7 Common Heat Pump Myths, Debunked

By Anne Fonda

When it’s time to replace your HVAC system, you have a lot of options. Don’t shy away from a heat pump system based on outdated or inaccurate information. In this article, we’ll debunk 7 common heat pump myths to help you make an informed decision when it comes to heating and cooling your home.

To debunk this myth, we’ll start with a mini-lesson that answers two basic questions. What is a heat pump, and how does a heat pump work? We’ll focus on highly efficient air-source heat pumps, which reduce carbon emissions for a more sustainable system.

Despite the name, an electric heat pump is more than a heating system. It also cools your home in warmer weather. Heat pumps use heat energy and through heat exchange, transfer it to a cooler environment.  This means the air source unit takes the heat from the air outside and transfers it into your home in the winter. It then reverses the process and moves heat inside your home to the outside in the summer. 

A traditional split system heat pump sits outside your home just like an AC unit would. It’s paired with an indoor air handler or furnace that circulates the warm or cool air throughout your home.

A ductless mini-split heat pump (in our case an American Standard/Mitsubishi heat pump) powers a ductless system via refrigerant lines. With a multi-zone ductless system, you can control the temperature in each zone separately - but all zones will be either heating or cooling. You cannot heat one room and cool another at the same time.

Yes, they do. While most heat pump systems are best suited for areas without harsh winters, heat pumps can comfortably heat your home. For areas with harsh winters, we might recommend a dual-fuel heat pump system, where you install a gas furnace instead of an air handler.

In this scenario, the heat pump heats your home in the fall and early spring, when temperatures are above 40 degrees Fahrenheit. When temperatures drop below a set level, the furnace kicks in to heat your home.

Another option is a cold climate heat pump (CCHP). These units are specially designed for homes in areas that experience harsh winters. Our prototype CCHP successfully performed in temperatures as low as negative 23 degrees Fahrenheit, surpassing the mandatory negative 20 degrees Fahrenheit DOE requirement. 

These new cold-weather heat pumps should be available in 2025. When sustainability matters, these CCHPs win the heat pump vs furnace debate.

The initial cost of a heat pump + air handler vs an AC + furnace combo is actually reasonably close. A heat pump system installation can get more expensive when you are converting to an all-electric system. You can offset that cost by going with a dual fuel system or a plug-and-play air handler. (See Myth #4).

In addition, financial incentives and energy savings down the line can help offset any higher upfront heat pump costs.

Under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022, ENERGY-STAR®-qualified air source heat pumps and ductless heat pumps are eligible for up to a $2,000 federal tax credit. You can also receive tax credits for things like upgrading your insulation, windows, and doors. These tax credits are available on qualifying projects through 2032, so you can make energy-efficient upgrades over several years. 

Two separate programs under the IRA are run at the state level and include heat pump rebates for qualifying systems. The Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates (HEAR) are for low- and moderate-income homeowners. The Department of Energy (DOE) defines a moderate-income household as one with an income of up to 150% of the median income of the area in which the household is located. Depending on your state, the qualifying income threshold may be up to $140,000.

The HEAR rebates apply to the purchase and installation of qualified electric appliances such as HVAC heat pumps, heat-pump water heaters, and clothes dryers, as well as any electrical work needed. A qualified household could get up to $8,000 for a heat pump, and the rebates, which can be stacked, max out at $14,000.

Home Efficiency Rebates (HER), are for homeowners at any income level, with the largest rebates going to those with a lower income. They apply to home improvements such as HVAC upgrades, insulation, and replacement windows that can reduce your energy consumption by 20%. Rebates max out at $8,000.  

See where the Home Energy Rebates process stands with your state.

We’ve talked about ways to reduce the upfront costs of a heat pump. Now it’s time to talk about long-term cost reductions in the form of energy savings. Air source heat pumps can be up to 300% efficient. This means they put out as much as 3 times the heating and cooling as they are using in electricity. 

This is vastly more efficient than a traditional gas furnace + AC system. According to the DOE, replacing an older HVAC system with heat pump technology can save the majority of American homeowners hundreds, and even thousands of dollars a year on their heating and cooling bills.

In addition, once you have your heat pump system installed, heat pump repair and heat pump maintenance costs are about the same as a furnace + AC system.

Not necessarily. If you currently have a gas furnace + AC unit heating and cooling your home, the furnace may have wiring requirements that are different from many air handlers on the market. Those units might require some electrical upgrades and retrofitting.

That’s why American Standard has introduced the P-Series Modular Variable Speed Air Handler. It has the same wiring requirements as most furnaces, and the measurements allow it to be installed without any retrofitting. This makes it the ideal air handler to pair with a variable-speed heat pump when you’re converting from gas furnace heat.

This may have been true for older heat pumps. But today’s heat pumps have a noise level comparable to or quieter than comparable central air conditioning units. The sound level of outdoor HVAC units is measured in decibels. The main difference is that an AC unit will only make noise during the summer, while a heat pump will make noise all year long, at least when it is running.

American Standard air conditioners have a 57-75 dBA noise level. Meanwhile, our heat pumps have a 43-76 dBA level. The side discharge AccuComfort™ Variable Speed Platinum 19 Low Profile Heat Pump is very quiet at 43-57 dBA.

We’re not quite sure how this myth originated. Your average air source heat pump is almost exactly the same size as a comparable air conditioner. Either unit sits outside your home on a concrete pad or elevated platform. If space is a concern, you can opt for a more compact low-profile unit.

It matters a lot. In the South, heat pumps account for nearly 40% of all HVAC systems installed, so virtually all dealers are great at installing heat pump systems.

Sadly, some HVAC contractors in northern states don’t have a lot of experience with heat pump sizing and heat pump installation, so the customer ends up with a system that doesn’t live up to their expectations. They may even steer you toward a furnace + AC system because that’s what they’re more comfortable with.

The best way to answer this question is to consult with several HVAC professionals who have installed a lot of heat pump systems. They should perform a Manual J load calculation to help ensure you get a unit with the right heating and cooling capacity. 

You can get a general idea based on the square footage of your home, as shown in the following table. But keep in mind that many other factors are included in a Manual J calculation that can affect the proper sizing.

Work with an HVAC company with expertise in the heat pump arena. They can help you get the right size heat pump for your home. They can also make recommendations about ductwork and insulation that can help you get the most out of your system. 

If you’re interested in upgrading your HVAC system with an energy-efficient heat pump system, contact your American Standard local HVAC dealer to schedule a consultation. They can help you explore your options and help you make an informed decision. They can also make sure you have all the information you need on how to take advantage of the tax credits and rebates available.

Explore American Standard’s Best Heat Pumps.

A Content Writer with Trane Technologies, Anne Fonda researches topics and writes for Trane® and associated residential HVAC brands. She works in collaboration with Trane Technologies subject matter experts, offering easy-to-understand, informative content on complex topics. Her goal is to help consumers make informed decisions on the products and services they need. 

She has written for HVAC and other service provider websites for over 16 years. Before transitioning to web content writing, Anne had a 14-year stint as an award-winning journalist. She graduated cum laude from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Journalism. When she’s not working, Anne enjoys playing word games, reading, gardening, spending time with family, and visiting gardens and museums.

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