ORLANDO, Fla. — Ducted air-source heat pumps remain a hot commodity with sales hitting a peak of almost 2.4 million units in 2014. The reason for their popularity, said John Remley, product manager at Nortek Global HVAC, is primarily a result of the volatility in the energy market. “Fluctuating gas prices have helped raise awareness of the benefits of dual-fuel systems. As a result, many markets that traditionally install an air conditioner with a gas furnace are seeing a growing demand for heat pumps with backup heat.”
In 2016, Remley expects local utility rebates to continue to drive heat pumps sales, with more rebates based on HSPF. “This is a trend that may affect future product designs and push sales towards modulating heat pumps,” Remley said.