Posts Tagged ‘heat pump’

Heat Pump and Zoning or Zone Control Systems

Friday, April 8th, 2011

When you’re putting in a heat pump, it may also be a great time to look into having a zone control system put in as well. These types of systems can do a lot to both lower your energy bills and make your home as comfortable as possible throughout the year.

Zone control systems actually allow you to set different temperatures in different parts of your home. They use a system of dampers to direct more heat to certain areas and less to others. For instance, you may like to keep the living room nice and cozy in the winter because you’re typically just lounging around when you’re in there.

When you’re working in the kitchen, on the other hand, you’re usually generating some heat yourself from the stove and oven, so you don’t need to keep the temperature quite as high as it is in other parts of the house in order for the kitchen to remain comfortable. Of course, in the summer, these situations are likely reversed, and a zone control system will allow you to adjust accordingly.

Having the type of refined temperature control that zone control systems provide can be beneficial on several levels. It certainly helps make your home more comfortable, but it can also make it easier to reduce some of your home heating and cooling costs because you don’t have to heat or cool your whole house to keep it that way.

Zone control systems can also be a great way to end those constant thermostat battles that tend to erupt from when certain members of the household prefer one temperature, while the rest of the people in the house are more comfortable with another.

If you’re thinking of integrating a zone control system with your heat pump, you should make sure that the heat pump you get is as compatible as possible with this type of system. Most heat pumps will, in fact, work with zone control systems, but certain types are better than others.

The most important thing to look at when you’re trying to find the best heat pump to fit with a zone control system is the type of compressor the unit has. Heat pumps are available with one-speed, two-speed and multi-speed compressors and this affects how well they work at part of a zone control system. For best results, it’s good to opt for a two-speed or multi-speed compressor when you’re installing a zone control system as well.

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What Are Your Heat Pump Options?

Wednesday, April 6th, 2011

Once you’ve decided that a heat pump really is the best option for your home, you’ll still have a lot of options to consider. There are actually quite a few types of heat pumps and they can vary considerably in terms of their energy efficiency and other available features.

For instance, you can choose to go with a heat pump with a one-speed, two-speed or multi-speed compressor. Single speed compressors are only capable of operating at full capacity. That means that they’ll certainly be able to keep your home warm, but they may be working harder than they need to at some points.

A two-speed or multi-speed compressor, on the other hand, can be adjusted to more appropriately fit the heating and cooling needs of the moment. There will certainly be times when you don’t need your heat pump to be going all out, and the ability to regulate this level of performance can benefit you in several ways.

It will allow you to maintain a more consistent indoor temperature to be sure, but it will also reduce the overall wear and tear on your heat pump over time. If your heat pump doesn’t have to run all out all of the time, it simply won’t wear out as fast, and that will save you both money and frustration in the long run. It’s also worth noting that heat pumps with two-speed or multi-speed compressors are more easily integrated into a zone control system if you have one in your home.

However, regardless of what type of compressor your heat pump has, you’ll also have to examine the various heat pump models available to determine what their actual energy efficiency ratings are. Each heat pump actually comes with two ratings, one for heating and one for cooling.

The heating season performance factor (HSPF) reflects the heat pump’s heating efficiency, while the seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) is a measure of its cooling efficiency. The higher both of these numbers are, the higher the efficiency of the unit. But you don’t necessarily need both numbers to be as high as possible to get the best heat pump for your home.

If you’re going to be using the heat pump more for cooling than for heating because of the climate where you live, you’ll want to make sure the unit you get has as high a SEER as possible, but you won’t have to worry too much about the HSPF. But if you’re going to need more heating than cooling, you should pay more attention to the HSPF than the SEER.

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Heat Pump Filter Care

Monday, April 4th, 2011

On the whole, heat pumps are efficient, durable and effective. They are built to run all year round without needing any more maintenance than your average furnace or air conditioning system and they have an average lifespan comparable to those other types of home comfort systems as well.

That’s not to say that there aren’t things you can do to keep your heat pump in good working order, however. Keeping up with the professional maintenance visits is an important step to take along these lines to be sure, but there are also some other things you can do on your own as well to help ensure the continued efficiency and health of your heat pump system.

