Heat pumps are a highly versatile climate control option for just about any home, offering excellent performance as well as tremendous savings. But before you decide to buy one, consider a few things you should know:
An air source heat pump uses outdoor air to gather latent heat during the heating season and release latent heat during the cooling season.
A ground-source heat pump, on the other hand, draws its latent heat from below-ground water sources. It also sends latent heat underground during the cooling season.
They use refrigerant to cool and heat your home. The average air conditioner uses its refrigerant as a medium for collecting latent heat found within indoor air and expelling that heat outdoors. A heat pump follows the same principle during the cooling season, but it completely reverses the process during the heating season, when it uses its refrigerant to draw latent heat from the outdoor air instead.
They can be used with supplementary heat sources. Most heat pumps are designed to be paired with electric, gas, or even oil heat. This can give you an effective fallback if you need a little extra heat during the winter.
Having one installed in your home can help save you money. A typical heat pump is designed to use far less energy for heating and cooling than other types of HVAC systems. An Energy Star-qualified system can save you even more money, as these units use up to 20 percent less energy than standard models.
Buying one can qualify you for a tax credit. Purchasing a ground-source heat pump can qualify you for a federal tax credit toward 30 percent of your system’s total cost.
To learn more about how a heat pump can help keep your home comfortable year-round, contact us at Air Assurance. We proudly serve Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).Credit/Copyright Attribution: “Designua/Shutterstock”
When Installing a Heat Pump, Let These Guidelines Show You the Way
A heat pump is an economical way to keep your home cool in the summer and warm in the winter, especially in Midwestern climates. Instead of converting heat to fuel like combustion furnaces, heat pumps simply move heat. The performance of your heat pump relies on selecting the right type and size for your home and expert installation. Whether you use an air-source or geothermal heat pump, work with a professional HVAC technician to avoid problems and get the best results. When installing a heat pump, here are a few things to do first.
Make sure your home is properly insulated with correct duct work and energy-efficient windows. If ducts are in the attic or crawl space, insulate with R-8 insulation to provide the best barrier. Install ducts inside your insulation to save energy. If your home is energy-efficient, you can install a smaller heat pump unit with shorter duct lengths.
When installing new ducts, you can specify that measured air leaks should be below 10 percent of the airflow. A professional can reduce air leakage to below 5 percent with skill and careful planning and workmanship. Keep air leakage as low as possible for maximum efficiency.
Do not use building cavities for your ducts. They typically leak, causing moisture problems, uncomfortable airflow and energy loss.
After duct work is installed, test it by pulling on it to ensure that it's sealed well and fastened securely. Duct joints should be sealed with mastic.
When installing a heat pump, put it on the north side of the house where it tends to be the shadiest. If this isn't possible, choose a shady place without any obstructions at least 10 feet from each open side and the top of your heat pump unit.
For more expert advice on installing a heat pump or other home comfort needs, please contact us at Air Assurance Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing in Broken Arrow, OK., servicing the greater Tulsa Metropolitan area since 1985.Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Image courtesy of Shutterstock
Your Air-Source Heat Pump Is Also for Cooling: How It Does a Good Job
An air-source heat pump provides Broken Arrow homeowners efficient heating, but it also delivers efficient cooling and humidity management. If you’ve ever wondered how your heat pump does all these tasks season after season, keep reading to learn the basic technology involved, and you may discover a few tips to help maximize energy savings and home comfort.Air-source heat pump technologyAn air-source heat pump doesn’t produce heated or cooled air; it moves heat from one air source to another air source. These are the components of heat-pump technology.
Evaporator and condenser: An air-source heat pump has two heat-exchanger coils. One is located inside your home (evaporator) and the other coil (condenser) is in a metal cabinet outside the home. Heat is absorbed and released, whether inside or outside your home, at the heat exchangers.
Refrigerant: The refrigerant is the magic ingredient that moves heat from one heat exchanger to the other. For instance, in cooling mode, the refrigerant inside the evaporator coil absorbs heat from the air inside your home as the air circulates through the duct system. The refrigerant flows through copper tubing to the outside condenser where the heat is released.
Compressor: The compressor is the heart of the heat-pump system. The compressor prepares the refrigerant for optimal heat exchange, and then pumps it to either the condenser or evaporator.
Reversing valve: The reversing valve is the component that separates heat pumps from your typical air-conditioning system. The reversing valve changes the flow direction of the refrigerant, which allows for both heating and cooling. When the refrigerant leaves the compressor, it has been squeezed in preparation for heat release. The reversing valve sends the refrigerant to the appropriate coil to release the heat -- outside condenser for cooling mode and indoor evaporator for heating mode.
Air filter: A quality air filter protects the coils and other components from debris accumulation and mold growth, which would hinder heat exchange. Check your air filter regularly to ensure peak performance.
For more information about your air-source heat pump, contact the professionals at Air Assurance in the Greater Tulsa Metropolitan Area today.Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Image courtesy of Shutterstock
