Heat Pumps
Benefits of a Heat Pump
Energy Efficient
2-in-1 HVAC System
Improved Air Quality
Operates Quietly
How Does a Heat Pump Work?
Heat pumps are the most energy-efficient and economical way to keep your home comfortable year-round. Heat pumps utilize electricity to move heat from a cool space to a warm space, making the cool space cooler and warm space warmer. Even in cold air, heat energy is present so when it’s cold outside, a heat pump takes the heat in the outside air and transfers it inside, warming your home. During warmer weather, it reverses direction, acting like an air conditioner, to remove heat from your home.
Types of Heat Pumps
Air Source
An air-source heat pump is the most common type of the electric heat pump options. The air-source provides efficient heating and cooling for your home by using an outdoor unit to transfer heat between your house and the outside air.
In the winter, this system removes heat from the outside air and releases it inside, warming your home. A reversing valve can change the direction of the flow, acting like an air conditioner, to cool your house during the summer months.
Switching from gas to a high efficiency heat pump could save you around $700 each year. A high efficiency heat pump has SEER rating of 18 or higher. Learn more about energy efficiency ratings below.
Hybrid (Dual-Fuel)
If your home has a relatively new gas or propane furnace, the hybrid (dual-fuel) heat pump, also known as piggyback systems, may be a better choice than simply replacing your old air conditioner.
Benefits at a Glance
- Energy Savings – Customers can save energy and money by switching from a gas furnace to a hybrid heat pump.
- Reliability – Instead of letting a heat pump work overtime during bitterly cold temperatures, the furnace can quickly heat the home.
- Comfort – Year-round comfort from one system that heats and cools.
High Efficiency
A hybrid system combines a high-efficiency electric heat pump with a gas furnace to create one system that heats, cools and saves energy and money. If you have an existing furnace that’s functioning properly, you can put it to good use as a secondary or auxiliary heat source with a new, high-efficiency electric heat pump.
How It Works
In the summer, a hybrid heat pump is a dependable high-efficiency air conditioner. As the heating season starts, it continues to provide economical home comfort. During normal winter weather, the energy-efficient heat pump is the primary heating source. During extremely cold weather, a hybrid system automatically switches to the auxiliary fuel source for backup heating. The heat pump is automatically turned back on when temperatures begin to rise again.
Environmentally Friendly
Depending on the outside temperature, the hybrid system chooses the heating technology that is most efficient based on outdoor air temperature, reducing the carbon footprint.
Geothermal
Geothermal heat pumps provide a technology that utilizes renewable energy generated by the sun and the near-constant ground temperature to heat and cool your home. Rather than using outside air, this electrically powered system transfers heat through special underground pipes. Water circulates through these closed-loop pipes to the heating and cooling system inside your home to maintain an ideal temperature.
In the summer, a geothermal heat pump transfers heat through the water in the pipes from the home into the ground to provide air conditioning. During cold winter weather, the earth heats the water to provide indoor heating. Refined heat pump designs and improved pipe materials make these systems efficient heating and cooling options.
Energy Efficiency Rating
Whatever type heat pump you choose, the efficiency rating of the equipment is very important. Heat pumps are rated by a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER). The higher the SEER, the greater the efficiency and the less it costs you to cool your home. The rating is much like the MPG rating for an automobile. The minimum SEER rating on equipment manufactured today is 15 SEER. While units rated 15 SEER provide savings, we suggest at least 18 SEER for even more savings. Higher SEER-rated equipment is widely available and efficiency ratings will vary according to the BTUH size and brand selection. A unit with a high SEER rating may cost more initially, but because of its low operating cost, it will pay for itself over time. Heat pump heating efficiency ratings are expressed as the Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF). Just like the SEER rating for cooling, the higher the HSPF rating, the greater the efficiency. HSPF ratings range from about 6.8 to greater than 8.
Easy Financing for Your Next Home Energy Project
From heating and cooling system replacements and upgrades to generators to weather-proofing, Smart Financing offers fast, affordable options for your next home energy project.
Upgrade Today and Get Up to $2,000 in Tax Credits
Homeowners are eligible for a tax credit equal to 30% of the installation cost for the highest efficiency tier products.* You can also get up to $600 for qualified air conditioners and furnaces. For more information, visit Energy Star Federal Tax Credits or discuss these tax credit options with your tax preparer.
What Should I Consider When Choosing a New Heat Pump?
1. Size: Select the right size for your home. If a heat pump is undersized or oversized, it will not heat or cool your home effectively.
2. Fuel source: Since there is no danger of combustible gases or toxic emissions with an electric heat pump, they do a better job at keeping indoor air clean, healthy and free of toxins.
3. Energy efficiency: Maximize energy savings and help the environment when you select an ENERGY STAR®-rated electric heat pump.
4. Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER): Air-source and hybrid systems measure cooling efficiency by SEER. The federal minimum standard for new homes in the southeast is 15 SEER.
5. Two-speed compressors: These compressors allow the heat pump to operate close to the heating or cooling capacity at any moment, saving energy and reducing compressor wear.
6. Variable-speed or dual-speed motors: Variable-speed fans attempt to keep air moving at a comfortable velocity, minimizing cooling drafts and maximizing energy savings.
7. Desuperheater: The desuperheater recovers waste heat from the cooling mode and utilizes it to heat water.
Additional Resources
*Credits only apply to the homeowner’s principal residence. Credits do not apply to rental property. There is no income limit on the HVAC credits. The dealer must provide the customer with a copy of their invoice displaying Brand, Model and Serial Number for tax purposes.