Consortium for Energy Efficiency: System Design with Existing Heating

Audience: Heat pump installers

Not every home is a good match for using a heat pump for heating and cooling. This document will help contractors better understand partial load scenarios, the benefits of heat pumps for partial load applications, comparing partial to whole-home systems, and control strategies for using a heat pump as a primary heating source. Other information covered in this document include:

• Calculating switchover temperature
• Fuel costs and heating value
• Issues caused by oversizing the system
• How to calculate the cost and energy savings of a partial system

This document is part of the ASHP Education & Guidance Project Phase II Deliverables (February 2024). All documents in this suite are the culmination of the two-year Air Source Heat Pump Education & Guidance Project business plan. Download the Air Source Heat Pump Decision Matrix and System Guide and other documents here.