Hanson · Heat Pumps
Thinking about a heat pump for an oil-heated or gas-heated Hanson house? See how National Grid, Mass Save, and town permits fit together, then connect with a local installer.
Hanson, Massachusetts
The first question for many Hanson households isn't whether a heat pump works in winter; it's what to do with the oil system already in the basement. Census estimates show close to a third of occupied homes in town still heat with fuel oil. A heat pump can take over most of the heating and add cooling, with the oil boiler or furnace kept as backup or removed, and Mass Save's offers treat those two paths differently.
Hanson buys its electricity from National Grid rather than a municipal light plant, and National Grid is a Mass Save sponsor. That gives most Hanson owners a clear route to explore heat pump offers, as long as the equipment and installer meet the program's current terms.
We don't install equipment. When you call or send a request, you're connected with an independent heating and cooling contractor who works in Hanson, and you decide whether to hire them.
If a contractor has warned that the boiler or burner is near the end, it's a natural moment to price a heat pump alongside a like-for-like replacement.
A heat pump heats and cools with the same equipment, so a house with no central air gains summer comfort as part of the project.
Propane and resistance heat are among the costlier ways to warm a house, and both are common reasons homeowners look at heat pumps.
An addition, a finished attic, or a room over the garage that the main system misses is a good fit for a heat pump zone.
Local knowledge
Your current fuel, your electric supplier, and the lot your house sits on shape a Hanson heat pump project.
Oil To Heat Pump
Oil-heated homes are a common starting point for heat pump projects. Ask whether the plan keeps the oil system as backup or retires it, because that choice affects rebates, tank removal, and Fire Department permits for any tank work.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS
Electric Company
State utility listings show National Grid (Massachusetts Electric) as Hanson's electric company. National Grid sponsors Mass Save, so its heat pump offers generally apply here; confirm eligibility for your address before you sign.
Source: Mass Save
Community Power
Hanson Community Power, the town's electricity aggregation, launched in June 2024 with prices fixed until December 2026. A heat pump shifts heating costs onto the electric bill, so check the program's terms after that date when you estimate running costs.
Source: Town of Hanson
Room On The Lot
About 78.8 percent of Hanson housing units are one-unit detached homes. That usually leaves options for where the outdoor unit goes, which helps with noise, snow clearance, and a short line set run.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS
Right now
A little homework helps every installer quote the same job.
Oil or propane delivery records and your National Grid bills let an installer estimate your heating load and what the change will do to running costs.
An assessment can flag insulation and air sealing work that lets a smaller heat pump do the job, and it's often a step in the rebate process.
Keeping the oil system as backup and removing it are different projects. If the tank comes out, the Hanson Fire Department handles tank removal permits.
Note your panel's amperage and how many open slots it has. Heat pumps need dedicated circuits, and an older panel may need work first.
What to expect
A careful installer will walk the whole house, measure rooms, and run a heat loss calculation before recommending equipment. In an oil-heated Hanson home, expect a conversation about whether the heat pump should carry the full load or work alongside the existing boiler on the coldest nights.
The electrical hookup needs a permit through the Hanson Building Department at Town Hall on Liberty Street, and the town's wire inspector checks the work. If the project includes removing an underground oil tank, the Fire Department's permit schedule requires an on-site inspection.
On the outside, ask where the unit will sit relative to roof drip lines, prevailing snow, and bedroom windows, and whether it will be raised on a stand or bracket so it stays clear of drifts.
Hire smart
Massachusetts has no single HVAC license. Gas work needs a gas fitter license, oil burner work a Department of Fire Services certificate, ductwork a sheet metal license, and larger refrigeration systems a refrigeration technician license. Most heating and cooling installs need a town permit.
Ask whether the contractor works within Mass Save's heat pump program and who submits the rebate paperwork through your National Grid account.
Use the state occupational license lookup for sheet metal work on ducted systems, and make sure the electrical work is done by an electrician with a Massachusetts license.
Ask each bidder for their heat loss numbers and the equipment's rated output at cold temperatures, then compare them side by side.
The estimate should say what happens to the existing oil, gas, or propane system, including any tank removal and the permit it needs.
Costs
The number of indoor units or zones, whether existing ducts can be reused, electrical panel upgrades, and the size and insulation of the house set most of the price. Removing an oil system and tank adds labor and a fire permit; keeping it as backup avoids that cost but can change which rebates apply.
Ask every contractor for a written estimate that lists equipment models, indoor units, electrical work, permits, any tank removal, and the Mass Save offer they expect. Program terms change, so confirm the current rules before you compare bids.
More help in Hanson
Every page below is written for Hanson homes. Or start from the Hanson hvac guide.
Learning Center
Heating and cooling work in Massachusetts is split across several state licenses. Knowing which one matches your system is the fastest way to tell a qualified contractor from a risky one.
Read the guide
A heat pump proposal is only as good as the design behind it. These questions help you compare quotes, protect your rebate eligibility, and avoid a system that's the wrong size for your house.
Read the guideQuestions
Still not sure? Send a short request and a local pro can answer the specifics.
Yes, many homes run that way, with the heat pump carrying most of the load and the boiler covering the coldest stretches. Ask your installer how the controls will switch between them and how that choice affects Mass Save eligibility.
Hanson's electricity comes from National Grid, which sponsors Mass Save, and the town has no municipal light plant. Offers and requirements change, so confirm them for your address.
It affects the supply portion of your electric bill. The program launched in June 2024 with prices fixed until December 2026, so check the town's page for the terms that apply when you're comparing costs.
The electrical work is permitted through the Building Department and checked by the town's wire inspector. Oil tank removal tied to the project goes through the Fire Department.
Get connected
Share a few details and an independent local HVAC contractor who serves your town can follow up about the job. There’s no charge to use this site, and you decide whether to hire anyone.
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