Great alternative to air conditioner and furnace
Heat pumps are widely used throughout the southern United States as a way to keep homes comfortable year round. The term heat pump is a general name used to refer to many HVAC (heating, ventilating, and air conditioning) devices homeowners rely on for heating or cooling. If you currently have a heat pump or are considering installing one, you might have a few questions about how they work.
Answers to Your Frequently Asked Questions About Heat Pumps:
How Does A Heat Pump Cool My House? When used in their heating modes, the heat pump has a coil outdoor to serve as an evaporator and a coil indoor to function as the condenser. The refrigerant flowing from the outdoor coil carries the thermal energy from outside to the inside of your home. The indoor coil then transfers thermal energy, and it is then moved around the inside of your home with an air handler.
What Types of Heat Pumps Are There? There are three types of heat pumps including the air-to-air heat pump, the water source heat pump and the geothermal heat pump. The most commonly used heat pump is the air-source heat pump, which transfers heat between your house and the outside air.
How Can I Keep My Heat Pump in Top Shape? Heat pumps are used throughout the southern states. Because heat pumps typically don’t get a seasonal break the way a furnace/air conditioner combo does, proper maintenance is key to keeping them running at their best all year round. Be sure to clean or change filters once a month or as needed and maintain the system according to manufacturer’s instructions.
You can routinely check the coils and fans looking for reduced airflow through the system, keep your system clear from vegetation and clutter on the outside as well as clean the supply and return registers in your home.
Additionally, you should also have a professional HVAC technician service your heat pump at least every year. The simplest thing to do is join a Maintenance Plan from a trusted HVAC provider like Air-Specialty in Greater Mobile, Alabama.
What Are the Pros and Cons of Using a Heat Pump? There are many cost-saving pros to choosing a heat pump for your home’s heating and cooling needs and topping the list is cost savings. Heat pumps can reduce your electricity use for heating by approximately 50 percent as well as results in less energy usage and more cooling comfort in summer months.
The cons of using a heat pump are often outweighed by the advantages. However, the initial purchase price can be a deterrent to homeowners on a tight budget. This is often solved through financing options, and savings on energy bills balance out the initial cost. Additionally, installation requires technical expertise, so it is imperative it is performed by an experienced HVAC service provider.
For more than 25 years Air-Specialty has specialized in helping homeowners with all aspects of their HVAC needs, including heat pumps. We can help you understand whether a heat pump is a good choice for your home as well as help you maintain and optimize the heat pump you already have. We have a team of NATE-certified technicians with the know-how to help you keep your home cool all summer.
License # 84408