A heat pump is an energy efficient way to heat and cool most homes. Heat pumps work by moving warm air out of the home during the summer months and into the home in the winter. Since a heat pump moves heat instead of creating heat, it is much more energy efficient than other types of heating and cooling systems.
More and more homeowners are switching to reliable heat pumps for heating and cooling their homes. More than 10 percent of homes nationwide rely on energy efficient heat pump systems. Air source heat pumps are the most common type, but they are not popular in colder climates because their efficiency suffers when outside air temperatures fall below freezing.
Fortunately, geothermal heat pumps (also called ground source heat pumps) work well in colder climates because they depend on a system of pipes buried below ground to transfer heat. Not only are geothermal heat pumps unaffected by changes in outdoor air temperatures, but they are also the most efficient type of heat pump marketed for residential use. According to the Department of Energy, switching to a geothermal heat pump can save a homeowner up to 60 percent on home heating and cooling costs.
In addition geothermal heat pumps can be combined with a desuperheater to heat water as well as provide home heating and cooling which results in additional energy savings. Geothermal heat pumps have a higher initial cost than many other types of heating and cooling systems, but they are very durable and the savings on your energy bill can pay for the cost of the system in a few years.
