Heat Pump 101

heat pump systemWith a variety of options available for heating your home, it’s important to understand the differences between them, especially when installing a new system. Not all systems are creating equally and depending on different circumstances, there are some that might not be a good fit for your home. Although furnaces and boilers tend to be the traditional route when it comes to heating systems, heat pump systems are equally as reliable and their modern technology work more efficiently.

What is a Heat Pump?

A heat pump is a mechanical system used for both heating and cooling a home. It consists of two parts: an indoor unit called an air handler and an outdoor unit that works similar to an air conditioning unit called a heat pump. Refrigerant circulates between the indoor and outdoor units, that absorbs and releases heat as it moves along.

How Does a Heat Pump Work?

Unlike your traditional boiler or furnace, a heat pump moves heat from one area to another instead of producing heat from fuel. When used for cooling a home, a heat pump system will displace the warm air out of your home to lower the indoor temperature. Since a heat pump doesn’t produce heat, it is only using a small amount of energy to move heat from one area to another, making it more energy efficient than other heating and cooling options.

Is a Heat Pump System Right for My Home?

Although heat pumps are extremely efficient, their levels of efficiency can vary depending on certain characteristics of your home. Before deciding to install a heat pump system in your home, consider the following:

Climate

Heat pump systems run most efficiently when the outdoor temperatures are above 32 degrees. If you live in an area that the temperatures reach or drop below freezing, a heat pump shouldn’t be installed as the sole source of heating in a home and you should consider installing a secondary system, such as a gas boiler. This way, when the temperatures dip below freezing, the heat pump will turn off and the gas boiler will turn on to provide adequate heat inside your home.

Ductwork

If you’re switching from a conventional forced air heating system to a heat pump system, you’ll be able to reuse the ductwork that is already in your home as long as it is in good shape. If your home does not have ductwork or if it needs to be replaced, this will be an added expense and will cause the heat pump system to be cost-prohibitive.

If you do not have ductwork in your home but are still interested in a heat pump system, a ductless mini-split heating system is a better option. With this type of system, there will be individual units installed on the walls or ceilings of each room that are connected to an outdoor condenser.

To learn more about heat pump systems and start the process of having one installed in your home, call Boston Unique Indoor Comfort today at (978) 330-7460.

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