Tag Archives: air source heat pumps

how do air source heat pumps work

How do heat pumps work?

A heat pump is a super-efficient, all-in-one electric heating and cooling system. Sometimes called mini-splits, they soak up heat from one place, then move it to another: Into your home in the winter, out of your home in the summer.

But what exactly makes a heat pump so efficient compared to a typical heating system? And if they work by soaking up heat, how can heat pumps keep your house warm when it’s cold outside? Is this too good to be true?

As millions of people who already own heat pumps can tell you, they’re legit. Here’s how the technology works.

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Heat pump sizing guide: bigger is not better

The size of a heat pump is a guide to how much space it can heat or cool (basically). The right-sized heat pump for your house will keep your home perfectly comfortable all year, and can save you thousands of dollars on the costs of installation, energy, and maintenance. 

Figuring out the proper size can be tricky. Generally, larger homes in more extreme climates will need bigger heat pumps. But it also depends on the insulation, draftiness, and other factors. Even pro heat pump installers can come up with wildly different estimates, depending on the measurements they take—or guesses they make—about your home.

After speaking with HVAC experts and homeowners alike, we’ve come up with 7 guidelines that can help ensure you’re getting the just-right, Goldilocks-sized heat pump for your home. You won’t find any easy shortcuts in this guide, because they don’t exist. But you will learn how to spot the signs of a thoughtful installer, how to pick between different quotes, and with some work, come up with a decent heat pump sizing estimate on your own.

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Rising cost of natural gas

Rising energy prices: what to expect

Many Americans are seeing a jump in heating bills due to dropping temperatures and rising energy prices. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), it’s actually slated to be a warmer and dryer winter than usual, with above-average temperatures predicted across most of the U.S. due to LA Niña climate conditions – but you should still be prepared for higher than normal heating and electricity bills due to the rising cost of natural gas (and other fossil fuels) across the world. In this article, we’ll explain why energy prices are increasing, where the increases are most dramatic, and how you can protect yourself from the volatility of fossil fuel energy sources (spoiler alert: going solar will help!).

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Mixed heat pump system

Half-ducted house? Lousy airflow? Consider a mixed heat pump

Air source heat pumps come in two main types: if your house has ductwork, you’ll usually install a ducted heat pump. No ducts? Then it’ll be a ductless heat pump, also known as a mini-split system. They’re essentially the same highly efficient, environmentally friendly, cost-competitive technology for heating and cooling your home. All that’s different is the way that they move air.

But what if only some parts of your home are ducted? Or the ducts don’t heat or cool certain rooms very well? A system that combines both ducted and ductless heat pumps might be the best way to keep your whole home comfortable.

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heat pumps vs. furnace

Comparing heat pumps vs. furnaces

Your heating system is a central part of your home’s safety and security, so it’s important to invest in a quality system you’re confident in. Heat pumps continue to rise in popularity due to their efficient, cost-effective, and comfortable heating and cooling solutions. But, how do heat pumps compare to furnaces? Can they really keep a home warm during the coldest months? In this article, we compare the upfront costs, efficiency, maintenance requirements, and lifetimes of heat pumps and furnaces to help you better understand your options when browsing for your next heating system (that you’ll likely spend a couple of decades with!). 

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heat pump lifetime

How long do heat pumps last?

Home heating and cooling systems are expensive, so it’s understandable for homeowners to expect this investment to last them through the years. A heat pump offers an efficient, complete heating and cooling solution in one system, whereas conventional HVAC technology requires the purchase of two separate systems, like a furnace and an air conditioner. But, is the lifetime of a heat pump compromised by its dual functionality? How long do heat pumps last? In this article, we help you understand the lifetime of a heat pump and offer tips on how to extend it. 

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air source heat pump vs geothermal heat pump

Air source heat pumps vs. geothermal heat pumps

Did you know that you can both heat your home in the dead of winter and cool things down during the hottest day of the summer using the same system? A heat pump is a highly efficient technology that serves the dual purpose of both heating and cooling spaces. But like other types of thermal technology, there are a variety of heat pumps to consider, and some may be better suited for you depending on your property, preferences, and heating and cooling needs. In this article, we’ll discuss the major differences between the two major types of heat pumps: air source heat pumps and ground source or geothermal heat pumps.

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Colorado heat pump incentives

Colorado heat pump rebates and incentives: 2022 guide

If you live in Colorado, there are financial incentives to help you heat and cool your home more efficiently with air source heat pumps. In addition to the federally funded Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) programs, several utilities throughout the state currently offer heat pump incentives. Check out this complete guide to learn all about Colorado’s air source heat pump rebates and how to claim them.

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air source heat pumps in cold climates

Do heat pumps work in cold climates?

High performance heat pumps can operate in temperatures well below zero, so why do they have a reputation for being impractical in extreme cold? 

Today, heat pumps serve as efficient, cost-effective heating systems everywhere from Maine to Alaska, but that wasn’t always the case. Before the technological advances that we see implemented in current cold climate heat pumps, heat pumps simply weren’t able to pull enough heat from outside when temperatures dropped to efficiently and effectively warm a home. But, gone are the days of heat pumps being limited to mild and warm climates. In this article, we explain how heat pumps work in extreme cold, when you should consider other technology, and where to find cold climate heat pumps. 

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heat pump devices

Devices in your house that function like heat pumps

Heat pumps are an efficient way to both heat and cool your living space – simply put, they use electricity to move heat from one area to another to moderate the air temperature. Overall, heat pumps are able to provide 1.5 to 3 times the amount of electrical energy they consume in the form of heat energy for your home! Many different devices throughout your home use a similar closed loop mechanism that mirrors the functionality of heat pumps. In this article, we’ll explain what these devices are and how they work.

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