Call Us Today5 Reasons to Replace Your AC With a Heat Pump
As a homeowner, you must ensure that your home is comfortable regardless of the season. Over the years, most homeowners have used traditional air conditioning units; however, their preferences have changed with time. Currently, some homeowners are now using heat pumps. Are heat pumps a better alternative to a traditional air conditioning unit? We’ll outline the differences below and explain why a heat pump is preferable to an air conditioning unit.
About Heat Pumps
Heat pumps use similar technology to an HVAC system to heat and cool your home. The heat pump usually moves cold and hot air from one point to another, depending on whether you want to warm up or cool your house.
A Comparison Between a Heat Pump and Air Conditioner
In the absence of humidity and heat, you’re bound to experience cooling relief when you’re indoors. The air conditioning unit usually removes the humidity and heat energy from the warm air to ensure the indoors are comfortably cool regardless of the season or weather outside.
The air conditioner utilizes fuel to ensure your home or office is cool. The unit moves heat inside the house and passes it through refrigerant coils, which help to get rid of the heat. The warm air is then blown outside.
The heat pump works similarly to the air conditioner. You may now ask yourself, if they work similarly, why should you replace the air conditioning unit with a heat pump? For starters, the heat pump won’t burn any fuel. Instead, heat pumps usually use electricity as their primary source of energy. Heat pumps and air conditioning units use refrigerant when transferring heat from one point to another; however, the main difference is the direction the heat moves. With an air conditioning unit, the heat usually moves from inside to outside the building. On the other hand, the heat pump is capable of moving heat in both directions; this means a heat pump can efficiently heat and cool the building, whereas a traditional air conditioning unit can only be used to cool a building.
Why You Should Consider Replacing Your AC Unit With a Heat Pump
We’ll now look into the reasons why you should replace your traditional air conditioning unit with a heat pump.
1. Lower Utility Bills and Energy Savings
Since the heat pump is more energy efficient compared to traditional air conditioning units, you should expect lower utility bills. Energy Star has also stated that a heat pump consumes 50% less energy than a traditional AC unit.
2. Better Home Value and Resale Potential
When you invest in a heat pump, the value of your home will increase, and you can easily attract prospective buyers in the process. The main focus here is on what potential home buyers are looking for. You can use the heat pump’s energy-saving factor as a selling point.
3. Reduced Carbon Footprint and Environmental Friendliness
A heat pump is environmentally friendly compared to a traditional AC unit, so your carbon footprint will be significantly reduced. With a heat pump, greenhouse gas emissions will be reduced by at least 50% compared to when you’re using a traditional HVAC system.
4. Cooling and Heating Year-Round With One System
A heat pump can heat and cool your home, which means it’s cost-effective and convenient; this will eliminate the need to acquire separate systems for cooling and heating. The heat pump also supposedly has a longer lifespan compared to traditional AC units. A heat pump is expected to last for at least two decades.
5. Improved Indoor Comfort and Air Quality
A heat pump is supposed to circulate and also filter the air inside your home, removing pollen, dust, and other particles that are airborne and can cause different respiratory issues and allergies. The heat pump can also ensure the temperature levels within your home are consistent, which means you’ll be comfortable throughout.
When You Should Replace the AC Unit With a Heat Pump
When determining when to replace your traditional AC unit with a heat pump, there are a few indicators you need to be on the lookout for. Is your AC unit more than 12 years old? Are your utility bills higher than usual? Then, you should consider replacing your traditional AC unit with a heat pump. Also, if your AC unit breaks down often and the cost of repairs is significant, you can opt for a heat pump since it’s a more cost-effective option to heat and cool your home.
Tips to Consider When Replacing Your Traditional AC Unit With a Heat Pump
A heat pump is a suitable alternative to traditional AC units since they can heat and cool your home throughout. Some of the tips that can help you in optimizing the performance of your heat pump include:
1. Choose the Right Size
By choosing the right heat pump size, you can attain peak performance and efficiency. When you purchase an undersized heat pump, you won’t be able to heat your entire home uniformly during winter. At [company name], we usually help our clients in O’Fallon determine the cooling and heating load. Based on the load, we can recommend the right heat pump size.
2. Choose the Right Type of Heat Pump
There are different classifications for heat pumps, namely ground-source, air-source, and water-to-air heat pumps. The needs of your home and the climate of your state/city are the primary considerations when choosing the right heat pump.
Water-to-air heat pumps usually convert thermal energy from the water and not the air; their efficiency is better than the ground or air source since water can efficiently conduct heat and is also warmer during winter. On the other hand, air-source heat pumps are normally cost-effective and more common compared to the ground-source; however, they’re less efficient. As for the ground source, the initial installation cost is high since there is the need for ground loops that are vertically drilled and horizontally excavated; nonetheless, they’re more efficient, and you can save a significant sum of money on your monthly utility bills.
3. Hire a Professional Installer
Heat pumps need to be installed correctly for them to operate optimally and offer energy efficiency. The main considerations during the installation process include attaching the coolant lines, aligning the heat pump, and ensuring the system is charged.
You should also know that a conventional thermostat isn’t compatible with a heat pump. If you have a traditional AC unit and you’re replacing it with a heat pump, you’ll be required to acquire a thermostat that is heat pump-specific and should work with the system’s wiring and coolant lines. If anything is installed incorrectly, you may experience performance issues, and a considerable amount of energy will be wasted; this is why you should consider hiring the right experts for the job.
Our Services
For quality and reliable services in O’Fallon, MO, and the surrounding areas, you can always rely on Hoff Heating & AC. We offer a wide range of services, ranging from heat pumps to AC repair, installation, and maintenance, as well as furnace repair, installation, and maintenance. If you need professional HVAC services, contact us today.
