How Does a Heat Pump Boost the Energy-Efficiency of Your Home?
Heat Pumps are starting to become very popular with Midwestern homeowners. There are several benefits to installing these systems in your home. Under the right conditions, heat pumps are more efficient than those traditional heating systems. Here are a few things you’ll want to know about these heating and cooling units.
Energy-Efficient Heating and Cooling System
If you live in a climate with mild winters and summers, you might want to use a heat pump as an alternative to air conditioners and furnaces. A heat pump uses electricity to move the heat from your cool spaces to those warmer areas. In turn, all your cool spaces will stay colder as those warmer areas retain the heat. In the winter, the heat pump will move the heat from the outside into your home. Unlike those traditional heating and cooling systems, heat pumps aren’t creating warm or cool air. They move the heat into your home. Heat pumps are a great way to heat specific areas of your home without using large amounts of energy. For those homeowners who want an energy-efficient system, this is a perfect choice. When compared to conventional cooling or heating system operation costs, these systems use one-quarter of the energy.
Types of Heat Pumps
For those who want to install a heat pump, there are three different types of systems. Geothermal, water-source, and air-to-air are the most popular choices. These heat pumps will collect heat from the ground, water, or air. Once the heat is obtained, the pump will move it to those areas around your home.
The air-source heat pump is the most common type of system. This heat pump will transfer the heat between the outside air and your home. Compared to electric heaters and furnaces, these air-to-air heat pumps can reduce your electricity costs by 50%. These high-efficiency heat pumps also do a better job of dehumidifying your home than a central air conditioner. As a result, these heat pumps will use less energy than a cooling system as they provide more comfort in those hot summer months.
You can find these air-source heat pumps throughout the United States, but they weren’t common in those climates with subfreezing temperatures. In recent years, there have been many technological advances, and you can find now these systems providing heating to homes in cold weather climates.
If you have a home without a duct system, there are ways to use heat pump technology. Some air-source heat pumps are available in a ductless version known as a mini-split heat pump. You might also want to install a special air-source heat pump called a reverse cycle chiller. This heat pump type can generate cold and hot water instead of air, and it’s used in homes with radiant floor heating.
Geothermal heat pumps are also known as water-source or ground-source systems. These heat pumps can achieve higher energy efficiency by transferring the heat between the ground and your home. A geothermal heat pump will cost more to install, but it has lower operating costs than a traditional heating or cooling system. These pumps take advantage of the constant water and ground temperatures.
The ground-source heat pumps have more advantages than a water-source unit. These heat pumps will reduce your energy usage by 30% to 60%. They can also control your home’s humidity, and they’re designed to be installed in any type of home. If you’re wondering whether a geothermal heat pump is an excellent choice for your home, it’ll depend on several factors, such as the landscape, subsoil, and size of your property. Air-source and ground-source heat pumps are often found in more extreme environments than those using air-source units.
Another type of heat pump is known as an absorption heat pump. This newer type of heat pump might be called a gas-filled heat pump. These systems use ground heat as their prime energy source, and they can provide energy-efficient heating to your home.
Energy-Efficient Features for Your Heat Pump
If you’re looking for the right heat pump for your home, there are several energy-efficient advances you might want for your system. For those who want more energy efficiency, you should choose a two-speed compressor. These compressors allow the heat pump to close the cooling or heating capacity at any time. With this process, you can save on electrical energy and reduce the wear on your compressor. Two-speed compressors will work well with zone control systems. You’ll often find a zone control system in those larger homes. With this system, the automatic dampers allow the heat pumps to keep rooms at different temperatures.
There are some models of heat pumps that come equipped with dual-speed motors for their outdoor and indoor fans. These variable controls will allow the fans to keep the air moving to minimize cool drafts and maximum your electrical savings. With these controls, you can also reduce the noise coming from the blower.
Many of the high-efficiency heat pumps are also equipped with a desuperheater. This component can recover the wasted heat from your heat pump’s cooling mode. It’ll convert the heat into energy to warm your home’s water. A heat pump equipped with a desuperheater can heat water about two to three times more efficiently than an electric water heater.
If you want to choose another energy-efficient heat pump, you may want to look at a scroll compressor model. These heat pumps have two spiral-shaped scrolls. The one scroll will remain stationary as the other orbits around it. During the process, the heat pump will compress the refrigerant by forcing it into a small area. When you compare these spiral coils to piston compressors, these models have a longer working life. Heat pumps with scroll compressors provide you with warmer air than those pumps with piston compressors.
Most heat pumps will use electric resistance heat as a backup during those colder months. However, you can equip your pump with a burner for that supplemental heat. These backup burners will help you get additional heat as you reduce the need for electricity. There are a couple of heat pump manufacturers that can incorporate other heat sources in one unit. You might find a heat pump that can use natural gas, oil, or propane as an alternative heat source. When you compare this heat pump with those standard heat pumps, you’ll see incredible energy savings.
We’re the Home Comfort Experts
If you’re looking for one of the best HVAC companies in Kansas City, then make a call to Summit Heating & AC. Since 1998, we’ve been providing the local community with outstanding heating and cooling services. Our NATE-certified technicians continue to receive training and education on the latest industry standards. You can count on us for reasonable pricing on all services.
In addition to heating and cooling, we can help with any air quality issues. Our team can also install water heaters and heat pumps in your home. When you’re ready to find an alternative system for your home comfort needs, call Summit Heating & AC today! We look forward to serving all of your indoor climate comfort and home enjoyment needs.
