Contractor matching
Heat Pump Installation
A heat pump moves heat rather than making it, which is how one machine can cool the house in July and heat it in January. It is also why the installation matters more than with a furnace: the same equipment can be excellent or disappointing depending on how it was sized, what it is paired with, and how it is set up to behave in cold weather.
HVACandRoof does not install heat pumps. We match your project with a small number of screened, independent installers. They assess your home, your existing heating and your electrical service, and each gives you their own written estimate — including, if you ask, a conventional alternative to compare it against.
Signs you may need this
- You are replacing both heating and cooling and would rather have one system than two
- You want to reduce or stop using fuel oil, propane or natural gas for heating
- The home has no usable ductwork, which makes a ductless heat pump a natural fit
- You are weighing rebates or tax credits and want to know what actually qualifies
- An aging furnace and an aging AC are both approaching replacement at the same time
Questions worth having answers for
These are the questions our request form — and any good contractor — will ask. “I don't know” is always an acceptable answer.
- What heats the home today, and are you replacing it or keeping it as backup?
- Ducted, ductless, or open to either?
- What is the approximate square footage, and how many rooms need conditioning?
- Do you know your electrical panel's capacity, or should the contractor assess it?
- Are you pursuing a specific rebate or tax credit, or is that part of the question?
What happens after you submit a request
- 1
We confirm screened installer coverage for your ZIP before anything is shared.
- 2
Your project goes to a small number of screened, independent installers.
- 3
Each contractor assesses the home, the existing heating and the electrical service, then quotes their own work.
- 4
You compare written estimates — including any conventional alternative you asked to see — and decide.
HVACandRoof is a contractor-matching marketplace. The contractors who quote and perform your work are independent businesses, and we may earn a fee when a request is matched or a job is completed. Read more about what our screening includes.
Heat Pump Installation questions, answered plainly
Do heat pumps actually work in cold winters?
Cold-climate models are designed to, and they are installed in genuinely cold parts of the country. Capacity does fall as the temperature drops, which is why sizing and the cold-weather plan matter: some installations keep the existing furnace as backup for the coldest days, some add electric resistance heat, and some are sized to carry the load alone. Ask each contractor which approach they are quoting and what happens on the coldest night of the year.
Is a ductless mini-split a heat pump?
Almost always, yes — which is why the same ductless equipment cools in summer and heats in winter. The difference is delivery, not principle: a ducted heat pump uses your existing ductwork, a ductless one delivers directly into each room. Homes without usable ducts often land on ductless for exactly that reason.
Will my electrical panel need work?
Possibly, and it is worth finding out during the site visit rather than as a change order. A heat pump adds electrical load, and homes with older or fully-populated panels sometimes need a circuit added or a service upgrade. Ask that the electrical assessment be part of the visit and that any panel work appear as a line on the estimate.
What about rebates and tax credits?
They exist at federal, state and utility level, and they change — which is exactly why this page does not print amounts. Eligibility usually turns on the specific equipment's efficiency rating and on who installs it, so the reliable answer comes from the contractor quoting your job plus your own utility's current program. Treat any figure on a marketing page, including ours, as something to verify rather than to count on.
How does HVACandRoof get paid?
By contractors, never by homeowners. We may earn a disclosed fee for a qualified introduction or a completed job. Requesting a match is free, and the contractor's estimate is theirs — we do not mark it up and we do not take a cut of what you are quoted.
Related services and guides
- AC Installation & ReplacementInstalling or replacing central air conditioning? Get matched with screened, independent local installers and compare written estimates. Free, no obligation.
- Mini-Split InstallationPlan a ductless mini-split installation and get matched with screened, independent local installers. Free planning estimator, no obligation, clear next steps.
- Furnace & Whole-System HVAC ReplacementReplacing a furnace, boiler or an entire heating and cooling system? Get matched with screened, independent installers and compare written estimates side by side.