Warmth pumps will help you decrease your environmental footprint.
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Owners in search of an energy-efficient resolution to to conventional furnaces and air conditioners could also be inquisitive about a warmth pump — a sort of heating and cooling system that may provide help to get monetary savings whereas additionally minimizing your environmental footprint amid the local weather disaster.
Warmth pumps do not burn fossil fuels, and for these residing in milder areas, they might be an awesome resolution in your heating and cooling wants. This is all the things you need to learn about how warmth pumps work, the completely different varieties of warmth pumps out there and the place to purchase them, and the way to service these energy-saving machines.
Table of Contents
How do warmth pumps work?
A warmth pump is a sort of house heating and cooling system that makes use of sources like water and air to control the temperature. It is like an air conditioner, nevertheless it has a built-in heating system, too. Warmth pumps are put in exterior your house.
Utilizing electrical energy and refrigerant, a warmth pump is ready to flip chilly air into sizzling air through the winter, and sizzling air into chilly air through the summer season. It does this by redistributing the warmth within the air or floor, and heating it or cooling it with refrigerant as wanted.
The usual warmth pump has a number of components:
- Out of doors unit: Geared up with a coil that powers evaporation in heating mode and condensation in cooling mode.
- Indoor unit: Contains each a coil and fan to flow into air all through your house.
- Refrigerant: A kind of fluid wanted to soak up and launch warmth as essential to hold the system operating.
- Compressor: A pressurizing agent to organize the refrigerant to be used.
- Reversing valve: Controls the course of the refrigerant in your system, permitting you to modify between heating and cooling modes.
- Growth valve: Controls the motion of refrigerant within the warmth pump.
The Division of Vitality reviews {that a} warmth pump can prevent roughly 50% in electrical prices, in comparison with electrical resistance heating programs, like furnaces and baseboard heaters.
Several types of warmth pumps
Warmth pumps are extra environmentally pleasant as a result of they’re powered by pure components, like air, water and earth. There are three several types of warmth pump programs: air-to-air, water-sourced and geothermal.
Air supply
An air supply warmth pump system makes use of the air exterior your house to switch warmth inside. These are notably notable for dehumidifying areas, extra so than conventional central air-con programs, which may additionally save on power and cooling prices.
Air supply warmth pumps are a preferred possibility thoughout the US right now. Although these warmth pumps had been beforehand not an possibility for colder climates, the know-how has advanced considerably in recent times, and plenty of programs are actually in a position to sustain with the added calls for of a Northern winter. If your house doesn’t have any ducts, there’s a ductless warmth pump possibility generally known as a mini-split warmth pump as properly.
Water supply
As an alternative of utilizing an outside fan and coil, a water supply warmth pump system makes use of a warmth exchanger. These programs nonetheless use refrigerant, turning water into fuel after which into water. With an ongoing circulation of water, the system makes use of a loop system to both cool or boil as wanted to create the optimum temperature in your house.
Floor supply
Floor supply programs, often known as geothermal warmth pump programs, use both a floor or water supply for energy, transferring warmth to your house. They will cut back your power use by as much as 60% with added humidity controls, and provide a versatile format that works throughout a wide range of completely different houses primarily based on issues like your property’s subsoil and panorama.
Floor supply programs are a dearer possibility to purchase upfront, however have vital financial savings in power prices long run.
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Where to buy a heat pump
You can buy a heat pump from a major retailer or through a professional installer.
Heat pumps are available from retailers like these:
- Home Depot
- Lowe’s
- Walmart
- Sears
- Tractor Supply
Pricing may vary, so it is always a good idea to shop multiple retailers to find the best deal for your new heat pump.
How to install a heat pump
Once you purchase your new heat pump, it comes time for installation. A heat pump comes with several parts that require exact precision during installation. Handling refrigerant can also be unsafe for the average homeowner.
Don’t worry — you have several options for professional installation. Most retailers offer installation for your purchase at an additional cost, although this may be contracted out to a third-party provider.
You also have the option to hire an independent installation company. If you choose to hire someone for installation, be sure to find a licensed professional for the job. You can find a local installer by checking local ratings and reading reviews from past customers on sites like Google and Yelp.
How to maintain a heat pump
Although energy-efficient, heat pumps still require maintenance to ensure proper function. Here are some basic ways to maintain your heat pump for extended use:
- Clean filters regularly, changing as needed.
- Occasionally clean outdoor coils.
- Perform basic maintenance, according to your manufacturer’s instructions.
- Remove items from around your system so it can function properly.
- Power down the fan to clean as needed.
Many professional HVAC companies offer one-time or regular maintenance packages to assist with your heat pump.
Be warned: A poorly maintained heat pump could cost you. According to the Department of Energy, if you don’t keep up with your pump’s working needs, it could cost up to 25% more in energy costs, so it is important to make sure that your heat pump is always in top working order.
Heat pump warranties
When you buy a new heat pump, most models come with a warranty.
Heat pump warranties
| Manufacturer | Warranty types |
|---|---|
| Amana | • Lifetime limited warranty with free replacement for compressor failure |
| American Standard | • Base limited manufacturer’s warranty • Registered limited manufacturer’s warranty • Registered limited warranty transfer option • Optional extended warranty |
| Carrier | • Limited warranty |
| Lennox | • Basic • Extended limited warranty |
| Luxaire | • 10-year parts limited warranty • Lifetime compressor limited warranty • Extended labor warranties • Extended warranties |
| TempStar | • Standard • No Hassle Replacement limited warranty |
| Trane | • Limited • Optional extended warranty |
| York | • Standard • Extended warranty with factory-backed service |
Ask your retailer or dealer about what warranty options exist for your heat pump so you can be sure your family is protected, no matter what.
Final takeaways
As the world continues to witness the growing effects of climate change, it has brought renewed attention to the reduction of harmful emissions in the US. Heat pumps are one way to reduce dangerous fossil fuels while also lowering energy costs. Improved technology today has even made it possible for homeowners in more extreme climates to enjoy the cost savings and environmental benefits that heat pumps have to offer. It’s just a matter of which one is right for you.