The unique advantage of heat pumps is simple: they can replace both your AC and furnace or boiler, both cooling and heating your home. Instead of burning fuel to generate heat, they simply transfer it, making heat pumps an incredibly cost-effective and environmentally friendly option.
As the world moves toward more sustainable energy solutions, heat pumps consistently rank at the top of the list of efficient home HVAC systems.
Heat pumps can also be combined with an existing furnace or boiler, to be utilized together as a hybrid system during the coldest parts of the year.
Heat pumps significantly reduce or eliminate your dependency on fuels like oil, propane and natural gas.
1. How much will this cost?
2. What are my options?
3. Am I hiring a quality HVAC company?
This buyer's guide will give you everything you need to know about heat pump systems, so that you can be confident in your purchase. You’ll be up-to-speed with a strong understanding of your options and the decisions you’ll need to make before speaking with installation companies like us.
Taking the time now to learn about heat pump systems will ensure that you end up with the right one in your home for years to come.
Chapter 1
Your heat pump installation budget will go hand in hand with your home's heating and cooling priorities, both within and outside of your control. The details of your heat pump system selections will directly impact total costs.
Some of these factors may not make sense yet, however they're all covered in detail in later chapters of this Buyer's Guide. As you become more familiar with heat pump options you should start to get a good idea of what is, and isn’t, at the top of your wish list.
Heat pumps, like air conditioners, can throttle their temperature output through different compressor types. The decision to move forward with a single-stage, two-stage, or variable-speed system has big implications on the level of comfort you’ll feel, system efficiency, your utility bills, and the wear and tear on the system.
Single-stage heat pumps cost between $12,000 and $20,000
Two-stage heat pumps cost between $14,000 and $24,000
Variable-speed heat pumps cost between $15,000 and $25,000
Heat pumps can use your furnace’s blower motor to support airflow through your ductwork and to your vents.
This overlap in components is called equipment matching, as you'll have to consider what type of furnace, if any, you have when selecting a new heat pump system.
Homeowners who don’t have a furnace will need to purchase an air handler when installing a heat pump. This will add anywhere from $5,000 to $8,000 to the total installation costs.
Heat pumps are renowned for their energy efficiency. Unlike traditional heating systems that generate heat by burning fuel, heat pumps only move heat, which requires significantly less energy.
Since they both heat and cool your home, heat pumps get two efficiency scores. Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER2) and Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF2) ratings track heat pumps' energy usage for cooling and heating respectively.
The installation costs of your heat pump are almost always directly related to these scores. Generally, as the system's SEER2 and HSPF2 rating increase, so does price.
Remember that at some point a high-efficiency heat pump will begin to pay for itself from the long-term utility savings
The heating and cooling capacity, also called the system’s size, of a heat pump is measured in British Thermal Units (BTUs). The unique characteristics of your home will determine how many BTUs of heating and cooling you’ll need.
Your heat pump’s size and installation price are directly related.
Some heat pump installations are more complex than others and have the potential to bring additional costs. These situations may include:
HVAC Accessories provide humidity control, indoor air quality improvements, and enhanced convenience of your heating and cooling systems.
These enhancements to your heating and cooling systems make any home a more inviting place to live. You’ll see savings on HVAC accessory system installation costs by purchasing them at the same time as your heat pump.
Like many other services, where you live plays a role in the final installation costs of your new heat pump.
HVAC prices are typically average to above average in the suburban Philadelphia area compared to other regions of the country.
While your geography is largely out of your control, being mindful of how it affects heat pump installation costs can help you understand if you’re getting a reasonable quote or not.
Not all HVAC installation companies are created equal. The quality of the company providing your installation services, and how they train their installers, is going to affect the total cost of installing your new heat pump system.
It’s not uncommon to get a lower quote from a company that's less professional and more likely to overlook the details of a quality installation.
An HVAC installation company that provides trained, licensed, and experienced installers will deliver a quality installation that may come at a higher price but will set your new heat pump system up for optimal performance, efficiency, and longevity.
Your HVAC installation partner should be able to provide some financing options to help make your heat pump purchase more affordable.
At Mattioni, one of our offerings is a 12-month, interest-free payment plan on all system installations. This extends to indoor air quality and humidity moderation products as well.
We also offer financing options that include terms of up to 10 years. Check out our financing page to see if you’re pre-qualified.
Financial incentives like rebates and federal tax credits may be available for higher efficiency heat pumps. Be sure to talk to your HVAC partner about qualifying systems and ways to take advantage of these incentives.
Chapter 2
Heat pumps have the ability to throttle their temperature output (between completely off and 100%) and are classified into three system types: single-stage, two-stage, and variable-speed.
