Heat pump vs furnace vs boiler
Show homeowners heat pump vs furnace vs boiler on 15-year cost
A 15-year cost of ownership comparison adds up installed price, estimated energy cost and maintenance for each system over 15 years. Tradewright builds that comparison for heat pumps, boilers, furnaces, mini-splits and dual-fuel systems from the home's own Manual J load and local energy prices, so homeowners compare whole systems, not sticker prices.
Estimated · $0.21/kWh · $1.70/therm · $3.90/gal · 3%/yr
How the comparison is built
Step 1: Load and equipment
Each option starts from the same Manual J load and a Manual S equipment selection, so every system is sized for the same house.
Step 2: Installed price
Install cost for each option comes from your own price book.
Step 3: Energy and maintenance
Estimated annual energy use is priced with energy rates you can see and change, and maintenance is added for each year.
Step 4: Fifteen-year view
Costs are totalled over 15 years and shown side by side, with options that do not fit the house marked as ruled out, with the reason.
Who it is for
Heat pump contractors
Show the long-run case for a heat pump in numbers the homeowner can check.
Oil and boiler homes
Lay out boiler replacement, oil-to-heat-pump and dual-fuel options in one view.
Comfort advisors
Explain why one system fits better without a whiteboard or a spreadsheet.
Owners and sales managers
Keep every advisor presenting the same, consistent assumptions.
How homeowners usually compare systems, and how Tradewright does it
| Rules of thumb | Load-calc-only tools | Tradewright | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compares whole systems, not just equipment | No | No | Yes |
| Estimated 15-year cost of ownership | No | No | Yes |
| Assumptions visible to the homeowner | No | Some | Yes |
| Shows ruled-out options and why | No | No | Yes |
| Priced from your price book | No | No | Yes |
Columns describe software categories and common practice, not specific vendors.
Questions
What does 15-year cost of ownership include?
Installed price from your price book, estimated energy cost based on the home's load and the energy rates you set, and estimated maintenance, totalled over 15 years for each system.
Which systems can be compared?
Heat pumps, boilers, furnaces, mini-splits and dual-fuel systems, in any combination that fits the house.
Are the savings guaranteed?
Savings and costs are estimates based on the assumptions shown. They are not guaranteed.
Why show options that were ruled out?
Homeowners often ask about a system they read about. Showing that it was considered and why it does not fit the house builds trust and saves a second conversation.
Can I change the energy prices?
Yes. Energy rates are visible inputs, so you can use local utility and fuel prices and the homeowner can see what was assumed.
Is this the same as the free heat pump vs furnace calculator?
The free calculator gives a quick estimate from a few inputs. In Tradewright the comparison uses the home's room-by-room Manual J load, real equipment and your price book.
See a heat pump, boiler and furnace compared on a real home.
A 20-minute demo on a real home in your territory.