My brother doesn’t have a heat pump but he told me he’s been thinking about installing one before winter. You can choose and adjust the temperature based on the weather outside and your own preference so that your house is cooled exactly how you like it. It sounds like you’ve got a lot to consider. Would a heat pump be a good choice? Hello and thanks for asking. Top Kichler Ceiling Fans: Our 2021 Review, DeLonghi TRH0715 Oil Filled Radiator Heater: Full Review 2021, DeLonghi TRD40615E Dragon Oil Filled Radiator Heater: Full Review 2021, Affiliate Disclosure: When you buy a product via our links, we sometimes earn a referral fee. The water heater wouldn’t pose a problem. Any recommendations? So, if you wanted to power your heat pump via generator it could be done. Price match guarantee. All rooms open off a 32×16 great room. The average lifespan of a heat pump is. We are doing a full remodel of a 2400 sq foot house in Seattle, and are in the process of removing the old oil tank and furnace and adding gas lines (range and fireplace for sure). Years ago we lost electrical power during an ice storm. We are finding that the heat pump is not cooling the second story of our home to low enough temps (still uncomfortable at night). Hello, I am rebuilding my home on Mercer Island essentially from the ground up. Call 800-398-4663 or. As a homeowner, you might be considering a heat pump vs. air conditioner to cool your home. Here, heat pumps are a great option because we do not have extreme temperatures. Heat pumps work by moving heat from one place to another. They don’t cool off the house per se, but pull the heat right out of the house and reduce upstairs temperatures but as much as eight degrees. For an AC only unit, 16 SEER vs 13 SEER – both will cool your house. Thanks in advance. Air-source heat pumps draw heat from the outside air during the heating season and reject heat outside during the summer cooling season. Q#2 Would I be correct in assuming that a heat pump has far too big a start up surge to make powering one with a typical residential generator in an outage situation? Thx. We find that heat pumps are fantastic for our climate here in Western Washington. I live in Olympia, WA and my house is two story, 2200 sq ft. Also, with home already prepared with duct work, what ballpark cost are we talking about to add a HP or AC? I live in Oregon, not WA. Hello! An air conditioning system, like your fridge, absorbs heat from air that passes over the coil, and the resulting cool air is moved into your ducts and through your home. To cool your home, air-source heat pumps draw the heat out of your home. Heat pumps can be just as efficient for cooling during the summer as air conditioners are. Q#1: Would I be correct that the tankless water heater needs minor AC power to function? Our small 1400 sqft home has never had AC, and I need to replace our Trane XL80 that is 20 years old now, so wondering if a heat pump makes sense vs getting new furnace and separate AC unit. Even knowing your home the way that you do, the question still causes for some significant head-scratching. You will probably need another. Do Heat Pumps Cool as Well as Air Conditioners? Heat pumps are not suitable for every climate. Homes in Florida are more likely to have air conditioning than heat pumps because heat pumps become less effective at delivering cooling once the temperature rises past a certain level. A ductless heat pump single unit would provide cooling to up to 1000 sq ft or one part of the house for less. I like to share my love for technology and all things tech-related. Heat pumps are also mor… They are far better in parts of the country that have moderate or light winters. If it is small and/or low toward the ground on the upper level, it will not properly remove the heat that is collecting in the summer. Approximate cost for 1800 sq ft ranch with basement?thank you. I’m a senior and like my heat warming up fast. Also, if the power goes out we have a power generator which used to provide power to one of our furnaces which provided adequate heat for part of the house. The heat pump is a very efficient choice for any area, but especially here in Western Washington. You could opt for an attic “ductless” central unit and then run flexible ducts to the bedroom and the living space. Ductwork is poor even after heating company charged $5000 and I get to heat attic still but that is another story. It’s baseboard heat. These will use solar power to run a whole house fan. In most areas, the cost to create heat with a high efficiency electric heat pump is lower than the cost to create the same amount of heat with a natural gas furnace. I'm James. In fact, a heat pump generates four times the energy that it consumes. Is a heat pump expected to be as efficient as an A/C unit? What’s the difference between a heat pump and an air conditioner? It works by transferring heat instead of creating it (furnaces burn fuel to generate heat) which is why it is used as a two way system. . I have been thinking about buying a home but I have been worried that it would be able to provide sufficient air conditioning throughout the home. It's true that heat pumps can be very efficient, but most air conditioners are similar in terms of their efficiency. Thanks. Thank you! A heat pump offers a homeowner a great option for comfort… as well as a bit of a puzzling dilemma. A furnace and an AC will not be as efficient as a heat pump, but you will probably be thankful you