Are you in the market for a new heating system to keep your home comfortable this winter? If so, you have a lot of options available to choose from. Each heating system type is suited to a different set of individual circumstances. That’s why you should carefully consider the benefits of each type before you make a decision on which one to install in your home. Have a look at how a heat pump operates, and what it can do for you if you install one this winter.
Heat Pump Operation
At first glance, it seems like a heat pump is a lot closer to an air conditioner than a heater. The system doesn’t combust fuel to generate heat, instead using refrigerant to move heat from one place to another. In the traditional split configuration, one half of the unit is installed inside and one is installed outside. The two units evaporate and condense refrigerant to collect thermal energy and vent it somewhere else. The main difference between a heat pump and an air conditioner, though, is that a heat pump can change the direction that refrigerant flows through it. This enables it to switch back and forth between heating and cooling functions, depending on the needs of the homeowner. In heating mode, the outdoor unit evaporates refrigerant to absorb heat, and the indoor unit condenses the refrigerant gas to vent the collected heat inside.
Advantages Heat Pumps can Offer
The single biggest advantage is derived from the system’s ability to offer both heating and cooling functions. Why spend the money and space on two separate climate control systems when you can just install one and use it the entire year-round? This means that the system needs more maintenance, of course. It accumulates wear and tear twice as fast, so it needs maintenance twice a year to stay in good shape. Still, the amount of money you save on heating and cooling costs will more than make up for it.
Heat pumps, in some cases, are quite a bit more energy efficient than traditional heating systems. Not having to burn fuel means that you don’t have to spend money on natural gas on top of the electricity required to run the system every month. The system will lose efficiency slightly during very cold weather, when the amount of thermal energy in the air is not as abundant. However, this should not adversely affect its ability to heat your home in general.
Ultimately, people install heat pumps because they’re convenient, good for the environment, and save a lot of money on operating costs in the long run. Within a couple of years of installation, the heat pump should pay for itself in terms of savings. So, if you’re looking to save money on climate control without sacrificing output, a heat pump is a great way to do it.
Area Heating & Cooling, Inc. provides comprehensive heat pump installation services in Vancouver, WA. If you need a heat pump installed in your home, contact us today to schedule an appointment with one of our experts.
