If you live in an area with relatively moderate winters, you have a number of practical options to consider for your home heating system. Top among these options is the heat pump, a device that draws heat from other sources instead of generating it internally like a furnace.
Discover everything you need to know when it comes to using a heat pump for your home heating including features and benefits.
Features And Benefits To Consider When Deciding On A Heat Pump
Here are some of the key points to consider when determining the suitability of a heat pump for your heating needs.
Furnaces vs. Heat Pumps
Furnaces are direct heat generation devices. When you turn them on, they burn a fuel source (most often natural gas or propane) or run electricity to an internal component called a heating element.
In contrast, heat pumps are heat transfer devices. When you turn them on, they pull heat from a nearby location and transfer that heat to your home’s interior with the help of a blower. Most heat pumps extract the heat they use from the outside air. This may sound counterintuitive, but it works quite well unless you live in a region with truly frigid winters. A heat pump may also extract heat from a geothermal source such as the ground or any nearby body of water.
Ducted vs. Ductless Heat Pumps
In most cases, heat pumps transfer heat to your household’s interior through a connected network of ducts, which run through unfinished indoor space to room openings called registers.
However, a specific type of heat pump, called a ductless mini-split heat pump, does not rely on a ducting network. Instead, houses with this type of device have small, individual heating units installed in various rooms. Tubes called conduits run from these units directly to the outside of the home before meeting up at the heat pump. As a rule, ductless units rely on outside air as their heat transfer source.
Features That Improve Heating Performance
Some heat pumps are designed with features that significantly improve their efficiency or other aspects of their overall performance. Examples of these desirable features include blowers that can run at two or more speeds, the ability to adjust the heat pump’s heating capacity as needed, and backup burners that can keep the incoming air at an acceptable temperature during cold snaps. A ductless mini-split heat pump also lets you improve efficiency and performance by setting up separately controlled temperature zones inside your home.
The Potential For Energy Savings
Since heat pumps don’t generate their own heat, they can potentially save you a lot of money in energy costs. In fact, in a best case scenario, you can save up to 75 percent on your heating bills if you rely on a heat pump instead of a traditional furnace or electric furnace.
Heat pumps can also save you money because they typically operate more efficiently than furnaces. Compared to an electric furnace, use of a heat pump can shave a third or more from your monthly operating costs.
Still Unsure Of What Type Of Heating System You Should Get For Your Home?
If you’re still not sure which heater is best for you and your family, call the experts at Bruce’s Air Conditioning & Heating. Our experienced technicians can help you choose the best unit for your needs.
Call For A Free Estimate On A New Unit Today!
