(Newswire.net — February 8, 2018) — The newest “kid” on the air-conditioning block is the heat pump. Because of its name, not many consider it as a viable alternative to air-conditioning, but a heat pump isn’t just about heat. There are times when you can benefit from a heat pump and other instances when an air conditioner is still the way to go; it all depends on what type of residence you have and the region where you live. A heat pump is a costly investment initially, but the benefits for some homeowners might be significant.
Both air conditioners and heat pumps are powered outdoors, and they use the same theory of transferring heat from either inside out or outside in. But they work in two very different and distinct ways.
What is an air conditioner?
Air-conditioning systems are similar to a refrigerator; they both work by giving off cold air that is moved through the ductwork and helps to keep your environment cold. The warm air is pulled through the air conditioner through an exhaust process. Although the process is a little more complex, air conditioners expel cold air to keep everyone cool.
Heat pumps
A heat pump is different from an air conditioner because it doesn’t just put out cold air like a refrigerator. A heat pump works by pulling the hot air out of the environment to reverse the hot air inside by pulling it out to make the environment cooler. Heat pumps are an economical way to keep the cool air inside and exchange the hot air outside. It’s a great way to pull and push air, but when things get extremely cold, you might need another energy source; this can be slightly more expensive. Heat pumps are a great “green” alternative to other types of heating and cooling equipment.
But that does not mean that air conditioners are obsolete or that they still aren’t the best option for your home. An air conditioner provides you with more consistent cooling and control. Heat pumps might be a little more eco-friendly, but the tradeoff is that you might be slightly less cool and comfortable if you opt for a heat pump over an air conditioner. If you have a limited space to heat and cool, then an air conditioner might still be the perfect solution.
What is a ductless heat pump?
One of the greatest advantages of a heat pump is that it can be run without existing ductwork. Instead of using a window unit (which can be unattractive), a heat pump doesn’t need ductwork to operate, so it’s much more aesthetically pleasing and economical. If you don’t want to have to rip out your walls to add central air, but opt not to have the jetting air conditioning units, then a heat pump might be a viable alternative that suits everyone’s needs.
If you are looking for another way to cool your home without ductwork, then you can lower your heating and cooling costs by anywhere from 25-40% if you replace those old electric baseboard heating units with ductless heat pumps. While they’re a quick and inexpensive exchange, the amount that it might cost to make the transition will pay off significantly in the end. Also, many electric companies will offer you incentives to change over to the more economical way to cool your home by offering as much as $800-1200 in rebate incentives to make the switch.
The other option to a heat pump is a solar attic fan. There are solar-powered attic fans that will help to run the fan that circulates the heating and cooling of your home without any cost at all. You might have to pay up front, but the benefits down the road will be great, and the fans will end up paying for themselves soon enough. They can’t really “cool” your home, but what they will do is to increase its energy efficiency and help your heating and cooling, whether you opt to stick with your air-conditioning or decide to try a heat pump. So is a heat pump right for you? It depends on the space that you are trying to heat and cool, the climate that you live in, and whether you want to invest in savings over the long-term by paying in advance or not.