Heat pumps have been around for residential heating and cooling for decades, but the movement toward carbon-free energy has made them more relevant than ever. Compared to purely electric heat, heat pumps are four to five times more efficient. But can they actually replace the combustion of fossil fuels like natural gas, propane or kerosene?

That depends on multiple factors, including the sophistication of the heat pump, the ambient temperatures expected in winter, and whether or not an auxiliary combustion heater will still be needed. If the latter is true, the capital cost of two systems may argue for expenditures to reduce heat loss, rather than replacing the heat source. 

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