Posted: May 1, 2023
With advanced technology making heat pumps a more viable option in cold climates like ours—combined with generous rebate programs and federal tax credits— it’s no surprise that interest in heat pumps continues to increase.
A heat pump runs on electricity and can either heat or cool a space.
Instead of whole-house heating and cooling, ductless heat pump systems give you the flexibility to enjoy a specific temperature in one room or multiple rooms.
For each room where you want more cooling or heating, we will install a compact wall unit. We can mount multiple indoor units, which all connect via flexible tubing to one outdoor compressor. No bulky ductwork required!
Only minimum drilling is necessary to complete the installation of your ductless system. The ductless experts at Wilson can take you through all your options to determine which one makes the most sense for your needs and your budget.
Studies, and our own installation experiences, have shown that many people who install heat pumps do not remove their existing heating system, whether it is powered by heating oil, propane gas or natural gas. Homeowners want to keep their boilers or furnaces as a back-up heat source to compensate for the inadequacy of many air-source heat pumps to keep homes warm enough on cold days. Why spend more money on labor to remove a perfectly functioning oil- or gas heating system when it can serve as your “safety valve” against extreme cold? People really appreciated having a backup heating system when we were hit with those two Arctic air blasts last winter!
The most cost-optimal outdoor temperature to switch over a heat pump to your oil-fired or gas-fired heating systems is 30°F. We can add integrated controls to your system so it would automatically switch over at or below this temperature so you can avoid feeling any chill in your home.
You should be also aware that as an electrical system, a heat pump will significantly increase your home’s electric use. That’s something to keep in mind during a time when electric rates have been steadily going up.
Because heat pumps run on electricity, they are often described as the “green” option to heat and cool your home or business.
But right now, energy from our electric grid is still far from clean or even reliable. As one example, more than 60% of the electricity generated in Pennsylvania is still sourced from coal and natural gas. In 2021, the combustion of fossil fuels like natural gas and coal to generate electricity was the second largest source of CO2 emissions in the nation, accounting for 31% of total U.S. CO2 emissions and 24% of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.
But as we slowly transition to more renewable options for generating electricity, such as wind, solar and hydropower, heat pumps will move closer to being a clean energy option. But it is not the only option available if you want to do your part to fight climate change right now.
The renewable B20 Bioheat Plus® fuel we deliver has been proven to generate less greenhouse gas emissions than natural gas. And in a test case, two heating-oil retailers in the Northeast displaced nearly 1.5 million gallons of heating oil with approved Bioheat fuel in the first half of 2020 alone. Doing this resulted in an 80% reduction in greenhouse-gas emissions, compared with traditional heating oil.
And in our corner of the world, Wilson Oil and Propane is strongly contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, we have already displaced more than three million gallons of traditional heating oil with our clean-burning B20 Bioheat fuel.
If you’re researched your options and feel confident that a heat pump installation would be a good addition for your home, please reach out to Wilson Oil and Propane. Our technicians have years of experience with all types of heating and cooling installations, including traditional ducted heat pump installations and ductless mini-split heat pump systems.
Because they are certified by North American Technician Excellence (NATE)– the industry-standard certification and training organization for HVAC technicians—our technicians are also experts when it comes to a heat pump repair.
Plus, all the heat pump manufacturers we partner with stand behind their equipment with multi-year warranties, and Wilson itself stands behind our installation work with a 100% satisfaction guarantee.
If you feel your heating and cooling equipment is wearing out, contact us today and one of our highly trained equipment experts will tell you more about our efficient, affordable heat pump options.
A new high-efficiency system could cut your energy costs substantially—and eliminate the expense and annoyance of breakdowns—while keeping your home more comfortable.
Wilson Oil & Propane is the company that people in the Delaware Valley area of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware can depend on for the installation, maintenance or repair of ducted and ductless heat pump systems, as well as furnaces, boilers, central air conditioning systems and water heaters.