A heat pump is a heating and cooling system that uses refrigeration technology to heat and cool your home. A heat pump takes the place of a traditional central air conditioner and furnace. In the summer, a heat pump operates much like a central air conditioning unit. It uses Freon or other refrigerants to absorb heat inside your home and pump it outside. In the winter, the process is reversed to heat your home. There are advantages and disadvantages to consider before investing in a heat pump.
One of the primary selling points of heat pumps is that they are very efficient. Because they transfer heat rather than create it (such as by burning oil or gas or electric heating elements), they are much more efficient at heating your home than a traditional furnace.
Another advantage is that a heat pump uses a single piece of equipment to heat and cool rather than two separate pieces of equipment such as a furnace and central air conditioning unit. This means that there is less maintenance and upkeep with a heat pump. In addition, a heat pump generally produces more even heat with a higher level of humidity than a furnace.
The main disadvantage of a heat pump is that it does not heat well in very cold weather. When outside temperatures drop below 40 degrees, a supplemental heat source is necessary. In addition, a heat pump is more expensive that a central air conditioning system and has a shorter lifespan because, unlike a central air conditioning system, a heat pump is used year round.
Your local HVAC professional can help you decide if a heat pump is right for you and handle your heat pump installation and repair needs.
