Choosing a new heating system is a common dilemma for Maine homeowners. When it’s time to replace an existing system, you’ll have to decide between a standard gas/oil furnace or boiler or an electric heat pump.
It’s important to remember that the decision you make today is a decision for the next 15 to 20 years. You can’t decide solely based on current events, because those change frequently. It’s better to view long-term trends and choose a heating system that offers the most predictable benefits.
Overall, when properly installed, electricity is the way to go. Below, we’ll break down why a heat pump installation is the better option and why you should choose a ducted or ductless mini-split installer near you who understands the importance of permits and quality installation.
Price Fluctuations: Oil/Gas vs. Electricity
Heating costs are typically the biggest driver behind a homeowner’s decision to install either an oil/gas heating system or an electric heat pump. Geopolitical events are short-term trends, so it’s better to look at the big picture.
Going back to the 1960s and 1970s, electricity costs have risen at a much steadier rate. While yes, it has gone up substantially over the last 50 years, it’s been predictable. Oil and gas prices, on the other hand, are highly volatile. They go up, they go down, and it’s hard to know what your heating bill may be one year compared to the next.
You don’t want to install a gas or oil boiler today, and then three years down the road decide a heat pump is better because fuel prices have risen.
Sustainability
An electric heating system like a heat pump is the only source where you can use the word “renewable.” There’s no such thing as renewable oil or gas. But there’s an awful lot of renewable electricity on the grid, powered by solar and wind farms, that carries a far lower environmental impact. Even when a power plant uses natural gas to produce electricity, its boiler is significantly more efficient than the ones used in homes.
With electricity, you can heat your home, wash and dry your clothes, cook your food, and charge your car, all without emissions.
As the electrical grid becomes increasingly powered by renewable sources, heat pumps in Maine become even more sustainable. Choosing a heat pump over a propane or oil furnace is better for the environment.
Ease of Delivery
A heat pump system can provide everything you need for home comfort, and it’s all delivered to your door through the wires. Oil and propane must be delivered by a truck, so you have to worry about shoveling walkways around the house for delivery crews.
In addition, heat pumps provide both heating and cooling, whereas oil and gas systems only provide heating. With a heat pump, you don’t have to worry about maintaining two different types of systems.
The Importance of Hiring a Contractor Who Pulls Permits
If you do decide a heat pump is the best option, make sure you work with ductless or ducted heat pump installers in Maine who follow the permitting process. Most jurisdictions have a permit requirement for at least the electrical portion of the installation. If you hire someone who doesn’t pull a permit, you risk:
- Improper Installation: Everyone is usually concerned about the safety of natural gas, but electrical fires from improperly installed circuits or loose wires are much more common.
- Retroactive Permits: If a code enforcement officer discovers an unpermitted heat pump down the road (maybe while inspecting a new deck, for instance), they’ll require an after-the-fact permit. Your installation will have to be brought up to current codes, not the codes in place when it was installed.
- Financial Loss: After-the-fact permits are often double the cost. Plus, any work required to bring your heat pump installation up to code will be another expense.
Why Work With Royal River Heat Pumps
At Royal River Heat Pumps, we always pull permits and have an in-house, licensed electrician on every job. You’ll never have to worry about inferior workmanship or retroactive permits. We always use building science and perform load calculations to ensure our customers get the right size heat pump system for their home.
We’re not HVAC generalists; we’re heat pump specialists and Mitsubishi Diamond Elite Contractors. With over 40 years of field experience, we never compromise on quality. If you’re ready to install a heat pump as your next HVAC system in Maine, give our team a call.
