Heat Pump Makers Woo Contractors in Effort to Spur US Sales

When Miranda Sherman’s gas furnace suddenly died during a recent cold snap, she did what most Americans would do: She searched for “furnace won’t ignite” on Google, realized the machine was beyond repair and started calling contractors first thing in the morning.

Over the next few days, Sherman, a marketing executive in Beltsville, Maryland, took estimates from three local contractors. All three pitched her on a range of gas furnace replacements, costing between $9,000 and $12,000. But no one offered a heat pump, even though those devices have been around for decades, reduce homeowners’ utility bills, save carbon from being released ...