Heat Pump | Homeowners and commercial property owners can save money by using an energy-efficient, dual-purpose HVAC system that cools in summer and warms in winter. A Heat Pump is a vapor compression refrigeration system with optimized refrigerant flow and reversing valves that can be used to supply heating or cooling for a controlled space. Heat pumps move heat rather than generating it, which makes them up to 3-5 times more energy efficient than gas furnaces and electric air conditioning systems.
A heat pump extracts available outdoor heat and transfers it inside to keep a house or office comfortable in both hot and cold weather. It can also be combined with a gas or oil furnace in cold climates to provide full heating capability for most of the year.
A typical heat pump system consists of two main components, an outdoor unit that looks like the outdoor unit of a split-system air conditioner and an indoor air handler unit. The outdoor unit contains a coil that operates as a condenser (in cooling mode) or an evaporator (in heating mode). A fan blows air over the coil to facilitate the heat transfer. The indoor air handler contains a second set of coils. A fan carries the cooled air over these coils to cool it and then distributes the conditioned air through a house or office.
In winter, the reversing valve switches the direction of refrigerant flow to run in reverse. The refrigerant in the indoor air handler — which also acts as an evaporator and condenser in the cooling cycle — absorbs heat from the air in your home, transferring it to the vapor state. The vapor is then carried back to the outdoor unit and evaporated again, where it picks up more thermal energy from the air in your surroundings, such as the ground or nearby buildings. This cycle continues until the heat pump system senses that it has sufficient heat in the environment.
Air-source heat pumps can be installed in homes with or without existing ductwork. They are also available as ductless mini-split systems, which can be used to replace electric baseboard heaters or in new construction.
The size of a heat pump you need depends on your local climate and the energy efficiency ratings you prefer. Most manufacturers offer heat pumps with SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) and HSPF (Heating Seasonal Performance Factor) ratings, which can help you choose the best model for your needs.
If you want to maximize the efficiency of your heat pump, it is important to ensure that it is properly sized and insulated for your home. We recommend that you get a professional home energy assessment before installing your heat pump to determine the optimal size and power output for your system.
Heat pumps require minimal maintenance, but they should be kept clean and free of debris to optimize performance. We also recommend regular filter changes and a professional inspection twice a year to prevent any potential problems from developing. Homeowners and business owners may be eligible for federal tax credits for the installation of certain equipment and energy efficiency upgrades, including heat pumps. The credit currently covers 30 percent of the cost and resets each year.