Air Source Heat Pumps in Phelps, Rochester, Ithaca & Nearby NY

Quality Comfort with Efficient Ductless Heating in The Finger Lakes

Air source heat pumps work efficiently and effectively in the upstate New York climate. They also qualify for rebates and incentives! Learn how to get the most out of your heating system with professional heat pump installation services in the Finger Lakes area, including Webster, Lansing, Syracuse, and nearby, from Halco Energy.

Benefits of Heating and Cooling with Air Source Heat Pumps

How Do Ductless Heat Pumps Work?

Ductless heat pumps, a type of Air Source Heat Pump, use a refrigerant system involving a condenser and a compressor to absorb heat in one place and release it in another. During the heating season, heat is absorbed from the outside air and used to warm the air inside your home. The process is similar to a geothermal, or Ground Source Heat Pump, system, but instead of pulling heat from the ground, it pulls it from the air.

Ductless heat pumps can heat your home, even on a cold winter day. In fact, ductless heat pump technology has advanced so much that it can absorb heat even when air temperatures are below zero! During the cooling season, a ductless mini-split will take the heat from inside your home and transfer it outside.

Ductless heat pumps present an energy-efficient alternative to other heating and cooling systems. According to the Department of Energy, when a contractor installs heat pumps properly, they can deliver up to three times more heat than the electrical energy it consumes. That is possible because a heat pump moves heat rather than converting it from a fuel like combustion heating systems do.

Heat Pump Rebates and Tax Credits

Are you wondering if there are rebates for heat pumps - or if you can claim a heat pump tax credit the next time you go to file? Yes, you can! There are new federal and state incentives that reduce the cost of heat pump installation, thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).

The Energy Efficiency Home Improvement Tax Credit, or the 25C tax credit, has been increased to 30% as of 2023, so for every $500 you spend on heat pump installation, you can deduct $150 from your federal tax liability, up to a $2,000 max annual credit!

Two new IRA rebate programs are launching soon and will run at the state level:

Multi-Zone vs. Single-Zone

Single-zone systems are designed for a single space with one outdoor condenser matched to one indoor head. A multi-zone system will allow you to have several indoor heads connected to one outdoor condenser. The option you choose will largely depend on your home's design as well as the number of zones in your home that you would like to heat or cool. This distinction may also be referred to as "multi-head vs. single-head."

Types of heat pumps

Ductless heat pumps or mini-splits

Ductless systems are a type of air source heat pump, also known as mini-split systems or split-ductless systems. These systems feature a compressor and condenser outside the home — and a small air handler unit mounted on the wall or ceiling inside. A refrigerant line connects these two parts and they work by transferring heat rather than converting it from fuel, as combustion heating systems do.

In homes without existing ductwork, ductless systems make a great option. Ductless applications require minimal construction and are well-suited for retrofit applications. They require a non-invasive installation, needing only a three-inch hole through the wall to connect the outdoor condenser and the indoor units. Ductless heating and cooling units can be installed in home additions, new constructions, condominiums, apartments, and more, providing precise comfort to specific rooms.

Ducted Air Source Heat Pumps

Simply put, ducted systems use ductwork. You might consider this option if your home already has a distribution system or will have new construction. The condenser is outdoors, and the indoor unit moves conditioned air into living spaces through ductwork, just like a central AC system would. These systems are very convenient and easy to install in buildings with a duct system already in place that's in good shape.

Heat Pump Water Heaters

Most people think heat pumps are solely for heating and cooling their homes. But heat pumps perform another important function — heating the water for your house!

Heat pump water heaters use electricity to move heat from one place to another rather than generating heat directly. To move this heat, they work like refrigerators but in reverse. Refrigerators pull heat from inside the appliance and dump it into the surrounding air, whereas a heat pump water heater pulls the heat from the surrounding air and dumps it into a tank to heat the water.

Start Saving with an Air Source Heat Pump

If you're interested in a heat pump for your Finger Lakes home, Halco can help. Our experts will evaluate your home and help you determine the best system for your needs. We can design a system that allows for zoning or heating/cooling individual rooms very easily, with high-efficiency and lower costs!

Contact us today to get an estimate on any of our heat pump services in The Finger Lakes region including Geneva, Penfield, Brockport, Hilton, Spencerport, Rochester, Ithaca, Syracuse, and nearby!