a more efficient ducted or ductless air source heat pump.
More Information
- Energy.gov
- Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships:
- Massachusetts Clean Energy Center
Get a No-Cost Home Energy Assessment
While it’s not required, residential customers are encouraged to get a no-cost home energy assessment to learn more about their home’s energy usage before moving forward with a heat pump installation. Click here to learn more.
Talk to a Heat Pump Specialist
RMLD has contracted with Abode Energy Management (Abode) to provide technical and educational resources to support our customers who wish to install air source heat pumps. Abode will provide sizing and design support to RMLD customers and contractors to ensure that the installed system delivers the savings and comfort expected, as well as reduces the home’s overall carbon impact. Abode can also help customers compare quotes for their heat pump projects.
Customers can connect directly with Abode’s Heat Pump Specialist to ask questions at any point in the heat pump exploration process via the following methods :
- Email: rmld@abodeem.com
- Call: 339-707-0918
- Click here to schedule a free 20-minute consultation.
Get Help Finding an Installer
In order to best support customers that are exploring heat pumps, a Participating Contractor List (PCL) will be maintained by Abode and provided as a resource to customers. The goal of the PCL is to be an inclusive resource that customers can use to request quotes from installers that are familiar with RMLD’s rebate program and have a track record of success and customer satisfaction. Customers are encouraged to verify qualifications and references of all potential contractors and are not required to use an installer from the PCL to utilize Abode’s other services or to receive RMLD’s heat pump rebate.
Click here to view the Participating Contractor List. Click here for the list of criteria to become a participating heat pump contractor.
Contractors that wish to learn more about the Participating Contractor List are invited to contact Abode via the following methods:
Email: rmld@abodeem.com
Click here to schedule a 30-minute virtual meetup.
Click here to schedule a 30-minute phone discussion.
Please note, RMLD does not endorse, guarantee, or warranty any particular contractor, manufacturer, or product.
The Preapproval Process
Preapproval is an optional step for ensuring that a selected heat pump system is eligible for the Air Source Heat Pump Rebate Program.
The selected installer can submit the project to Abode for preapproval before installation begins. Abode will review the proposal and provide feedback. Click here for the Optional Pre-Approval Form.
By preapproving the proposed system and/or providing feedback, RMLD does not warrant or represent that the proposed system is properly sized and/or designed to meet the customer’s needs. The customer shall be solely responsible for proper sizing and design of the system and RMLD shall have no liability therefor. RMLD also does not warrant or represent that the customer will realize any savings. The customer is responsible for determining whether switching to a heat pump system is right for them.
Preapproval does not exempt the project from the required Install Quality Assurance Form, which is required for the RMLD Air Source Heat Pump Rebate.
Available Rebates
Air Source Heat Pump Rebate*
RMLD offers a rebate of $1,000 per ton for new air source heat pump installations and $200 per ton for the replacement of existing heat pump installations. The rebate is available to all customer classes and is capped at $6,000. All projects must go through Abode’s installation quality assurance to qualify for the rebate.
*NOTE: Gas customers who participate in MassSave heat pump rebates are not eligible for this rebate. Click here for MassSave residential heat pump rebates. Click here to MassSave commercial heat pump rebates.
Electrical Panel Upgrade Rebate Program
RMLD offers an Electrical Panel Upgrade Rebate to support customers who may need to upgrade their electrical panel to a higher amperage to accommodate additional load from electrification activities such as installing an EV charging station, heat pump, or other electrical equipment.
Heat Pump Rebate Process
There are a lot of steps involved to make sure your rebate gets processed. Click on the image below for a clickable version.
Heat Pump Case Studies
Hear from RMLD customers about their heat pump experience including the rebate and installation process and potential savings. Visit our case study page to hear from RMLD customers about their individual heat pump journeys.
