Yes, air source heat pumps work year-round in Michigan. Our cold climate heat pumps with variable speeds and compressors can efficiently capture heat from the outside when temps are as low as -13°F. For the super cold days, we install a backup heat source. We have two options for your backup: a high efficiency natural gas furnace, or an electric back up.

For more, check out Planet Detroit’s overview of how heat pumps perform in Michigan.

Air-source heat pumps can provide up to three times more heating than the energy they consume, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. 

The electricity source that powers a heat pump affects its environmental impact. As Michigan’s electric generation is increasingly moving to include more renewables, electrification options like heat pumps will avoid more greenhouse gas emissions.

A study from the University of Michigan determined that heat pump adoption aligns well with decarbonization. The study indicated that if all single-family homes adopted heat pumps across the country, it would reduce residential CO2 emissions to 346 metric tons — a reduction of 160 metric tons or 32%, which amounts to $6.4 billion in annual climate benefits.

Read more in our blog article.

We’re fortunate to have several reputable heat pump manufacturers on the market. At some point, you’ll have to choose between Daikin, Mitsubishi, LG, Fujitsu, and others.

In general, we recommend Daikin heat pumps for homeowners in Michigan because of their reliable operation at low temperatures, high efficiency ratings, and industry-leading warranty. 

• Daikin heat pumps can operate in temperatures as low as -13°F, which is lower than most other brands. This means they can provide sufficient heating even in the coldest days of winter, without relying on backup electric resistance or fossil fuel heating.
• Daikin heat pumps have high efficiency ratings, ranging from 17 to 26 SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) and 9.5 to 12.5 HSPF (Heating Seasonal Performance Factor). These ratings indicate how much heat or cooling a heat pump can deliver per unit of electricity consumed. Higher ratings mean lower energy bills and lower carbon footprint.
• Daikin heat pumps have smart features, such as variable-speed compressors, inverter technology, and remote control, that allow them to adjust their output to the changing indoor and outdoor conditions, and to the user’s preferences. These features enhance the comfort, performance, and durability of the heat pumps.
• Daikin heat pumps have a long warranty period, up to 12 years for parts and compressors, which is longer than most other brands. This shows the confidence of the manufacturer in the quality and reliability of their products, and provides peace of mind to the customers.

If you have questions about which heat pump brand makes sense for your home, please give us a call anytime: (248) 291-7815.

A heat pump transfers heat from one place to another, using electricity. In the winter, a heat pump extracts heat from the outside air (or ground if we’re talking about a geothermal heat pump), and moves it into your home. Because a heat pump transfers heat rather than generates heat, it operates much more efficiently than a conventional heating and cooling system.

In fact, a heat pump can produce up to three times the amount of heat energy for a home as the electrical energy it uses, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

Some heat pumps, like Daikin’s SkyAir Inverter Heat Pump, can operate at 100% of its rated capacity all the way down to -4°F. However, you may need a backup heating source, such as a gas furnace, for the coldest days of the year because the heat pump’s efficiency and capacity may decrease at very low temperatures. 

The best option for most homeowners in SE Michigan is what’s called a “dual-fuel system,” which refers to the combination of a heat pump and a gas furnace. We can set up your system to automatically switch between the heat pump and furnace depending on the outdoor temperature.

Read more in our blog article.

It’s a pretty big range, depending on the factors like the size, efficiency, and model of the heat pump as well as the layout of your home.

If you want to know how much a heat pump will cost for your home in SE Michigan, please give us a call at (248) 291-7815 to schedule a free consultation. In general, homeowners in SE Michigan can expect to pay between $9K and $18K for an energy efficient Daikin heat pump.

To be clear, we're talking about pricing for a whole home heat pump, not a ductless mini split (a heat pump for a single room), which costs less.

Most of our clients go for a dual fuel system, which is a combination of a whole home heat pump and a gas furnace backup, which will fire up automatically when the temperature gets extremely low. The average cost of a dual fuel system ranges between $12K and $32K, depending on the size and model of the heat pump and furnace.

It's worth mentioning that we also have full electric packages available.

As you can see, this is quite a price range. We'd be happy to offer specific pricing for your home and answer any questions you have. Just give us a call at (248) 291-7815, or send us a message to get started.

You can get a tax credit of up to $2,000 for installing an energy efficient heat pump in 2023, along with any electric system upgrades required to prepare your home for a heat pump.

Heat pumps and heat pump water heaters are exempt from the $1,200 annual limit on total credits and the $600 limit on qualified energy property. For instance, if you claimed the maximum tax credit for insulation ($1,200) and a new heat pump ($2,000), you could get a tax credit of $3,200 in the same year.

We will make sure that your heat pump meets the standards to qualify for the heat pump tax credit. If you want to book a consultation, please call us at (248) 291-7815.

If you're thinking of hiring another HVAC contractor, be sure to ask if the heat pump they suggest meets or surpasses the highest efficiency tier (except any advanced tier) established by the Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE) at the beginning of the year that you intend to install the system. You can also look at the CEE Directory of Efficient Equipment for a list of eligible heat pumps.

Absolutely. Here are three case studies for heat pump installations that we completed in SW Michigan:

• Werner Project
• Godward Project
• Miller Project