Proper filter care is an important part of keeping your heat pump working the way it should. If you don’t have a heat pump yet but are thinking of getting one, make sure you have the installation technician show you where the filter is located and how to replace it.

If your system’s already been in place for some time, you can still find out how to care for the filter from your annual maintenance technician or you can probably even find it on your own by taking a close look at your heat pump. The filters are meant to be removed on a regular basis so they’re typically not hard to get to. However, you should always be sure that all of the power to your heat pump is turned off before you open it up to try and find, replace or clean the filter.

Most heat pump filters are meant to be changed or cleaned about once every 90 days or so. However, the specific requirements for each system can vary considerably, so you should be sure to find out what is recommended for the model of heat pump that you have.

Also, you’ll want to know what type of filter you have so that you can purchase the appropriate replacement. The model number for each filter should be clearly printed on it, so simply slide your current filter out and make note of the number so that you can purchase the correct type as a replacement.

Most heat pumps have replaceable filters, but some still do have permanent filters that are meant to be cleaned and then returned to service. If you have one of these types of filters, be sure to read the instructions for cleaning carefully before proceeding.

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Most Commonly Asked Questions about Heat Pumps

Friday, February 25th, 2011

If you’re thinking about buying a new heat pump for your home, chances are you have some questions about these types of products and how they work. In fact, because these types of home comfort systems are relatively new to a lot of people, there are a quite a few misconceptions out there about how effective and efficient they can be.

Recently we’ve gotten some good questions from our readers, so we thought we’d like to pass along the answers so that others can benefit from the information as well.

If I Buy a Heat Pump, Do I Have to Buy an Air Conditioner Too?

That heat pumps are only able to heat your home is probably one of the biggest misconceptions about this type of equipment. Heat pumps work by extracting heat from the air in one place and transferring it to another. That means that in the winter, your heat pump is able to heat your home by taking heat from the outdoor air and moving it inside.

However, in the summer, the heat pump is able to do the same thing only in reverse. When you switch on your heat pump’s cooling function, it will be able to take the heat out of your indoor air and transfer it outside. In this way, the same heat pump system can keep your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer without you needing to purchase an air conditioner or other supplemental comfort systems.

If I Choose a Heat Pump System, Will I Also Need to Install Supplemental Heat?

That depends on what the climate is like where you live and how warm you like to keep your home. In general, heat pumps can keep any home comfortable as long as the outdoor temperature is above 32°F or so. If the temperature outside drops below that, you may want to have some type of supplemental heating system just in case. However, a heat pump will still be able to provide some warmth at these lower temperatures and you may be able to keep yourself comfortable with a simple space heater or too.

Also, remember that these colder temperatures are most common at night when you would probably have turned your heat down anyway. As long as you live in a relatively moderate climate, heat pumps can do a great job of keeping your home comfortable all year long.

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Heat Pump Noise Considerations

Wednesday, February 23rd, 2011

If it is time to think about replacing your home or office heating system, there are a few issues to contemplate. Perhaps you have made the wise decision to install a heat pump. Price is a serious concern, as well as the choice of an installer for the unit. However, there is an issue that sometimes gets overlooked. The noise factor of the new unit is sometimes not considered at all.

The good news is that modern heat pumps are now made in such a way that noise is kept to a minimum. For the most part, new models are far quieter than the older ones used to be. While the new units provide the same or greater amounts of heating and cooling, the noise level has been reduced to a fraction of earlier models.

The outdoor portion of the heat pump system is the only part that makes any noise. If this unit sits near a window, there is the slight possibility that a small amount of noise will be heard. Chances are, though, that anyone inside the home or office building will barely notice at all that the heat pump is running. Because of research, ingenuity and modern design, new heat pumps now on the market are among the quietest that have ever been made.

Vibration of the outside unit has been mostly eliminated, creating a unit that practically purrs. The tweaking and adjusting in design and manufacturing combine to make heavy vibration a thing of the past. The amount of noise generated from newer heat pump units is often compared to the small amount of noise you would hear from your refrigerator.

