If you’re looking for a new HVAC system, you may be considering a heat pump. And if you aren’t, you should be! Heat pumps are extremely energy-efficient and provide exceptional indoor comfort year-round. If you aren’t familiar with them, it’s worth learning how they work and what advantages they offer. Here’s everything you need to know about heat pumps and their efficiency.
What’s a Heat Pump?
A heat pump is an HVAC system that provides all-electric heating and cooling from a single unit. They’re similar to conventional air conditioners. However, heat pumps operate bidirectionally, removing heat in the summer and bringing heat indoors in the winter. To do this, heat pumps leverage the refrigeration cycle. That involves manipulating the pressure, state, and temperature of a refrigerant to control when it absorbs or releases heat energy.
In cooling mode, a heat pump works exactly like any other AC unit. In heating mode, however, it reverses its refrigerant flow, allowing it to collect heat outdoors. Even on the coldest winter day, there’s ample heat energy in the outdoor air. And because heat energy spontaneously flows from warmer substances to colder ones, heat pumps can tap into it. All they need is a refrigerant that can get colder than the outside temperature. Most heat pumps can lower their refrigerant temperature to as low as -15 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s more than cold enough to get the job done!
How Efficient Are Heat Pumps?
Heat pumps routinely rank among the most efficient HVAC options on the market. However, it’s in heating mode that they really shine. In mild winter weather, a heat pump can operate at efficiencies approaching 400%. That’s over four times as efficient as the best gas furnace available. As a result, even when accounting for the higher cost of electricity versus natural gas, heat pumps can save you significant sums. And if you’re upgrading from an electric furnace, your savings would be massive. According to the US Department of Energy, houses with fuel oil, propane, or an electric furnace may save up to $1,000 each year with a heat pump.
It’s important to note that heat pumps do lose some efficiency as temperatures drop. They work best at outside temperatures of 40 degrees Fahrenheit and higher. However, a standard heat pump should still be at least 200% efficient at temperatures as low as 25 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s about the lowest average winter temperature we expect here. Even during periodic cold snaps, they shouldn’t last long enough to increase your heating bills much.
If you like what heat pumps have to offer, you’re not alone. There’s a reason they’re rapidly growing in popularity. If you want to learn more or get a free heat pump installation estimate, contact ACE ABQ in Albuquerque, NM today!