Heat pumps can work without backup heat in Natick!

User: ralstonmarkd@gmail.com

Vendor: Coming soon! We're just getting off the ground.

Action: 2558 - HUGE Heat Pump rebates!

When we bought our 1,900 sq ft 1960's raised ranch in Natick almost two years ago, we removed the oil boiler, piping, and radiators and installed two high-efficiency, cold-climate ducted heat pumps.  One serves the upstairs, and the other serves the downstairs.  We didn't install any backup heating.  The heat pumps heat and cool very evenly and are super quiet. 

Both heat pumps operate at 100% heating capacity down to 5 degrees F, and it rarely drops below that during the winter here. However, during the February cold snap, the temperature one night dropped to around -10 degrees F, the coldest recorded here in decades.  The temperature in our main upstairs living area dropped by one degree, from 68 to 67, as the heat pump had to work harder.  Our downstairs temperature dropped from 68 to 61 degrees, since the downstairs heat pump has somewhat lower heating capacity at sub-zero temperatures.  But once the sun came out in the morning, the temperatures upstairs and down returned to normal. 

The installed cost of the two heat pumps was about $25,000 after the $4,000 rebate from Mass Save at the time.  If we were installing the systems now, we'd qualify for the $10,000 Mass Save whole-home rebate and the $2,000 federal tax credit.  We also got a zero-interest loan through our credit union to pay for the heat pumps. 

A key part of our home electrification journey was to add insulation to our attic and walls through the Mass Save rebate program.  We found that it pays to be your own advocate with them.  When they did their initial assessment of our home, they didn't suggest adding insulation.  But when we asked an insulation contractor if more could be added, they said it could, and Mass Save covered 75% of the cost.