Heat pumps can also source their heat through the air, ground (geothermal), and water. However, due to significant installation complexities and costs tied to ground-source and water-source heat pumps, air-source systems are the most widely used among the three.
Single-stage heat pumps can only run at 100% (operating at full blast or completely off), offering heating and cooling with some gaps in comfort at a lower efficiency rating and a lower price point.
Two-stage heat pumps have an additional run speed of around 65%, increasing heating and cooling comfort, efficiency, and price.
Variable-speed heat pumps can run at virtually any speed between 30% and 100% for maximum comfort and efficiency, at a higher price point.
Chapter 3
The Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER2) is the industry standard measurement for any home cooling system. It's a scale from 13 to 26 that represents the total heat removed from a space during an annual cooling season.
SEER2 ratings typically increase as you move from single-stage to two-stage to variable-speed heat pumps.
Since heat pumps function virtually identically to AC systems when in cooling mode, their SEER2 score closely resembles the scores of central AC units.
The Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF2) measures the efficiency of heating delivered to your home by a heat pump.
HSPF2 ratings are calculated by dividing the total BTUs (British Thermal Units) delivered to your home by the total expenditure of energy used by the system, measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh).
Heat pumps are renowned for their energy efficiency when in heating mode. Unlike traditional heating systems that generate heat by burning fuel, heat pumps only move heat, which requires significantly less energy.
The two primary implications of an energy efficient heat pump unit are:
1. Fewer greenhouse gas emissions and a smaller carbon footprint
2. Greater savings on energy bills
Chapter 4
When selecting a heat pump for your home, you'll be faced with a range of heating and cooling capacities, measured in British Thermal Units (BTUs), to choose from
Selecting a heat pump system with the appropriate heating and cooling capacity that matches your home is essential to optimizing comfort and energy costs, while also promoting the health and longevity of the system.
Your home's square footage is the first variable when determining how many BTUs you'll need, however it isn't a simple calculation.
Bringing a professional to your home to evaluate your home is the best way to find a well-suited heat pump.
Chapter 5
Looking to boost your home's comfort? Explore a range of additional accessories for your heat pump that enhance your home's atmosphere through humidity control, indoor air quality improvements, and convenience-oriented smart thermostats.
During the summer, humidity inevitably creeps into your home. If ignored, it can lead to musty odors, discomfort, increased asthma and allergy symptoms, and mold growth.
On the flip side, excessively dry winter air can cause itchy skin, dry eyes, peeling paint or wallpaper, and warped wood.
Installing whole-home humidifiers and dehumidifiers will keep your house in the ideal humidity range of 30%-50% all year long.
Every house has some degree of indoor pollutants, also called volatile organic compounds (VOCs), that can cause health problems if ignored. Installing a system designed to improve IAQ will make your home a healthier and more welcoming living space.
Air purifiers use a series of high-grade filters housed directly in your ductwork to facilitate and clean your home's entire air supply.
They trap contaminants and VOCs that would otherwise roam freely.
Air scrubbers attack VOCs microscopically while they linger in your home's air by sending out UV-C radiation and charged molecules.
This process clumps VOCs together to until they reach a size that can be trapped in your air purifier, or that can land on a surface and be sanitized.
Fresh air ventilation systems regularly and automatically exchange stale, indoor air with fresh outdoor air through a simple 6" hole in your home's exterior.
FAVs produces a constant and subtle flow of fresh air into your home.
Installing each of these systems will provide the most improvement to your indoor air quality, as they all support one another by addressing different aspects of VOC remediation.
By segmenting your home into different zones and supplying each with individual levels of heating and cooling, not only will you take control of your home's comfort but you'll also reduce energy otherwise wasted in zones that you don't spend much time in.
Installing zoning dampers or a second HVAC system are effective ways to zone your home, but be sure to work with a professional throughout this process. Installing zoning systems without proper ductwork considerations has the potential to backfire and further hinder airflow.
1. Climate control of individual room temperatures
2. Reduced energy usage
3. Enhanced system efficiency and longevity
Chapter 6
Modern smart thermostats are completely rethought, even compared to those from only 10 years ago.
Among the new features now common in all smart thermostats is a geo-fencing capability that will automatically turn your heating and cooling systems on or off as you reach a set distance from your home.
This means that (1) you won't waste energy while you're away from home, and (2) your home will always be comfortable when you arrive, even if your schedule changes.
Here's a quick look at three of the leading thermostats available today.
