Are you using oil, gas, or propane to heat your home? While everybody wants to feel warm and cozy during the winter months, using these fuels presents some downsides to you as a homeowner and the planet as a whole. Burning fossil fuels like gas, oil, and coal contributes to carbon pollution, the number one cause of climate change around the world. Your indoor air quality could be suffering, too.
If you’re considering making the jump from an oil or gas furnace to an electric heat pump, there are plenty of great reasons to do so. In this article, we’ll take a look at what’s required in decommissioning your furnace, the benefits of doing so, and the financial assistance you may be able to obtain along the way!
What’s the Big Deal With Heat Pumps?
Here at WK Mechanical, Inc., we get just a little bit excited about heat pumps. It’s because they really are quite amazing when it comes to heating and cooling! They offer an energy-efficient alternative to central forced-air conditioners and furnaces and are suitable for all climates. During the winter, heat pumps move heat from the cool outdoors into your home. During the warmer months, the reverse happens and heat is transferred from your house back outside. The great thing is that heat pumps transfer heat rather than generating it. This means they only use a small amount of electricity to do their job.
Why Switch From Fossil Fuels to Electric?
Making the switch from a gas or oil furnace is a big decision but it’s a decision that comes with some major payback.
Improve Your Home Comfort
One of the best ways to bring your home into the 21st century is with a modern and efficient heating and cooling system. A heat pump will give you a consistent and even temperature throughout your home throughout the year. That means no furnace kicking off and waking you up, no unexpected energy bill spikes, and cleaner air in every room. If you currently use an oil furnace you also won’t need to worry about spiraling oil costs.
Purer Air Throughout Your Home
Burning fossil fuels can create waste contaminants that eventually make it through your system and into the air in your home. You might not notice these pollutants in the air but they will be there. A heat pump, on the other hand, filters the air and reduces the amount of allergens in the environment.
Be an Environmental Hero
If you’re looking for a cleaner energy solution or you’re going all out to create a net-zero home (a home that generates the exact amount of energy it consumes), you just can’t go wrong with an electric heat pump. Also, if you’re looking to sell your home in the future, installing a heat pump offers long-term savings and will be a major plus for buyers looking for energy-efficient housing.
How Easy is it to Decommission My Furnace and Switch to a Heat Pump?
For homeowners using an oil or gas furnace, getting an electric heat pump professionally installed is quite an easy job for our expert team. Our certified professionals will carefully disconnect your oil or gas furnace and can often install your new heat pump on the same day. The new system will be integrated into the existing electrical framework and connected to your existing ductwork, and the furnace will be properly decommissioned (i.e. safely and professionally dismantled and disposed of).
The most important thing is that you have your existing furnace decommissioned by a professional, especially where gas supplies are involved. Many energy efficiency rebate programs (which we’ll get to in a moment) require fossil fuel systems to be completely decommissioned before they pay out any amount. This means making your old system inoperative.
Get Help With Heat Pump Costs
There has never been a better time to switch from fossil fuels to a cleaner heating and cooling system. There are a number of incentives available for New York State residents looking to upgrade to an Energy Star heat pump. From up to $14,000 in utility rebates to low interest loans, we can give you more information about the types of incentives available. These incentives are generally only available for a limited time, so why not speak to our team today to see how you could save on the upfront cost of a new heat pump?
Making the Switch Couldn’t Be Easier
We’d love to tell you more about our heat pumps and show you how easy it is to upgrade to these energy-efficient and dependable heating and cooling systems. Speak to our team today and we’ll recommend the ideal heat pump for you and your family, tell you about the savings you can make by decommissioning your old furnace, and provide you with a free estimate.
More and more of our customers are moving away from fossil fuels because they know what a difference it will make to their home, their energy costs, and the planet. Let us help you to realize the benefits, too!
