Falling outdoor temperatures always mean at least one thing: increasing energy costs from your heating source. Keep reading to find out how you can conserve energy and save money with a heat pump.

How do heat pumps work?
Heat pumps use energy to move heat from one place to another. They are available in electric and natural gas varieties. Unlike air conditioners and other heaters, they have the unique ability to both heat and cool your home.

In the winter, they pull the heat from the outside of your home and transport it into your home. In the summer, they cool your home by performing the opposite action and removing the heat from the air in your home and transferring it outside. The EPA estimates that a heat pump can reduce the amount of electricity you use for heating by 30%-40%.

Types of heat pumps
Air-source – The most common type of heat pumps are air-source heat pumps. Air-source heat pumps use the surrounding air as their transfer source. While air-source heat pumps are more efficient than their electric air conditioner and furnace counterparts, they are not as efficient as geothermal heat pumps.

Geothermal – Geothermal heat pumps use the ground as the exchange medium instead of the surrounding air. The constant temperature of the earth results in a much higher efficiency than air-source heat pumps. Unlike air-source heat pumps, geothermal heat pumps remain an efficient method of heating even in very cold temperatures. They are also quieter and last longer.

Absorption – Absorption heat pumps are the same as air-source heat pumps except that they run off of something other than electricity, such as natural gas, propane or heated water.

Benefits of a heat pump
Heat pumps work very well in moderate to mild heating climates. They can provide substantial benefits, including:

• Very low greenhouse gas emissions
• Uses 30%-40% less energy
• Long lifespan
• Quiet operation
• Low maintenance costs

Extreme Cold
As the outside temperature decreases, so does the heat pump’s ability to provide efficient heating. However they can still improve your heating system’s efficiency in a dual fuel or hybrid system. In these systems, the heat pump provides heat at lower outdoor temperatures while a natural gas furnace acts as a backup heat source for the coldest days. This setup allows for the maximum efficiency of both units.

Heat pumps conserve energy by moving heat instead of creating it. If you have an excessive heating bill each winter, you may be able to save money by upgrading your unit to a more efficient heat pump.

Contact HVAC Warehouse to see if a heat pump can help you save money or request a quote online for a new heating system.