Key Features:
Indoor Air Quality Monitoring System
Maintenance Schedule Reminders
Radar Occupancy Detector
Key Features:
RedLINK 3.0 Room Sensors
Continual Energy Efficiency Optimization
Cohesive Control of Multiple Rooms
Key Features:
Continual Temperature Schedule Learning and Optimization
Detailed Energy Reporting
Integration with Other Nest Products
Chapter 7
A referral from a trusted friend is always a great way to start when looking for an HVAC installation company.
Additionally, online resources like Google reviews and social forums with customer feedback are excellent starting points.
When you contact an installation company, pay attention to how each team member treats you. The professionalism shown by one department often reflects the overall quality of service you can expect.
Don’t hesitate to reach out to multiple companies to get a sense of who you’ll be working with.
Mattioni is proud to offer same-day in-home consultations during which we'll go through the following steps:
1. Review your home cooling priorities
2. Analyze your existing HVAC system
3. Explore tailored options
An in-home AC consultation only takes about one to two hours and allows you to ask questions to a professional face-to-face.
You'll be able to evaluate all of your options alongside an HVAC professional if you haven't already chosen a heat pump model.
Most importantly, your HVAC partner will be able to inspect the unique characteristics of your home to ensure that you install a properly sized system.
Chapter 8
Meet The Team
On the day of your heat pump installation, you'll have the chance to meet the whole install team, which is usually a crew of 2-3 HVAC professionals.
Review
Our team will review all of the job notes and the job site, ensuring that the install plan set forward by our HVAC expert can be executed successfully.
Verify
At this time, our installers will walk you through the coming install and verify that everything planned for your home fits your wants and needs. They will also walk you through anything they need to do that may affect the rest of the home, such as shutting off any power, gas, or water for a short time.
Do The Work
We will get to work! Our installers will take out any old equipment that is being replaced, and carefully place and install your new equipment.
Check with any Changes
If there are any changes from the initial plan as your new installation progresses, our installers will check with you so that you are aware and so that we can make sure they fit your needs.
Walk-Through
Finally, when the job is complete, we will walk you through the new install of your system, showing you everything that was done and everything that you need to know to run and maintain your new heat pump system.
At Mattioni, we always strive for five-star service, so if you have any questions or concerns throughout the process of the install, please let us know and we will be sure to address them to meet your five-star expectations.
1. Do I need to be home when service technicians are in my house?
Some homeowners may want to be home while the HVAC installation crew is working, but it’s not necessary.
2. What day and time can I schedule my heat pump installation for?
Depending on availability, you can schedule your installation for as early as 8AM the next business day.
3. Do I need to clean up before my heat pump installation?
As long as there is access to the installation work site and any other areas that your HVAC installation team may need to operate in, there is no need to clean up beforehand.
4. How long does an heat pump installation take?
While the amount of time needed to install your new heat pump depends on the complexity of the job, it will most likely be done within four to six hours.
5. Are there any short-term heating or cooling options to get you to your installation date?
Most of the year, a quality HVAC company will be able to install your new heat pump within 24 hours. However, for those high-demand situations during the peak of summer, the Mattioni team has a supply of window AC units to lend to anyone experiencing a cooling emergency.
6. What should I do about my pets during installation?
If you have a friendly dog or cat, there is no need to put them in a crate or close them off in a room if, unless you normally do so. We love saying hello to our customer’s pets!
If you have any questions about your new system or if you need further support to understand how to use it, our team would be glad to assist!
You also receive a complimentary VIP Membership with installation which includes maintenance on your system to ensure it continues to operate at peak performance.
Family Owned for Over 75 Years
"We've switched over to Mattioni the past year and can't say enough about how pleased we are with this company. Great to deal with, on time, professional, knowledgeable and honest. I highly recommend this company for HVAC & Plumbing."
"Mattioni has been exceptional for installing a new HVAC at my place. From Kevin’s proposal to Andrew and his crew’s installation process, I could not ask for a better consumer journey. Andrew took the time to explain the new unit and also provided tips for more comfort inside the home. Thank you for the great work. Definitely highly recommended."
"The Mattioni team has been fantastic in every instance, providing honest, competitive pricing and a high standard of professionalism. We are extremely thankful that we chose to be a VIP member with them!"
The Mattioni family has seen many changes throughout our history, but one thing remains the same: our dedication to our customers.
Now in its third generation of family ownership, Mattioni continues to hold our values above all else.
All of our HVAC service technicians go through a rigorous training and apprenticeship program led by certified trainers, and participate in continued trainings, so that we can bring our customers a 5-star experience.
We proudly serve homeowners in Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and parts of Bucks counties.
Our goal remains simple: provide high quality HVAC installations and service, so that everyone has a comfortable home to live in. Simply put, our services are guaranteed to go swimmingly.
