Perhaps you’ve heard your friends and neighbors mentioning their heat pumps in recent years. Maybe you’ve wondered what the big deal is, but haven’t asked, or they haven’t explained it very well. But now that you’re thinking about how much longer your air conditioner will last, and whether it’s time to think about having it replaced, you’ve got some questions about heat pumps.
Are heat pumps a new-fangled technology that’s just a passing fad? Are they more complicated, harder to use, or more likely to need repair than an AC unit? Is a heat pump actually an upgrade from an air conditioner, or just different, and not really better? We’ve got the information you need. If you have any questions about your home comfort options or heat pump installation in Janesville, WI, reach out to us today!
Heat Pump Technology
The vast majority of the components of a heat pump are exactly the same as those in an air conditioner. The technology is not new at all. The one big difference between the two systems is a part called the reversing valve. This makes it possible for the flow of refrigerant to go in either direction—carrying heat out of your home, like an air conditioner, or carrying heat in.
Other than this one component which allows the multi-functionality of the heat pump, the components are familiar: coils through which refrigerant flows, a compressor in the outdoor unit keeping that refrigerant moving, and a blower fan and motor in the indoor unit to help push the cooled (or heated) air into the ducts and throughout the entire home.
Heat Pump Requirements
Heat pumps are not any more challenging to use or repair than an air conditioner. Because they can be used during all seasons, they do get more use than air conditioners. That means they experience more wear and tear, so they do need to have maintenance done twice a year. This is just like having your air conditioner and your heating system each maintained once a year.
Heat Pump Benefits
Today, there are many high-efficiency AC options. A new heat pump replacement will provide very efficient cooling, just like these air conditioners. The main benefit is that they will also provide heating. And it’s the most efficient heating system that exists. A heat pump uses dramatically less energy to warm your home than any kind of furnace or boiler, thus cutting your energy expenditure—and your utility bills—significantly.
A heat pump is definitely an upgrade from an air conditioner under many circumstances. If you’ve got an aging heating system, and you want to take some pressure off it by using it much less, or if your heating system requires replacement entirely, a heat pump would be a much better choice than an air conditioner. And if you simply want to cut your utility bills and do the environment a favor, a heat pump is the way to go.
You can always count on 24-Hour Home Comfort Services, your heating and cooling specialists.