3 Best Whole-House Heat Pumps of 2026, Lab-Tested and Reviewed

It’s a ducted system that heats and cools your house by moving heat rather than generating it. In the summer, it works like a central air conditioning system, pulling heat from inside and dumping it outside. In the winter, it reverses the process, extracting heat from outdoor air (yes, even cold air contains heat) and delivering it inside.

These systems require existing ductwork and are designed to replace (or work alongside) a furnace and central AC. They run on electricity. 

Often, yes. If you already have ductwork, a heat pump can serve as both your air conditioner and primary heating system. Many homeowners install them as part of a “dual-fuel” setup, pairing the heat pump with an existing furnace that can kick in during an extreme cold snap, when the heat pump may not be able to keep up with demand. 

“These are really meant to be used in situations where there’s already ductwork in place,” says Bernie Deitrick, CR’s engineer who oversaw the testing of heat pumps. “If you were replacing a central air system, you could put one of these in and also replace your heating system at the same time.”

How Much Does a Whole-House Heat Pump Cost?
The models in our ratings cost about $3,500 to $5,000, and are sized to heat and cool a house that’s 1,500 to 1,800 square feet. That said, installation is an important factor, and not every heat pump is appropriate for every home. A whole-house heat pump typically costs more to install than replacing a furnace or air conditioner alone. 

According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, average installation costs for ducted systems range from around $9,000 for minimum-efficiency units to $24,000 for high-efficiency cold-climate models.

If you’re replacing an aging furnace and an air conditioner at the same time, the incremental cost is lower, sometimes just a few thousand dollars more. Costs can increase if your house needs electrical panel upgrades or ductwork modifications.

Heat pumps are typically two to four times more efficient than traditional electric resistance heating or oil furnaces. But savings depend on your climate, utility rates, and what you’re replacing. The savings are most consistent in homes that currently heat with fuel oil, propane, or electricity. For those using natural gas, the economics depend on your local utility rates for both gas and electricity. The Department of Energy says that according to one estimate, a household in Michigan would save about $1,500 annually by switching to an appropriate heat pump in place of a traditional electric or propane heating system. For homes in more moderate climates, the savings would probably be less significant. 

A well-maintained heat pump should last about 15 years on average (similar to a central air conditioner or furnace). Lifespans will depend on the quality of the installation, the climate, and regular maintenance, including filter changes and annual inspections.

Even the best-scoring heat pump can underperform (or fail early) if installed poorly.

“Up to 70 to 90 percent of installs have a significant, measurable defect,” says Nate Adams, a home performance consultant, citing Department of Energy data.

The most common problem is undersized ductwork. If your ducts are too small for the system’s airflow needs, the heat pump has to work harder, which reduces efficiency and can lead to premature failure. Restrictive air filters compound the problem. Standard 1-inch filters choke airflow; Adams recommends upsizing to a thicker media filter. 

Before signing a contract, ask what your duct system’s total external static pressure (TESP) is, how the installer will verify refrigerant charge, whether you’ll need supplemental heat in your climate, and what size filter you should use, and how often you should change it.

“If you are only searching for the cheapest possible install, don’t get a heat pump,” Adams warns. “They are heavily dependent on install quality.”

Pairing a heat pump with your existing furnace—called a hybrid or dual-fuel setup—gives you efficient electric heating most of the year, with gas or oil backup for the coldest days. It’s often cheaper up front than a full replacement because you can opt for a smaller, less expensive heat pump than you might otherwise need. 

Ground-source heat pumps are more efficient than air-source systems because they pull heat from stable underground temperatures rather than fluctuating outdoor air, and they deliver consistent performance even in extreme cold. “The farther north you go, the more popular ground source heat pumps get,” Deitrick says. The trade-off is that they require drilling or trenching on your property, which significantly increases installation costs. For most homeowners, air-source heat pumps are the more accessible choice. 

Each unit was evaluated at a partner lab under controlled conditions that mimic real-world use. Testing followed industry-standard protocols: engineers measured power consumption, airflow, humidity levels, and thermal output at a total of six different temperatures, three each for heating and cooling modes. We also measured the noise of each unit because these units might be installed near a bedroom window or a neighbor’s house. 

In addition to these scores, our comprehensive ratings note the output of each model we tested, at each of the six controlled temperatures, along with information on which users, in which climates, should prioritize performance at specific temperatures.