When properly installed, an air-source heat pump can deliver 1.5 to 3 times more heat energy to a home, compared to the electrical energy it consumes. This is possible because a heat pump moves heat rather than converting it from a fuel, like in combustion heating systems.
A heat pump uses refrigeration technology to transfer heat. Its refrigeration system consists of a compressor and two coils made of copper tubing. Both heating and cooling settings are controlled by a thermostat in the house.
During the heating mode, liquid refrigerant extracts heat from the outside air, and moves it inside your home as it evaporates into a gas. The indoor coils transfer heat from the refrigerant as it condenses back into a liquid.
A reversing valve, in the heat pump changes the direction of the refrigerant flow for excellent cooling of your home in the summer and also for defrosting the outdoor coils in winter.
Energy Efficiency Rating
In the United States, we rate a heat pump’s energy efficiency by how many British thermal units (BTU) of heat it moves for each watt-hour of electrical energy it consumes. You’ll find the Energy Star® label on heat pumps with an HSPF of at least 8 and a SEER of at least 14. Many new heat pumps exceed these ratings, but looking for this label is a good way to start shopping for one. SEER and HSPF Rating are like MPG in cars - the higher the rating, the more energy efficient the unit and the more money you save.
Sizing a system
When selecting a new heat pump, it’s important to determine the proper size needed for your home, by having the HVAC installer do a heat loss calculation. Factors include heat loss/gain, house construction, location, number of occupants and lifestyle. Bigger is not better. Oversizing causes the heat pump to start and stop more frequently, which is less efficient and puts more stress on the components than letting it run for longer cycles. A properly-sized unit, based in tons, also will provide you with better comfort, humidity control and many years of great service.
A heat pump’s performance and energy efficiency not only depend on the proper selection of the equipment, but also careful installation. Insulate your ducts to R-8 , if they must be located in an attic or a crawl space beyond the home’s air barrier and insulation. Also keep your furnace air filter clean and free of debris.
A two-stage thermostat controls the heating cycle of a heat pump. The first stage activates the heat transfer/refrigeration system. When it’s too cold outside for the refrigeration system to counteract the homes’ heat loss, the thermostat’s second stage activates electric resistance heat strips. This will run until the outside temperature increases enough to activate the heat pump cycle.
- Energy Efficient
- Versatile All-Year Service
- Cost-effective
- Environmentally-Friendly
- Safe and Reliable
