When it comes to heating your house, many homeowners don’t know the difference between a furnace and a boiler. They are just happy to have a warm home. It can be easy to forget about the details when your home is cozy and your utility costs are manageable. But, when the time comes to replace or upgrade your heating system, you need to familiarize yourself with the heating options available to you. If you currently have a furnace, replacing it with a heat pump could be a smart choice for your home. Heat pumps are popular systems for areas with mild winters. They are also much cheaper to use than gas or electric furnaces. Heat pumps use far less energy than a furnace and operate like an air conditioner by pulling in heat from one place and putting it into another. These versatile systems are also popular because they heat your home in the winter and cool it off during the summer. In addition to being versatile, heat pumps are also energy efficient.
What Is a Heat Pump?
Heating and cooling units like furnaces, air conditioners, and heat pumps are the large appliances that comprise your HVAC system. Heat pumps can perform both heating and cooling functions, and when they are combined with other heating systems, they can be quite powerful. It’s this type of versatility that makes heat pumps an enticing option for many homeowners. Heat pumps come in many types, so it’s important to know what you need before starting your search. Most heat pumps have a small wall mount indoors and a larger unit outdoors. These systems are called split-ductless systems. Heat pumps can also have a single outdoor unit with subterranean pipes. If you aren’t sure which type of heat pump would best fit your usage needs, it may be in your best interest to work with a heating and cooling service specialist. A professional will be able to gauge your needs and current usage and help you make the right choice for your home.
How Does a Heat Pump Work?
We’ve already discussed that heat pumps pull heat from one place and transfer it to another. How does it do this? A heat pump is comprised of several essential parts that make heat transfer possible. The heat pump has two compressors, a scroll compressor and a two-speed unit. Each compressor serves an important purpose. The two-speed compressor helps the pump achieve your desired temperature, and the scroll compressor warms the air by compressing the refrigerant. The heat pump also has fans to create airflow from the unit to the house. Heat pumps can pull heat from the air or from the ground. The split-ductless system pulls the heat from the air, and the system with subterranean looped piping pulls heat from the ground and moves it throughout a space.
Benefits of Installing a Heat Pump
There are many benefits to installing a heat pump in your home. If your current heater is expensive to operate during the winter months, you could save on utility spending by adding a geothermal heat pump that pulls the heat from the ground because it’s more effective during the winter months.
A heat pump’s effectiveness is determined by several factors specific to each household:
- Purpose of the heat pump
- Energy consumption rate
- Noise level
- Installation and maintenance costs
- Size and footprint
Heat pumps are very common in temperate climates with mild winters. Heat pumps can struggle in frigid climates because it can take more time for them to operate when the temperature outdoors drops below freezing. Pulling heat from the ground or the air becomes more difficult as the air temperature drops. Both air and ground heat pumps will eventually warm your home during a cold winter night, but a ground-source system is the more efficient of the two.
Always call a professional if you are experiencing issues with your heat pump.
It’s important to contact an HVAC professional when you have questions about making changes to your heating and cooling system. An HVAC professional can give you the advice you need to make the right choices for your home. If you’re searching for the most efficient and affordable way to warm your home this winter, then adding a heat pump may be the perfect choice for you. At Blazer Heating, Air, and Plumbing, we are here to help you keep your home safe and comfortable, so call us at (804) 277-2458 or fill out our online contact form to schedule an appointment.