Choosing The Best Heat Pump For Your Seattle Area Home
Demand for heat pumps is on the rise in the United States, with 2.94 million air-source units shipped in 2018. Maybe you’ve thought about getting one yourself, but you’re not sure which is the best heat pump for your home. Fortunately, you’re in the right place! Keep reading as we answer some common heat pump questions and give you the info needed to make a decision.
Types Of Heat Pumps
The two primary types are geothermal and air-sourced. They work by transferring heat between the ground and your house. This works because, below a certain depth, the ground will still be warm in the winter, and in the summer, it will be cooler than the air. Using this difference in temperature, geothermal heat pumps can warm or cool your house and even heat your water, depending on how you have it set up. With air source heat pumps, the system uses the air instead of the ground to move heat between your house and the outside. Air source pumps use reverse refrigeration to draw heat in from the outside or to take the hot air from inside and move it back out.
Impact Of Climate Change
In the past, air-source heat pumps weren’t very efficient in cold weather. That’s changed in recent years, but if you live in an area that drops below -10 to -25 Fahrenheit, you should have supplemental heating. On the other hand, if you live in more moderate temperatures, a heat pump is often the best heating system for a house. Even better, because of the air conditioning and dehumidifying features, they’re one of the best choices year-round.
Heat Pump Sizes
Once you’ve decided on the best heat pump, you need to think about heat pump sizing. The right size is important for efficiency and to keep your home comfortable. When looking at the sizing, you might see references to both British Thermal Units and tons of capacity. The BTU indicates how much energy it takes to cool a pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. A ton tells you how much ice it would take to cool the same amount of air. To understand how the two relate, know that a ton has 12,000 BTUs.
Finding The Right Efficiency Rating
The Seasonal Energy Efficient Rating indicates how efficient the unit is in the cooling mode. This is found by dividing the BTUs used by the electricity used, giving a higher SEER rating for more efficient units. The High Season Performance Factor indicates the heating efficiency. As with the SEER, higher numbers indicate greater efficiency.
Best Heat Pumps Other Features
When you’re looking at heat pumps, you should also consider some other factors. If noise is a concern, for instance, you could also consider a noise-reducing platform, as well as a sound screen. Likewise, variable fan speed, eco-friendly refrigerants, and compressor capacity affect performance and comfort.
Taking the time to find the best heat pump that is the right fit for you is well worth it, and once your heat pump is installed, you’ll appreciate both the energy savings and the comfort of your home. If you’re experiencing any air conditioning or heating problems, call us today, and one of our professionals will be happy to help you out.
Contact Fischer Heating for any additional questions you may have about finding the best heat pump.