Common Questions About Heat Pumps
Living in the north means people focus more on heating than other homeowners. Due to local climate conditions, homes require special considerations to keep warm when temperatures drop. In the past, having a heat pump to make it through the winter was considered impossible. With new technological advances, heat pumps are more versatile than ever, even to the point they can keep homes warm in the harshest environments.
What Is a Heat Pump?
Until recently, local homes’ heating sources were limited to fossil fuels. The only electric options were costly electrical resistance heating and electric boilers. These accrue massive costs in the winter when they are constantly in use. If someone happened to have a heat pump, it had to be a ground-source heat pump.
The latest heat pumps are air-source heat pumps. This means they draw their heating and cooling power from the air instead of a temperature-stable source like the ground or a large body of water. This simplifies installation and helps them reduce energy costs during the winter.
Heat pumps work by taking air conditioning principles and reversing the cycle. Most people know that the condenser unit of the AC that stays outdoors blows hot air during the summer. That’s because the refrigerant absorbs heat from indoors and pumps it outside. In the winter, the process can be reversed to provide cheap and reliable heating for any space.
Benefits of Heat Pump Technology
One of the biggest hurdles to deploying heat pumps in homes is the lack of knowledge that most people have about them. When people are informed about the benefits of heat pump technology, they become much more likely to explore the possibilities. Some of the benefits of heat pumps that can help homeowners decide to make the switch are:
- Low Carbon Emissions: Heat pumps rely only on electrical power to heat and cool a home. This eliminates a home’s reliance on fossil fuels for heating, and when tied to a renewable grid, heat pumps can greatly lower carbon emissions.
- Lower Monthly Bills: Because heat pumps are so efficient, they keep bills low all year. Using the principles that make heat pumps operate, homeowners can expect more consistent bills yearly instead of high bills in the winter.
- Versatility: Heat pumps can be retrofitted into almost any space. They can replace existing central AC systems using the same ductwork, or they can be installed as ductless mini splits in places not outfitted for ductwork.
When to Call Professionals for Heat Pump Repair
Making the switch to heat pumps is easy. Not only do they operate like any other central AC system, but they also show signs that they need repairs, just like a typical heating and cooling system. Call a professional if a heat pump displays signs like:
- Loud operation
- New noises
- Poor indoor air quality
- No operation
- Inoperable thermostat
- High monthly bills
- Long or short cycles
About Central Heating
Central Heating helps homeowners with all of their indoor safety and comfort solutions. They offer duct cleaning service and heat pump installation and repair, making them the only contractor a homeowner will need to keep their home comfortable. Call today for heat pump services in Hawkestone, ON.
