Heat Pump vs. Boiler: Which Is Best for Your Home?

You can heat your home in so many different ways that it can be daunting to try and figure out which is best. A good place to start is to ask yourself: Will you use a heat pump or a boiler? The answer depends on your budget, fuel source, and preferences. From there, you can narrow down the make and model of the system you want and find the right professional to install it. 

So, what will help you resolve the debate between a heat pump vs. boiler? Let’s find out by digging into their key differences. 

What Is a Heat Pump? 

A heat pump is an all-in-one air system that moves heat inside or outside of your house, depending on when you need it. It will move heat from your house to the outdoors in the warmer months. When it’s cold outside, your heat pump system will move heat into your house to get you nice and cozy. Heat pumps transfer heat rather than create it, which makes them more energy efficient while providing the same benefits as any other heating system. 

There are 3 types of heat pumps: air-to-air, water source, and geothermal. These each collect heat from the air, water, or ground around your home. The most common type is an air-to-air heat pump. 

What Is a Boiler?

Boilers are like big water heaters for your entire home. They generate heat, then send it through pipes via hot water or steam. Steam runs through radiators, and hot water runs through baseboard radiators or radiant flooring systems. There is also boiler-heated air, which runs through a heating coil. Due to the chilly weather, many homes in the Northeastern United States have boilers installed.

Efficiency Differences

In the efficiency debate, heat pumps are the clear winner. A heat pump can last twice as long as a boiler—specifically 20 to 30 years compared to a boiler’s 10 to 15. Heat pumps also rely on electricity instead of natural gas, which is much better for the environment. For every kilowatt of electricity a heat pump uses, you’ll get three to four times the heat. High-efficiency heat pumps can dehumidify the air they’re cooling in the summer months, which helps increase the comfort created by their usage. 

The way to tell a boiler’s efficiency is through its Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) rating, which measures how much fuel used turns into heat for your home. An AFUE of 90% means that 90% of the fuel’s energy became heat, while 10% escaped through a chimney or pipes. Finding a boiler with perfect 100% efficiency is rare since some heat will escape one way or another. 

Cost Differences

Make sure you know your budget before setting out on a project like this. While heat pumps are less expensive than a boiler to operate and maintain over time, they’re more expensive to install. The cost of installing a heat pump is anywhere from $4,200 to $7,700. That makes it about the same as installing a furnace and an air conditioning system simultaneously. 

The cost of a boiler installation is about $5,900 on average and depends on the type of job you need done. If it’s about replacing an old boiler with a new one, it will cost less than if you need to set up an entire system that includes connective pipes, heaters, or ducts. That’s when the square footage of your home comes into play, along with the boiler’s fuel and efficiency. 

Installation Differences

Besides carrying a higher price tag, installing a heat pump is often a larger job than replacing a boiler—and definitely not fit for a DIY. A ductless air-to-air heat pump is slightly easier to install since it doesn’t require ductwork. Between the two, a boiler installation will be less work because most homes are built with the required distribution infrastructure due to the long-term popularity of this heat source. 

Maintenance Differences

For a heat pump or a boiler, maintenance is key to ensuring your investment lasts as long as possible and remains as efficient as possible. Schedule a checkup with your local HVAC professional every year or two or sooner if you notice these common furnace problems. 

For a heat pump specifically, you will need a twice-yearly tune-up in the spring and fall to ensure your house heats correctly throughout the winter and cools efficiently during summer. On top of that, you can change your heat pump’s filters once a month or as needed since a clogged or dirty filter can minimize airflow through the system. 

You can maintain your boiler yourself by inspecting its filters, vents, and pump, as well as checking for any leaks or issues with the system. If you see anything of concern, it’s a good time to call in a pro.