As we navigate through the varying climates across the United States, from the biting cold in Colorado to the sweltering heat in other states, it’s essential to consider the most efficient and cost-effective ways to heat and cool our homes. Heat pumps have emerged as a popular solution, offering an energy-efficient alternative to traditional heating and cooling systems. But before making the switch, it’s crucial to assess whether your home is ready for a heat pump. Here’s a detailed guide to help you make an informed decision.
1. Review Your Energy Bills
An important step in determining your home’s readiness for a heat pump is to analyze your energy consumption, which is conveniently written out on your energy bill. For those in colder winter climates like Colorado, reviewing the energy bills for the coldest months, typically January and February, is what to focus your time and energy on.
Conversely, if you’re in a state that requires significant air conditioning during summer, examine your energy bills for July and August. If you use gas for heating, you’ll find the amount of gas energy consumed and reported in therms (100,000 Btu each). This data can be converted to energy in tons, aiding in sizing your heat pump, or to kWh to estimate the electricity usage if you switch from gas.
Understanding these energy units—Therms, Btus, and kWh—is critical for analyzing your current energy use and planning your heating and cooling strategy.
2. Inspect Windows and Doors
Your home’s windows and doors are potential sources of energy loss. Assess whether they are drafty, their ages, and their condition—do they operate normally, or are there gaps and leaks? The material and type of windows (single vs. double pane, aluminum vs. vinyl) also play a significant role in thermal insulation.
Often, simply sitting near a window or door on a cold day will be a fine indicator on their energy performance. The Department of Energy’s Energy Saver blog offers resources on detecting air leaks in windows and doors, a crucial step in improving your home’s energy efficiency.
Here’s a link to the DOE home air leaks guide.
3. Evaluate Floor Insulation
If your feet feel cold in your home during winter, your floor insulation may not be sufficient. The comfort of your home is significantly affected by floor insulation—or the lack thereof. Cold floors during winter months are a tell-tale sign of insufficient insulation.
My home in particular has cold and warm spots across the flooring. Insulation in these areas are sometimes easily viewed from a crawlspace or basement where you can pinpoint where insulation may be lacking. Our differences are clear compared between a newer addition and the original floorplan of the home.
4. Check Roof Insulation
Roof insulation is a critical factor in your home’s overall energy performance. An easy way to gauge the effectiveness of your roof insulation is observing how snow behaves during a snowstorm. If the snow melts unevenly or quickly in certain areas, it might indicate inadequate insulation.
When we replaced our attic insulation, months after, I noticed a line of melted snow above my bathroom. The contractor had left a full area without insulation, which was hard to see in a sea of white foamy insulation. But the snowmelt was clear as water.
Comparing your roof to your neighbors’ can also offer insights into the relative efficiency of your home’s insulation.
5. Consider a Home Energy Audit
To thoroughly understand your home’s energy performance and identify all potential leaks and inefficiencies, a home energy audit is invaluable. This is where a professional building energy auditor assesses your home energy use.
I had shared my home energy audit experience on the Edgewater Collective’s community non profit blog. These audits, which include a blower door test, air sealing, LED light swaps, appliance reviews, and infrared camera images, can pinpoint exactly where your home is losing energy. They also provide information on available rebate programs, making them a wise investment for anyone considering a heat pump.
Here is a link to Xcel’s Home Energy Audit Program. Be aware that the auditor may have their own opinions about energy wise decisions. My audit consultation after the report was completed included significant time trying to convince me that a gas water heater was in my best interest. While this line of reasoning has merit in some cases, my personal preferences were brushed aside during this conversation. Just be prepared to restate and affirm your home goals and to ignore “conventional wisdom” as you seek to electrify your home.
By reviewing your energy bills, inspecting windows and doors, evaluating floor and roof insulation, and considering a professional home energy audit, you can in most cases determine whether your home is ready for a heat pump. And if you learn what your home needs to be more energy efficient, then you are closer to electrification and more knowledgeable about your home energy. Home preparation ensures that you can maximize the benefits of a heat pump, leading to a more comfortable, energy-efficient and sustainable home.
And by the way, we’ve sense become Xcel-approved energy auditors ourselves, as it goes hand-in-hand with correct heat pump design. If you’re interested in an energy audit, heat pump (or maybe both), or if you’re just looking for answers around all these topics, feel free to contact us here. Thanks so much!
