Do Heat Pumps and Solar Panels Work Well Together?
Yes, a heat pump and solar panels are one of the most effective combinations in home energy, because a heat pump can deliver 2 to 4 units of heat for every 1 unit of electricity it uses, and solar can generate the electricity that powers it for free during the day.
A heat pump is an electric appliance. It heats your home using electricity rather than burning gas or oil. When you combine a heat pump with solar panels, your solar system can offset much or all of the electricity the heat pump consumes, turning what was a gas bill into solar-generated heat.
- Heat pumps are dramatically more efficient than electric resistance heating, they deliver 2-4 units of heat energy for every unit of electricity consumed
- Solar panels generate free electricity during daylight hours, which can directly power the heat pump or offset its consumption through net metering
- Together, they can eliminate both your electricity bill and your gas bill
How Does a Heat Pump Actually Heat a House?
A heat pump doesn't generate heat. It moves it, using roughly 1 kWh of electricity to deliver 3 to 4 kWh of heat energy into your home. In heating mode, it extracts heat energy from outside air (even cold air contains heat energy) and moves it inside. In cooling mode, it works like a conventional air conditioner, removing heat from inside and releasing it outside.
The efficiency advantage: an electric resistance heater converts 1 kWh of electricity to exactly 1 kWh of heat, no better. A gas furnace converts fuel to heat with losses. Heat pumps win on efficiency.
Do Heat Pumps Still Work in Illinois Winters?
Yes, modern cold-climate heat pumps are rated to operate efficiently down to 0°F or below, which covers the large majority of an Illinois heating season. Standard heat pumps from previous generations lost efficiency rapidly in cold weather and often couldn't operate below about 25°F, relying on backup electric resistance heat in very cold conditions.
For Illinois winters, which regularly produce temperatures below 0°F in January and February, a cold-climate rated heat pump with a backup heat source (either electric strip or dual-fuel with a gas furnace) is the appropriate configuration. SPM evaluates each home's heating profile before recommending a heat pump system.
ComEd has offered rebates on qualifying cold-climate heat pumps through its Energy Efficiency Program. Rebate availability and amounts change, verify current offerings directly with ComEd before budgeting.
Does Adding a Heat Pump Mean I Need More Solar Panels?
Usually yes: a heat pump adds electrical load, so the solar system needs to be sized larger to fully offset it, typically enough additional panels to cover the heat pump's annual kWh consumption on top of your existing usage. But the overall financial picture is still often favorable because:
- You're eliminating your gas bill (or most of it)
- The heat pump's electricity consumption is more efficient than the gas it replaces
- Solar can offset the added electrical load, so your net energy cost can still go down significantly
The key is to size the solar system to account for the heat pump's added electrical load from the beginning, not to install solar first (sized for your current electric-only usage) and then add a heat pump later, which would leave the solar undersized.
SPM evaluates the heat pump and solar system together when both are being considered, so the solar sizing reflects the home's actual post-conversion electrical profile.
Can a Heat Pump and Solar Actually Eliminate My Gas Bill?
In many cases, yes: for a home currently using natural gas for heating, replacing it with a solar-powered heat pump can bring the gas bill to zero and the net electric bill close to zero at the same time. The economic case looks like this:
- Gas bill: eliminated or greatly reduced
- Electric bill: increases due to heat pump consumption
- Solar offsets the increased electric bill: net electric cost approaches zero
- Net result: both heating and electricity costs are greatly reduced or eliminated
The specific numbers depend on your current gas usage, heat pump efficiency rating (COP), your solar system size, local electricity rates, and net metering terms. SPM models this for your specific home before recommending a combined system.
What Order Should I Install a Heat Pump and Solar In?
For homeowners planning both, the right sequence is to assess efficiency first, then size solar around the home's final electrical load, not the other way around:
- Assess the home's efficiency profile first, windows, insulation, envelope
- Determine whether the existing HVAC needs replacement (or whether the heat pump replaces an aging system)
- Size the solar system to cover the home's total post-heat-pump electrical load
- Install both in a coordinated sequence, or in a phased plan that accounts for the solar sizing implications
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a heat pump work as well as a gas furnace in an Illinois winter?
A modern cold-climate heat pump with appropriate backup heat is an effective heating solution for Illinois. At very low temperatures (below 0°F), most heat pumps reduce efficiency and rely more on backup heat. For the majority of Illinois heating days, the heat pump operates efficiently. The backup heat source handles the coldest days. The overall heating season performance is typically very good.
Will solar still produce enough power in an Illinois winter to run a heat pump?
Illinois solar production is meaningfully lower in December and January than in June, since panels generate less on shorter days with a lower sun angle. A system sized for the home's full annual load, including the heat pump, is designed around that seasonal swing and net metering, not single-day output. SPM sizes systems using your home's full 12-month usage profile, not just peak summer months.
How much can a heat pump and solar lower my ComEd bill?
The exact number depends on your current gas and electric usage, heat pump efficiency, and solar system size, since the heat pump moves heating cost onto electricity and solar offsets most of that electricity. SPM provides a specific savings projection for your home as part of a free assessment.
Should I replace my HVAC with a heat pump before going solar?
If your HVAC system is approaching end of life (typically 15-20 years for a furnace or AC), replacing it with a heat pump before sizing solar is the right sequence, it lets the solar system be sized for the post-conversion electrical load. If your HVAC is newer and functioning well, you may want to defer the heat pump and size solar for your current load.
What about gas backup with a heat pump?
A dual-fuel system pairs a heat pump with a gas furnace as backup. The heat pump handles most heating (efficiently), and the gas furnace kicks in during the coldest days when the heat pump's efficiency declines. This configuration reduces gas usage significantly without requiring full gas elimination, and may be appropriate for homes with very cold microclimates or where full gas service elimination isn't practical.
What brands does SPM install for heat pumps?
Contact SPM for current equipment recommendations. We select equipment based on your home's specific load, layout, and climate requirements.
Does going heat pump plus solar still pay for itself as fast as solar alone?
Most SPM solar systems pay for themselves in 7 to 10 years once Illinois Shines SREC income and $0 down financing are factored in. Adding a heat pump changes the math (more electric load for solar to offset, but a gas bill eliminated), so SPM models the combined payback for your specific home rather than applying the solar-only average to a heat pump project.
Can a battery keep my heat pump running during a ComEd outage?
A single battery (10 to 13 kWh) typically covers essential loads like lights, the refrigerator, and outlets for 10 to 24 hours, but a heat pump draws significantly more power than those essentials, so keeping it running through an outage usually calls for a larger battery bank sized to your specific heat pump's draw. SPM sizes battery backup around your full electrical load, heat pump included, when backup is part of the plan.
Interested in evaluating heat pumps and solar together for your home? Learn about SPM's heat pump service or get a free whole-home energy assessment.