Could I Benefit From Installing a Heat Pump?

Spring is a time of change in many ways, including for HVAC systems. Many homeowners schedule preventive maintenance during this time of year, or they replace their systems entirely. If you’re in the market for a new cooling system before the summer, you might want to have a look at the benefits a heat pump has to offer. It might be just the thing you need to keep comfortable, not only during the summer, but in winter as well.

Heat Pumps
A heat pump is constructed similarly to an air conditioner, with a couple of important differences. It is a split system, with one unit installed inside the home and one outside. The two units evaporate and condense refrigerant to absorb and vent thermal energy, the same way an air conditioner does. The primary difference between a heat pump and a normal air conditioner is that a heat pump contains a reversing valve. The reversing valve allows the heat pump to change the direction that refrigerant flows through it. This enables the system to offer both heating and air conditioning functions.

Advantages of Using a Heat Pump
There are many advantages to using a heat pump system, compared to a traditional air conditioning system. The primary reason that many homeowners install heat pump systems is because of their ability to offer both heating and air conditioning functions. You can save a lot of money and space by using just one climate control system, rather than the standard heater/air conditioner configuration.

Heat pumps are also much more energy efficient at heating than standard combustion-based systems. A heat pump doesn’t need to burn any kind of fuel do generate heat. It simply siphons thermal energy from the air outside and vents it inside the home. This will save you even more money during the heating season.

Not everyone is going to benefit from using a heat pump instead of an air conditioner, of course. The primary reason not to use a heat pump is related to its efficiency during sub-freezing temperatures. Heat pumps rely on the thermal energy in the air outside the home to heat it. As the temperature outside drops, there is less thermal energy for the system to use and it will gradually start to lose efficiency. This only becomes a substantial issue in extremely cold weather, but it is something to consider.

The other consideration is the space required for using this kind of system. If you already use a split air conditioner, then this likely won’t be a problem. If you’re thinking of upgrading, though, you will need to have enough space both inside and outside to accommodate the system. If the outside portion of the system doesn’t have proper clearance, it won’t be able to pull enough thermal energy from the surrounding air.
SPS Mechanical Inc. installs heat pumps throughout West Deptford, NJ. If you need a heat pump installed or serviced, we can help. Contact us today to schedule an appointment with one of our expert technicians. We’ll make sure that you get the perfect climate control system for your needs.