You have plenty of options if you're installing a new heating system in your house. If you're lucky enough to live in an area serviced by numerous utilities, you may even be able to choose between a wide range of potential fuel sources. With so many options, you might feel that choosing the best one is an overwhelming or even impossible task.
While most modern heating systems have advantages, heat pumps are a surprisingly underutilized option that may be an excellent fit for many homes. If you haven't considered one before, now may be the time to take another look at this highly efficient technology.
What Are Heat Pumps?
Heat pumps are a relatively mature and established technology. You may also have heard people refer to these devices as reversible air conditioners. This terminology exists because a heat pump and an air conditioner work on identical principles. A traditional heater attempts to warm rooms by adding energy, but heat pumps and air conditioners alter temperature by moving energy from one place to another.
While it's not essential to have a detailed understanding of the physics behind this process, it is crucial to understand that energy is available even in frigid locations. For example, you may have noticed the coils on the back of your fridge heating up. This heat comes from inside your refrigerator, even though it seems relatively cold inside when you open the door.
Heat pumps bring heat into your home through a similar process. They transport energy from the outside environment into your house, raising the temperature. A heat pump can accomplish this even when it seems much colder outside. When operating in reverse, they function just like an air conditioner: moving hot air from your home's interior to the outside environment.
Why Are Heat Pumps Worth Your Investment?
Heat pumps offer numerous advantages offer traditional heating systems. In addition to allowing you to install a single unit for both heating and air conditioning, they are also drastically more efficient. Moving heat from one place to another requires less energy than producing it, allowing heat pumps to keep your home warm while also reducing your utility bills.
They're also typically better for the environment. Since you're supplying the heat pump with energy from the grid, your system will enjoy the efficiency that comes from large-scale power generation. This higher efficiency means you can often reduce your overall energy footprint when compared to burning gas or oil in your own furnace.
These advantages make heat pumps an excellent option for the environmentally conscious or anyone who wants to save money on their utility bills. If you're looking for a great way to upgrade your home's heating system, it's worth discussing the pros and cons of heat pumps with your HVAC contractor.
For more information on heating services, contact an HVAC contractor near you.
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