What the current system costs vs a heat pump
Physics and the homeowner's own prices. Reference defaults are prefilled and editable; every result is an estimate, never a quote.
A boiler + separate AC. Heats with combustion and adds a separate cooling system; no single system does both.
Deep modulation lets one system cover a wide load range, so you can often size DOWN a step and still carry the design day - without the short-cycling that wastes an oversized fixed-speed unit.
rated in the premium tier (18+ SEER2). Compared apples-to-apples, a lower-tier system saves on the sticker but spends more on energy every month it runs.
No combustion, no fuel delivery, no second AC to buy and maintain. One efficient system does both, all year.
In a heating-led market this is what matters: deep modulation keeps real capacity at low outdoor temps, so the home stays warm on the design day without leaning on fossil backup.
Comparisons are generic and like-for-like by system style, fuel, and efficiency tier. Never against a named brand. The labor-warranty figure is a market-estimated floor, not a quote.
Plan for this house
Hydronic home with no ducts: forced-air conversion needs new ducts; ductless multi-zone is usually faster and cheaper. Compare both.
Lead with Boiler / hydronic to heat pump: Move off the boiler to a heat pump that heats AND cools, something the boiler never did. Present the 2 brand-neutral fallback option(s) only if the homeowner declines the heat pump, and always price the lit option beside any fallback.
- Hydronic boiler home: an air-to-air heat pump cannot share a control with the boiler the way a furnace coil does. Keep the boiler as an independent backup, or convert to forced-air. This is not an integrated furnace dual-fuel job.
- A new air-zoned heat pump is overlaying an existing hydronic-zoned boiler. These are two independent zoning systems: the air dampers/heads and the boiler zone valves must not share a controller. Plan separate controls.
- Run is 0.4 ft past the 24.6 ft factory pre-charge: add refrigerant per the model charge rate (see refrigerantChargeEstimate) and weigh it in.
- Confirm the O/B reversing-valve orientation against the equipment (most energize O on cool).
- A C (common) wire is required for modern wifi / smart controls. Verify a true common is landed, not a jumper.
- Maintain condenser clearances: ~12 in sides, 24 in service side, 60 in overhead, 6 in back. Confirm exact values against the model install manual.
- Confirm the condensate path: gravity drain if a downhill route exists, otherwise a condensate pump with a float safety switch.
- Snow region: mount the condenser on a stand/riser above the expected snow line, keep the base-pan drain clear, and protect from roof-shed ice. Wall brackets help in heavy drift.