If the noise emitted from the outside portion of a heat pump causes any issues with a neighbor, it is possible to install sound panels that will help absorb the sound. Panels of this type should be weatherproof to withstand outdoor extremes. Thankfully, the problem of loud noise pollution from a heat pump’s outside unit is mostly a memory from a bygone era. With modern technology and proper placement, this type of problem has gone the way of the dinosaur.

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Is a Heat Pump Right for Your Home?

Tuesday, February 22nd, 2011

Deciding which type of home comfort system to go with can be a difficult process to navigate. There are a ton of factors to take into account including how much you will be using the system, what type of fuel you mainly rely on and what the specific climate is like where you live.

Heat pumps are a great home comfort solution for many people but they aren’t always the appropriate choice. However, there are many benefits to going with a heat pump system, so this is certainly an option you should keep in mind as you evaluate your options.

Heat pumps work by extracting heat from the air in one place and then transferring that heat to another space. For instance, in the winter, heat pumps take heat from the outside air and pump it into your house. In the summer, on the other hand, your heat pump will be able to take heat from your indoor air and pump it back outside, thereby keeping your home cool and comfortable.

Heat pumps are also extremely energy efficient because they don’t actually have to generate the heat they pump. Unlike furnaces, which take in fuel and convert it into heat, heat pumps simply harness the heat that’s already there, making them by far the more energy efficient option.

Another benefit to heat pumps is that they maintain a more constant temperature than many other types of heating systems do. Rather than pumping in a big blast of hot air and then waiting until the temperature indoors falls below a preset level before doing it again, heat pumps provide a relatively constant stream of warm air.

The initial amount of heat is smaller than what you might be used to from a furnace, but the cumulative effect means that you’ll be able to enjoy a much more consistently comfortable indoor environment.

It is important to evaluate the climate in your area before you decide to purchase a heat pump, though. These systems are extremely effective at heating and cooling your home as long as temperatures stay above the mid-thirties.

Below that, you may need to install some type of supplemental heating in order to keep your home warm enough on those really cold days. So if you live in an area where temperatures routinely dip below freezing for large portions of the winter, a heat pump might not be the most sensible solution for you.

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Furnace vs. Heat Pump

Wednesday, January 19th, 2011

If you’re currently looking for a new home heating system, you may be wondering whether a furnace or heat pump would be best for your purposes. Each system carries unique benefits and risks that depend on your individual needs. In this article, you’ll learn about the advantages and disadvantages of each type so you can make an educated buying decision when you invest in a quality heating system for your home.

Furnaces

As the classic heating solution, furnaces are still the hottest seller with homeowners who need heat. Consumers can choose between furnaces that run on electricity, oil or gas. Old models of gas furnaces were known for their inefficiency, but this is no longer a concern with newer gas models, which are favorites with consumers who are concerned about their gas bills.

Heat Pumps

Unlike furnaces, heat pumps don’t use gas, electricity or oil to heat your home. As their name suggests, heat pumps actually work by pumping. In the winter, heat pumps compress air to warm your home with the heat generated in the process. Because no gas is used in their operation, heat pumps are preferred by some homeowners because there is no risk of carbon monoxide poisoning during use. Heat pumps are also more than just heaters– they can also air condition your home in the summertime by using refrigerated coils to absorb heat.

So Which Is Better?

Furnaces are more appropriate for those living in colder climates because heat pumps are not effective when outside temperatures drop below freezing. Those in milder climates can benefit from the cost efficiency, safety and simplicity of heat pumps. Plus, their ability to be used for cooling makes heat pumps perfect for homeowners who want to avoid running costly air conditioning systems in the warmer months.

The downside of heat pumps is that they are generally more expensive to install. Despite this higher initial cost, heat pumps frequently save consumers money in the long run because they are cheaper to heat with than furnaces.

The biggest issue to consider when deciding between a furnace or heat pump is the temperatures your home is exposed to in the colder months. You may also wish to weigh the price you pay for electricity, considering that heat pumps and some furnaces run on electricity. Finally, you will want to consider the estimated cost of gas required to run a gas furnace and compare it to the electricity you would use with the electrical options.

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