There is a heat pump solution for every home.
A heat pump will get the job done to maximize your comfort and potentially lower your overall energy bills.
Talk with a Heat Pump Trained Contractor to hear the best options for your home.
A trained contractor can provide multiple heat pump options to match your goals and home needs. Make sure to consider the following when connecting with a trained contractor:
- Know your goals. Talking to a heat pump trained contractor about what you want out of a heat pump will help you get better options quoted. Common goals for heat pump installations include improving comfort at home, saving money on energy bills, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
- Check for incentives. Ask a heat pump trained contractor to quote you options that qualify for rebates and tax incentives.
- Get multiple bids from different heat pump trained contractors. It is always a good idea to get bids from multiple trained contractors to better compare prices and options.
Check out ComEd’s heat pump trained contractors to take the next step.
Income eligible customers may qualify to participate in ComEd’s Whole Home Electric offering, which reduces overall energy usage by replacing fossil fueled appliances and heating and cooling systems with efficient electric appliances and systems, including heat pumps. These upgrades are offered at no cost to single-family customers and tenants of qualifying multi-family buildings. Learn more.
Cold climate heat pumps (ccHPs) deliver the best year-round performance.
A ccHP is the most energy efficient heat pump option for households in northern Illinois. These units have the highest capacity to deliver energy savings while maintaining comfort. A ccHP offers additional benefits beyond standard heat pumps, including quieter operation and better dehumidification.
Most heat pump systems are designed with a secondary source of heating. This pairing allows for flexible, year-round coverage. A ccHP is the most resilient in extreme temperatures, which minimizes (or eliminates) use of the secondary heating source.
A heat pump can be installed in any home. Ducted heat pumps work in homes with ductwork. Ductless (or “mini-split”) heat pumps work in homes without ductwork. Mini-split heat pumps can also be a solution to augment heating and cooling in specific areas of any home.
Learn about heat pump options based on your current set-up.
Heat pumps can have different benefits and impact your energy bills differently depending on how you currently heat and cool your home.
Heat pumps provide efficient cooling and heating. Any heat pump is likely to improve your comfort. A ccHP is likely to save more money and provide additional benefits, like a greater heating capacity in colder Illinois winters, quieter operation, and better dehumidification.
Talk to a trained contractor about a ccHP. A ccHP is very likely to save you money on heating and cooling compared to your current system. Because of the likely savings versus propane or traditional electric systems, a cold climate heat pump can have a relatively short payback period.
This is a great opportunity to consider making the switch to an all-electric heat pump system. Read more about the system benefits below.
The right heat pump for you will depend on your goals. Be clear at the start with a heat pump trained contractor to get the best recommendations.
An entry level heat pump has the lowest upfront costs and can be simpler to install. However, these units have limited heating capabilities.
A ccHP is likely to reduce your heating bills when used in mild weather. This cost consideration of a heat pump versus a natural gas system may change over time as fuel prices change.
Depending on your goals, you can choose to set up an all-electric heat pump or dual-fuel heat pump system. Read more about all-electric heat pump and dual-fuel heat pump systems below.
Want to learn more? Visit the Savings Calculator to estimate what your bill impacts with a heat pump may be.
There are two main heat pump systems: All-electric and dual-fuel.
The system you get depends on your goals and home needs. All-electric heat pump systems are possible in any home. The strongest argument to set up an all-electric heat pump system is if you currently heat your home with propane, an electric furnace or electric baseboards. If you currently heat your home with natural gas, you may want to consider a dual-fuel heat pump system.
Visit the ComEd Savings Calculator to see the estimated bill impacts of all-electric heat pump and dual-fuel heat pump systems in your home.
All-electric heat pump systems
All-electric heat pump systems involve a ccHP with auxiliary electric resistance heat. No fossil fuel system is involved.
Benefits
All-electric heat pump systems are an all-in-one setup that can be simpler to set up and operate than a dual-fuel heat pump system. All-electric heat pump systems are also the best option to reduce household emissions over time.
Bill impacts
You are likely to save money on cooling costs with an all-electric heat pump system. A ccHP delivers more efficient cooling compared to most air conditioners.
Your heating bills with an all-electric heat pump system may change depending on the heating fuel you currently use. If you currently heat your home with propane, an electric furnace, or electric baseboards, an all-electric heat pump system is likely to reduce your winter energy bills.
If you currently heat your home with natural gas, an all-electric heat pump may increase your heating bills.
Dual-fuel heat pump systems
Dual-fuel heat pump systems involve a heat pump paired with a fossil fuel furnace. The temperature when your heating switches from the heat pump to the fossil fuel furnace is called the switchover temperature.
Benefits
Dual-fuel heat pump systems offer you the choice of which piece of equipment to use for heating. Depending on fuel costs, this can potentially save you money and reduce your household emissions compared to a fossil fuel-only setup.
Bill impacts
You are likely to save money on cooling costs with a dual-fuel heat pump system. Heat pumps generally deliver more efficient cooling than standard air conditioners.
Your heating bills with a dual-fuel heat pump system may change depending on the heating fuel you currently use. If you currently heat your home with a propane furnace, a dual-fuel heat pump system will likely reduce your winter energy bills. Setting a low switchover temperature, so the heat pump runs down to lower temperatures, can maximize your savings.
If you currently heat your home with natural gas, the bill impacts of a dual-fuel heat pump system can vary. Please see the ComEd Savings Calculator results for details. Setting the switchover temperature higher, so the heat pump runs in moderate temperatures, may be most cost-effective.
Your energy savings will vary based on the temperature at which your heating switches from the heat pump to the fossil fuel system. Talk to your heat pump trained contractor about setting a switchover temperature that meets your goals and home needs.
There are different kinds of heat pumps.
Heat pumps are energy efficient because they move heat rather than generate it. Heat pumps can either exchange heat with the outdoor air or the ground.
Air source heat pumps
Air source heat pumps move heat between your home and the outdoor air.
In the summer, air source heat pumps move heat from inside to the outdoor air. This cools your home. In the winter, air source heat pumps move heat from the outside air to inside. This heats your home.
Air source heat pumps are the most common type of heat pump. This is because they have lower upfront costs and can be installed in nearly any home.
Ground source (geothermal) heat pumps
Ground source heat pumps move heat between your home and the ground.
In the summer, ground source heat pumps move heat from inside to the ground. This cools your home. In the winter, ground source heat pumps move heat from the ground to inside. This heats your home.
Ground source heat pumps are the most energy efficient type of heat pump. However, ground source heat pumps are more expensive and complicated to install than air source heat pumps. Properties with large lot sizes and new construction are the most suitable cases for ground source heat pumps.
Interested in a heat pump?
Explore our tools and resources to see if a heat pump is right for you. Visit our Savings Calculator to learn more about the possible monthly and annual bill impacts of a heat pump.