If you are looking for a new heating system for your Hudson Valley home, you may come across information about heat pumps. Before you make such a significant investment, you may be wondering if the energy savings are worthwhile. Read on to give context to your next heating upgrade.
What Is a Heat Pump?
The most important thing to understand about heat pumps is that they are not direct replacements for your furnace. Heat pumps provide both heating and cooling. The unit is mounted outside your home and uses heat exchange to warm and cool air.
How a Heat Pump Works
Heat pumps use electricity to operate and rely on refrigerants and the heat exchange process. During the summer, the heat pump pulls heat from the air inside your home and releases it outside. During the winter, a heat pump can extract even a small amount of heat from outdoor air or the ground that is distributed into your home.
Heat Pumps vs. Furnaces
Heat pumps are much more energy efficient than furnaces because of how they work. A furnace needs some type of heat source that is generated from a fuel, such as electricity or natural gas. The fuel is used to warm the air before it is circulated through the ducts of your HVAC system. A heat pump only needs enough electricity to operate rather than increase the temperature of the air.
Types of Heat Pumps
There are two types of heat pumps, and the experts at WK Mechanical, Inc. can help you decide which design is best for your Hudson Valley, Western New York home. The first type is an air-source heat pump that relies on air inside and outside your home to provide heating and cooling. The second type, a ground-source heat pump, is also known as a geothermal heat pump. It uses the air inside your home and heat from the ground. Ground-source heat pumps are the more expensive option for Hudson Valley homeowners, but they save you more money in energy consumption each month compared to air-source models.
Energy-Efficient Design
Believe it or not, a heat pump is capable of distributing 300 times the energy that it requires to operate. With a heat pump, you can expect an energy efficiency rating of 100%, whereas a high-quality furnace is only about 85% energy efficient.
Installing a New Heat Pump
If you have a new home under construction in the Hudson Valley area, installing a heat pump is easy with the experts from WK Mechanical, Inc.. If you are replacing an existing furnace, a little more work is required. If your furnace uses electricity, the process is much easier than with a furnace that relies on natural gas. You can also replace your existing AC unit with a heat pump.
Maintenance of a Heat Pump
Heat pumps require the same amount of, if not less, maintenance compared to furnaces and air conditioning units. You will need to have the heat pump serviced twice a year, ideally in the spring and fall. Like your furnace and AC unit, a heat pump has filters that need to be changed out every three to six months. You can set up maintenance appointments with a technician from WK Mechanical, Inc., and we will take care of all your heat pump and HVAC maintenance needs. The service includes:
- Check refrigerant level
- Inspect ducts for leaks and perform repairs
- Change filters
- Check lubricant levels
- Evaluate air flow through the heat pump
- Perform repairs to protect the equipment
- Check for signs of pest infiltration
- Remove branches, leaves, and other debris from around the unit
- Check indoor air vents for proper air flow
- Check all thermostats for proper calibration and operation
- Inspect electrical components
Other Ways to Reduce Energy Consumption
A heat pump is a pretty large investment for most homeowners in the Hudson Valley area, and there are other ways that you can further reduce energy consumption. We recommend programmable thermostats, zoning systems, and routine repairs to keep your HVAC equipment running efficiently.
Find a Heat Pump for Your Home
WK Mechanical, Inc. specializes in HVAC services for Hudson Valley homes, including installation, maintenance, and repairs. If you are interested in a heat pump, give us a call and speak with one of our heating and cooling experts. We can explain how a heat pump will work for your home and schedule a time for a technician to come by for an estimate. WK Mechanical, Inc. can also help with water quality, indoor air quality, generators, and more.
