Fuel-switch calculator · Oil

Oil to heat pump
savings calculator.

Heating with oil averages $4.00–$5.00 per gallon — the most expensive common heating fuel in the Northeast. Mini-split heat pumps often cut that in half. Enter your ZIP, home size, and last year's oil bill to see a calibrated estimate.

01.

Why oil → heat pump usually wins

An 80% AFUE oil furnace delivers ~115,000 BTU per gallon of usable heat. A cold-climate mini-split at HSPF2 10 delivers the same BTUs for a fraction of the fuel cost — most Northeast homes save 40–60% on heating.

02.

Cold-climate performance matters

Not all mini-splits hold capacity below 5°F. The NEEP Cold Climate Heat Pump list rates units at 47°F / 17°F / 5°F. For a furnace-replacement, look for a unit rated at 100% capacity at 5°F or colder.

03.

Payback + rebates

Mass Save, Efficiency Maine, NYSERDA, and most New England utilities stack 5-figure rebates for oil-to-heat-pump conversions. Federal 25C was repealed for 2026, but state programs are often larger anyway.

Step 01

Where is your home?

ZIP Code

We pull your local climate and electricity rate automatically.

Step 02

Your space

Square feet

Whole home, or the single room you're conditioning.

Step 03

Your current heating / cooling

Pick how your home is heated and cooled today. We'll show you which efficiency numbers to enter.

Current system

System type

Furnace AFUE (%)

On the nameplate or manual. Pre-2000 furnaces: ~78–82%. Modern high-efficiency: 90–98%.

Do you also have central AC?

Central AC SEER2

▾

Pre-2023 units report plain SEER — subtract about 1 to approximate SEER2 (e.g., a SEER 16 unit is ~SEER2 15).

Step 04

The new mini-split

Pick the efficiency ratings of the unit you're considering.

New mini-split

SEER2 (cooling)

▾

Typical DIY range: 18–28. Most popular units sell around 22.

HSPF2 (heating)

▾

Typical range: 8–11. Cold-climate units reach 10+.

Step 05

Calibrate with your utility bill — optional

Last 12 months of HVAC spending. When provided, we scale our estimate so it matches your actual spend — the single biggest accuracy boost per NREL ResStock.

Estimated annual HVAC cost ($)

Rough number is fine — skip if unsure. We'll use our model's estimate as a fallback.

1,500 sqft · 1 current system · 1 mini-split

Questions we get

Can a mini-split really replace my whole oil heating system?: In climate zones 1–5 (most of the US), yes — a properly sized cold-climate mini-split handles 100% of heating load even on the coldest days. In zones 6–8 (northern Maine, upper Michigan, Minnesota), many homeowners keep the oil boiler as backup for the 10–20 coldest days per year.
How do I size a mini-split to replace my oil furnace?: Rule of thumb: ~20 BTU per conditioned square foot in moderate climates, 25–30 BTU in cold climates. A 1,500 sqft home in Boston typically needs a 30–36K BTU system (one or two heads). Don't size off your oil furnace's nameplate — oil furnaces are routinely 2–3× oversized.
What does installation cost?: Single-head DIY mini-splits run $1,800–$3,500 installed. Professional multi-zone systems are $4,000–$7,000 per head including labor. Full-home conversions of 3–5 heads typically total $15,000–$28,000 before rebates.
Will my electric bill spike?: Yes — heat pumps move your heating load from your oil bill to your electric bill. The total typically drops, but the electric bill goes up ~$100–$200/mo during heating season. Budget for it.