Heat Pumps | Heating and Air Conditioning
Heat Pumps | Heating and Air Conditioning
A heat pump provides an energy efficient option for your home’s heating and air conditioning needs. In fact, today heat pumps provide greater efficiency than systems just 5 or 10 years old. Replacing a 10 to 15 year old system may save you as much as 30 percent on the energy bill, due to technological upgrades to the system. The improvements include refrigerants, compressors, heating coils, and blower motors.
However, energy efficiency is not the only benefit of a heat pump, other benefits include:
Environmentally Approved
During the heating season, heat pumps save energy and don’t pollute the environment with harmful exhaust gases, as systems relying on fossil fuels do.
During the cooling season, the heat pump controls humidity better than ever with optional variable speed technology. The technology ensures your home’s heating and air conditioning system produces the cooling and dehumidification the indoor conditions require, saving you money, while producing ideal comfort.
A heat pump offers proven reliability, for comfort you can rely on year after year. Routine maintenance ensures your new heat pump will provide for your home’s comfort for many years to come.
Once considered a system only for mild weather regions of the southern U.S., the new environmentally friendly refrigerant utilized in newer heat pumps continues to perform in colder temperatures. Cypress Heating and Air Conditioning can provide your home with the professional installation of efficient heating and air conditioning.
Heat pumps are available in a variety of types with the conventional air source heat pump being a popular choice. The geothermal heat pump provides superior performance in all environments. Mini-split heat pumps offer an alternative for homes lacking ducts, those with new additions, and homeowners who want to save on energy costs.
ENERGY STAR Air Source Heat Pumps
By moving energy, rather than generating it, the heat pump can provide up to 4 times the amount of energy they use. This means a heat pump is an energy efficient choice for heating and air conditioning. Selecting an Energy Star approved heat pump ensures the highest reliability, and even greater energy efficiency. ENERGY STAR heat pumps use up to 30% less energy than a non-qualifying product.
Accurate Sizing is Essential
The proper sizing of any heating and air conditioning system is essential in achieving the best performance, energy efficiency and to ensure the longest lifespan of the HVAC system. Improper sizing of the system can result in the following problems:
• An oversized HVAC system will short cycle, which results in poor efficiency, discomfort, and the reduced lifespan of the system. In addition, due to elevated pressure within the duct system, leakage of conditioned air can occur, resulting in additional energy loss.
• An undersized HVAC system will run excessively in the attempt to maintain the set temperature. The excessive operation will result in premature wear on the system, resulting in a reduced lifespan.
Proper heat pump sizing calculations take into consideration:
• The location and orientation of the home
• Local climate
• Orientation and insulating qualities of windows and doors
• The home’s level of insulation
When selecting an air source heat pump, be sure to look for the Energy Star label if the budget allows. The purchase of an Energy Star unit assures you of receiving a reliable, high-efficiency heating and air conditioning system. Other energy saving features to consider include a variable speed fan, multi speed compressors or scroll compressors, and a filter change indicator.
Geothermal Heat Pump
The geothermal heat pump takes advantage of the mild temperatures underground, being both cooler during the summer and warmer in the winter, than the outdoor air temperature. The ground temperature remains a consistent 45 to 60 degrees just 4 – 6 feet below the surface. This provides an ideal environment for the system’s loop to sink heat into the ground or draw heat, providing your home with superior energy efficient heating and air conditioning.
Lower Bills
Geothermal heat pump systems consume half as much energy as a conventional heat pump. While the initial cost of a geothermal system is higher than on a conventional heat pump, its extended lifespan and incredible energy savings, means you can see a return on your investment in as little as 3 years depending on your climate and use.
The extended lifespan of the geothermal system is an additional reason homeowners are selecting the system for new and replacement heating and air conditioning. The heat pump averages a lifespan of 20 years, while the loop can have a lifespan of 50 years. Once your investment has paid for itself, the money you save is in your wallet.
In addition, tax credits and rebates from federal, state, local, and utility sources can lower the cost of installation. Currently the federal credit is 30% with no upper limit. If you plan to invest in a geothermal heat pump, there is no better time to invest than now. However, the credit expires December 31, 2016, so claim your before the credit is gone.
Ductless Heat Pump System
For room additions, and homes without a duct system, a ductless heat pump can provide efficient heating and air conditioning. The ductless heat pump offers all of the benefits of a heat pump, and is easier to install than other systems. Finally, a ductless system offers the advantage of eliminating air leaks in the ducts, as it lacks a duct system.
Contact a Cypress Heating and Air Conditioning certified professional for additional information about heat pumps. Our HVAC technicians are available to assist you in selecting the heat pump system that is right for your home heating and air conditioning needs and budget. We serve Katy, Plano and the surrounding areas, and are a member of the BBB with an A+ rating.
