What is a Heat Pump, and is it Right for Me?

Heat Pump

What is a Heat Pump And How Does it Work?

Heat pumps are simply central air conditioners that provide cooling in the summer and heating in the winter.  During the winter months they literally run in reverse to heat your home. A heat pump can be one of the most efficient methods to heat and cool your home, and a good choice for a number of reasons. Understanding heat pumps can be achieved by recognizing their role in efficiently transferring heat from one location to another.

What Size Heat Pump Do I need?

Determining the right size of heat pump for your needs is crucial for optimal performance and energy efficiency. Factors such as the square footage of your space, insulation levels, climate, and specific heating and cooling requirements must be considered. A professional HVAC contractor can conduct a load calculation to accurately determine the appropriate heat pump size for your home. Oversized or undersized units can lead to inefficiency, discomfort, and increased energy costs. Trust the expertise of a qualified professional to ensure your heat pump is properly sized, providing you with the ideal balance of comfort and efficiency.

Heat Pump Benefits

  • By having one system that provides heating and cooling you can save on upfront equipment costs by not purchasing a furnace. (Check out our Heat Pump Rebate finder tool and see if you qualify. Also learn about heat pump tax credits.)
  • Combining the mechanical efficiency with off-peak seasonal electricity rates in the winter months means lower energy costs for heating.
  • Because heat pumps use electricity efficiently rather than burning fossil fuels, they are generally cleaner and less harmful to the environment.

Heat Pump Caution

While heat pump technology is becoming more and more efficient at heating and cooling, there are still circumstances where a furnace or secondary heat source will be necessary.  In areas of the country that routinely get below 15°F for extended periods of time it might be beneficial to use the heat pump with an auxiliary heating solution such as a conventional gas furnace.  Ask your contractor about the latest high efficiency heat pumps and duel fuel systems available for your region of the country.

Using a heat pump air conditioner that does both heating and cooling can provide a low cost, high efficiency and environmentally-friendly solution for your comfort needs all year long. Learn how you can maximize your heat pump efficiency.

Do you know anyone that has recently installed a heat pump? Let us know if you’re considering one!

 

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41 thoughts on “What is a Heat Pump, and is it Right for Me?

  1. The main advantage of a heat pump is energy efficiency. Heat pumps extract heat from the air and move it, efficiently creating a comfortable space regardless of the outdoor temperature. In the summer, a heat pump acts just like an air conditioner and has similar energy output and efficiency based on the model you choose. During the winter, it reverses to pull heat from the air outside and move it inside.

  2. The main advantage of a heat pump is energy efficiency. Heat pumps extract heat from the air and move it, efficiently creating a comfortable space regardless of the outdoor temperature.

  3. Is a heat pump/electric furnace a good choice for the Missouri area, rather than an air-conditioner/furnace setup?

  4. I’m interested in buying a home that has a heat pump. I know nothing about them. I live in Rhode Island. Should I buy a home with a heat pump or go with oil or s natural gas system ??

  5. I am in Nebraska and have three water source heat pumps. On a 4000 square ft house the monthly electric bill is rarely over 150 dollars. A member of the family insists on augmenting his area with an electric space heater. What is the efficiency of the water source heat pump relative to an electric space heater?

    • The water source heat pump will typically be much more efficient than a resistance heater. However, if the resistance heater is only used for a small space for spot heating, the total increase in energy usage might be small. It might depend more on how much you plan to use the resistance heater.

  6. I need specific information and nobody provides it.
    I need to find the make and model of the ductless heat pump that is most efficient at 15 degrees “F”.
    In western Washington it seldom gets lower than that overnight (usually mid- 20s) and usually is back above 30 in the day time.
    I’m looking for reliability and low temp capability.

    • Hi Dennis,

      Unfortunately we cannot recommend or comment on specific makes and models. We would suggest that you contact a qualified contractor to discuss equipment sizing, types and efficiency levels. The ACCA – which is a national contractor organization has a contractor locator tool which may also help you find a qualified contractor in your area.

      Here’s the link: http://www.acca.org/locator

  7. I have air/heat pump, the air will not come on is it something I need to do so the air will come on. set the t-stat on what?

    • Hi Janice – Here are a few suggestions. Make sure the fan switch or button on your thermostat is set to “auto” (fan comes on when the AC comes on) and the “cool” button should be selected, or switched from “heat” to “cool”. Then you can drop the thermostat room temperature set point to at least 5 degrees lower than the actual space temperature. Cool air should be coming out of your system after a few minutes. If the fan does not come on or if the air coming out is not cool then you might have other problems which might require an HVAC contractor to help diagnose.

  8. Can a heat pump be installed in a fully finished home that does not have an existing heat pump, central air or a furnace, only electric baseboard.

    • Yes. You can install a heat pump. There are several ways to do this. One is to install a central AC system for your whole home or part of it but you would have to install ductwork as well. There are ways to do this in existing homes without existing ductwork but you might have to call a few different contractors before you find one that comes up with a good, low cost way to get the ductwork installed. Another way is to use a ductless mini-split Heat pump. A third way would be to use a central ducted heat pump for part of your house and some small ductless minisplits for parts of your home that are difficult to install ductwork. In addition to heating you will get air conditioning in the summer with either hear pump system. One other suggestion is to leave your baseboard heat there along with the new heat pump to help your overall system to keep up on the coldest periods. Depending on where you are and how cold it gets you might want to use both for a while until you are sure you don’t need the baseboard heaters anymore. A good contractor can advise you about all these options. Good luck!

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