One type of home HVAC system that’s growing in popularity is the heat pump. Traditionally, heat pumps were designed to operate efficiently in mild climates. However, new technology has surfaced that allows cold-climate heat pumps to operate in all types of wintertime climates. We will take a deep dive into exploring electric heat pumps and newer cold-climate heat pumps so that you can make a better-informed decision about which one is best for your home.
Traditional Electric Heat Pumps
Heat pump technology has been available for over a decade, and during this time, two different styles of heat pumps have been created. These include the air-source heat pump and the ground-source heat pump. Ground-source heat pumps, also known as geothermal heat pumps, tend to be extremely expensive, require extensive installation, and require a fairly large space for installation.
For these reasons, most homeowners invest in an air-source heat pump. This type of heat pump is fairly affordable, doesn’t require any sort of invasive installation process, and can work with both ducted and ductless setups. Air source heat pumps have three main components that work to heat or cool your home. These include an indoor air handler unit, an outdoor condenser unit, and refrigerant lines.
The Cold Weather Conundrum
Heat pumps have been known to produce efficiency levels up to 400% during the wintertime. As a homeowner, this can save you a bundle on your winter heating bills. However, the main problem with electric heat pumps is that their operating efficiency is severely diminished when temperatures drop close to freezing.
Electric heat pumps struggle to adequately absorb heat from the outdoor air and warm your home. In fact, they have a backup internal heating element that they can use to produce heat for your home when they can no longer pull heat from the outdoor air. When in this backup mode, your heat pump’s overall efficiency drops, and your energy bill increases.
The Introduction of Cold-Climate Heat Pumps
HVAC manufacturers have developed cold-climate heat pumps to help solve the problem of system inefficiency at colder temperatures. This type of heat pump can work efficiently at temperatures down to -20 degrees Fahrenheit. The cold-climate heat pump has enabled homeowners in all different types of climates to access the efficiency that heat pumps can offer.
The secret behind how these heat pumps can operate is the type of refrigerant that they use. Cold-climate heat pumps use refrigerant with a lower boiling point than electric heat pumps. This allows this refrigerant to continue moving when the outside temperature drops. When the refrigerant is able to continue moving, it can continue pulling heat out of the outdoor air and bring it into your home to warm it up.
Enhanced Compressor Design
Another great benefit of cold-climate heat pumps is that they come with a new compressor design. Traditional electric heat pumps only ran at two different speeds: on and off. Newer cold-climate heat pumps come with a variable-speed compressor. This allows it to run anywhere between 40% and 100% capacity, depending on your specific heating or cooling needs at any particular time.
For example, during moderate winter weather, your heat pump will run at a lower speed just to maintain a warm temperature in your home. However, when temperatures drop below freezing, a cold-climate heat pump is capable of switching to maximum capacity to help ensure that a large amount of heat is able to be transported into your home. All in all, this new variable speed compressor design makes cold-climate heat pumps more capable of creating a comfortable indoor environment as compared to electric heat pumps.
High HSPF Rating
All heat pumps are given an HSPF rating, formally known as a heating seasonal performance factor rating. This rating is a measurement of the total heating output of the unit divided by the total amount of energy that it consumes over that period. The higher the rating, the more efficient the heat pump will be. Many electric heat pumps with a high efficiency rating have an HSPF of around 8. Cold-climate heat pumps have a rating of 10. This makes them much more efficient than the traditional electric heat pumps, leading to lower heating bills for you.
The Many Benefits of Getting a Cold-Climate Heat Pump
If you live in a region of the country that regularly experiences temperatures below freezing, like in the Hudson Valley, then it’s time to consider investing in a cold-climate heat pump. The EPA has suggested that homeowners can save up to 50% on their annual heating bills by switching from traditional electric baseboards to new cold-climate heat pumps. That’s a significant amount of energy savings. Furthermore, when you switch from a fuel-burning heating system over to a heat pump, you don’t have to worry about any harmful carbon monoxide emissions and you don’t need an exhaust ventilation system.
One really cool advantage of investing in a heat pump is that it can make you eligible to receive tax incentives. The most common is through the federal government under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2020. You can claim up to 30% of the total cost of your new system in a tax rebate up to a maximum amount of $3,200. This can significantly help to reduce the overall upfront cost of investing in this new type of HVAC system for your home.
Another great advantage of cold-climate heat pumps is that they can operate with both a ducted and ductless setup. If you already have ductwork in your home from an old heating system, you can simply install a heat pump with one indoor air handler unit for a very affordable price. However, if your home doesn’t have any existing ductwork, you don’t have to worry about the large upfront expense to install it.
Rather, you can opt for a ductless heat pump system that uses multiple indoor air handler units to deliver warm and cold air throughout the various rooms of your home. The beauty of a ductless setup is that you can better control the temperature in each area of your home and maximize your energy savings throughout the entire year.
A Note on Lifespan and Maintenance
When comparing both electric and cold-climate heat pumps, it’s vital to discuss their lifespans and overall maintenance needs. Both styles of heat pumps will last for around 15 years, assuming they receive proper care and prompt repair service. Both systems will require annual maintenance service by an HVAC professional to keep them in tip-top condition.
Reliable Heat Pump Installation Service
WK Mechanical, Inc. offers reliable heat pump installation service for the Middletown, NY community. We can also help with all your heating, air conditioning, water heater, in-home comfort consultation, commercial HVAC, generator, indoor air quality, and water quality services. Simply call our friendly staff today to book your next service consultation.
