Heat pump sales keep getting hotter

Many New Yorkers are switching to heat pumps as a smart long-term alternative to boilers and furnaces that rely on fossil fuels. Government programs pick up part of the cost, making the purchase even more of a no-brainer for some property-owners.

But they’re getting plenty of competition from other Americans drawn to the heat pump’s virtues.

“Millions of Americans are flooding into the heat pump market, pushing up sales,” the Washington Post reports. “The demand is huge: About 86 percent of the 124 million homes in the United States don’t have heat pump heaters, estimates the U.S. Energy Information Administration. To reach net-zero emissions by mid-century, the country will need to replace most of these in the coming decades, say researchers at Princeton University.”

The Post advises people to order heat pumps as soon as feasible because there often is a waiting list.

Money matters

While heat pumps cost more upfront, they provide long-term savings on utility bills because they are much more energy-efficient than furnaces or boilers.

More factors in favor of heat pumps:

• They are much kinder to the environment than fossil-fuel heaters.

• Users enjoy more consistent temperatures in their homes or businesses.

The Post offered a rundown on various incentive and rebate programs:

• All households can apply for tax credits of $2,000 per year, up to 30 percent of the project’s cost.

In addition, every home can apply for tax breaks for home electrification up to $1,200 per year.

• Low- and moderate-income households are eligible for instant rebates up to $14,000 for all home electrification projects, from water heater to clothes dryer. This includes up to $8,000 for heat pumps. The law defines moderate income as 150 percent above the area median income.

The techs at Lighthouse HVAC are veterans at installing and servicing all sorts of heat pumps.

 experience. They will be glad to advise you about various government incentives to help you get a heat pump.