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Heat pumps are the most efficient way to heat and cool a home with electricity. Unlike resistance heaters that convert electricity to heat 1-for-1, heat pumps move heat — delivering 3–5× more heating per unit of electricity. Combined with solar, a heat pump eliminates fossil fuel heating entirely.
8 heat pumps reviewed
Best for: Ductless whole-home or supplemental heating and cooling
Best for: Wet underfloor heating or hydronic radiator systems
Best for: New construction or large rural homes with land
Best for: Properties with well, pond, or river access
The Inflation Reduction Act provides a 30% tax credit (up to $2,000/year) for air-source heat pumps under Section 25C, and 30% with no cap for ground-source heat pumps under Section 25D. Many states offer additional rebates under the IRA Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates (HEAR) program.
Mitsubishi Electric
Heating
9 kW
Cooling
6.9 kW
COP (heating)
3.7
COP (cooling)
4
Min temp
-25°C
Outdoor noise
53 dB
Refrigerant
R-410A
Warranty
12 yr
+$3,500 install est.
Mitsubishi Electric
Heating
8.8 kW
Cooling
6.2 kW
COP (heating)
3.5
COP (cooling)
4.4
Min temp
-25°C
Outdoor noise
51 dB
Refrigerant
R-410A
Warranty
12 yr
+$2,800 install est.
Daikin
Heating
4.4 kW
Cooling
3.5 kW
COP (heating)
3.96
COP (cooling)
3.5
Min temp
-25°C
Outdoor noise
50 dB
Refrigerant
R-32
Warranty
12 yr
+$2,200 install est.
LG
Heating
7 kW
Cooling
7 kW
COP (heating)
3.4
COP (cooling)
3.7
Min temp
-25°C
Outdoor noise
56 dB
Refrigerant
R-410A
Warranty
10 yr
+$3,200 install est.
Carrier
Heating
14 kW
Cooling
14 kW
COP (heating)
3.8
COP (cooling)
4.2
Min temp
-23°C
Outdoor noise
58 dB
Refrigerant
R-410A
Warranty
10 yr
+$5,500 install est.
Trane
Heating
14.1 kW
Cooling
14.1 kW
COP (heating)
3.7
COP (cooling)
4.4
Min temp
-22°C
Outdoor noise
55 dB
Refrigerant
R-410A
Warranty
10 yr
+$5,200 install est.
Daikin
Heating
12 kW
COP (heating)
4.5
Min temp
-28°C
Outdoor noise
54 dB
Refrigerant
R-32
Warranty
12 yr
+$9,500 install est.
COP (Coefficient of Performance) measures efficiency: a COP of 3.5 means 3.5 kWh of heat delivered per 1 kWh of electricity used. Compare this to electric resistance heating (COP 1.0) or gas (effective COP ~0.9). A heat pump with COP 3.5 reduces your heating electricity cost to roughly 28% of what resistance heating would cost.
Modern cold-climate heat pumps (Mitsubishi Hyper Heat, Daikin Aurora) operate down to -25°C (-13°F) with full heating output. They are now the standard recommendation for whole-home heating in IECC Climate Zones 5–7, including New England, the Great Lakes, and the Northern Plains.
Yes — this is the ideal combination. Solar powers your heat pump during the day, reducing electricity draw from the grid. With a battery, the stored solar can also run the heat pump at night. A properly sized solar + heat pump system can achieve near-zero net energy cost for both electricity and heating.
Rule of thumb: 1 ton (3.5 kW) per 500–700 sq ft of well-insulated home in a moderate climate. A Manual J load calculation by an HVAC professional gives a precise answer based on your home's insulation, windows, climate zone, and layout. Oversizing is as problematic as undersizing.