Independent research and homeowner-facing analysis. We don't sell installs and we don't take referral fees from contractors — every number is sourced.
A plain-English primer on how heat pumps move heat instead of generating it, and a side-by-side look at the three types homeowners actually choose between: air-source, ductless mini-split, and geothermal.
A plain-English walkthrough of the federal §25D Residential Clean Energy Credit for geothermal heat pumps — 30% of installed cost, no dollar cap, through 2032. Eligibility, what counts as qualifying expense, how it stacks with state rebates, and the IRS forms to file.
Oversizing is the most common heat pump install mistake and the one homeowners can catch before signing. A plain-English guide to the Manual J load calculation, what a real one looks like, why rule-of-thumb sizing fails on tight homes, and the four documents to require from every contractor.
Side-by-side total-cost-of-ownership math for a typical 2,000 sq ft home: install price, fuel costs, maintenance, and the break-even year. Includes regional adjustments for cold and warm climates.
A plain-English walkthrough of the federal HEEHRA program — income limits, eligible equipment, point-of-sale vs. mail-in flow, current funding status by state, and how it stacks with state and utility rebates.
What manufacturers mean by "cold-climate certified," how capacity actually drops with temperature, and the field data from Maine, Massachusetts, and Minnesota installs that homeowners should look at before sizing.
About Heat Pump Pricing Index: a homeowner-facing reference for heat pump pricing and incentives. Editorial standards.