chose an AC when things get very hot. The insulation isn’t the greatest in my walls, so the AC isn’t able to cool the whole house in the summer. We are in the San Francisco Bay Area (zone 3 moderate). For a ~1,600 sqft two floor home would a 16 SEER vs a basic 13 SEER unit be overkill based on average variables? Air Conditioning World, we will not be beaten on price. Thanks! That way you can make an informed call. Give us a call at 800-398-4663 or fill out a free estimate form and we would be happy to get into the details! Since the technology on them is more compact and advanced, the units themselves, as well as the installation, can be substantially more expensive than AC units. Hope that helps. You know your climate the best, but based on averages you would be using the cooling feature about 4 months of the year, part time in June and Sept and a lot of the time in July and August. As air gets pulled into your system and passes over those coils, the air cools down and the refrigerant heats up. I do understand that some A/C units can work only to cool (meaning to take the heat outside) but today most of them can also heat (taking the heat inside). With that in mind, below are some of the most common heat pump problems, as well as … That is a great question and there can be many factors that can influence your decision. Hi Thoughts? House is in Northeast . If you’re cooling a bigger building or entire home, central air conditioning makes the most sense. Thanks! We are buying another house with a 21 year old gas furnace + 7 y.o. Learn about sales and special offers before anyone else, plus get tips and tricks that keep your home comfortable and energy efficient. Hello Marjorie and thanks for asking. Just look at these two high quality systems from Lennox. The AC may have a slightly lower initial cost, but depending on how you currently heat your home, the heat pump should be able to pay you back for the difference over the life of the product (or sooner). This is because heat pumps and air conditioners operate in a very similar way. Check out our For the most part, we don’t get radical temperature extremes. How? Lots of space needed– you'll need enough space in your garden for the external condenser unit (comparable in size to an air-conditioning unit). But, we suggest having a pro give you a free estimate. If we get a heat pump, we are switching from heating from a (new 80 or 95% efficient) gas furnace to an electric heat pump. Thank you. We are thinking heat pump for heating/cooling/water heater with a small furnace to supplement during the winter will be the way to go, but not quite sure. In mild climates where heat pumps are more efficient for heating during the winter, one system can be used for both heating and cooling, reducing your overall The investment could pay for itself on the heating costs alone – and your air conditioning would be free! If you live in Western Washington, give us a call! currently my AC is over 25 years old and I do have old oil furnace. My question is, are they correct or misinformed? Also, are attic fans commonly installed in this area? Would a heat pump really save us more than a quality A/C unit? If the install is incorrect, even the best quality equipment can have a shorter lifespan. Is a heat pump much louder than an AC? I’m trying to cool a 3-zone NYC condo, and want maximum energy efficiency. Otherwise, you might look in your area for someone who offers free estimates to get a professional opinion of your available comfort options. Heat pumps can cool and heat, but there are some limitations. Of course, your local HVAC professional will best be able to guide you to a system to fit your needs. I’m getting a very efficient new furnace for heating (it gets cold here in Winter). Advertisement. The reason for looking into heat pump is due to high cost of propane. We are buying a house that has an efficient gas furnace. This is a bit complex which is why we send our team out to do it for you, and it’s part of your free estimate process. But it is important to make sure it’s the right choice for your needs. I don’t understand what is the difference cause they are working the same. Question: is that leaking water or refrigerant? Should I consider a heat pump? This is comparable to most furnaces and air conditioners. We’d love to help! In Seattle, you would also want to meet local noise ordinances. The main difference is that a heat pump can be used all year long—for both cooling and heating. If I decide to go with heat pump,then the existent furnace will be disabled or removed …correct? Which should I consider to get air conditioning, a heat pump or Central A/C? It will also provide cooling for those hot summer days (and 2015 has been a testament to that)! For instance, your climate zone. gas fired water heater and considering replacing those with a heat pump + tankless gas water heater. Hi, my husband and I are looking at buying a new construction home, around 4300 sf, in a rural part of King County that uses propane instead of gas. Though heat pumps can be a good alternative to an ac unit, they can’t do the work of a furnace when it comes to heating your home. So far I’ve narrowed the field down to Daikon’s LV series and models made by Fujitsu. Cooling can be performed by either an AC or a Heat pump. If your builder will not install a heat pump, you can contact Washington Energy after the building is completed and you are moved in, and we can likely add one for you. Is it worth my while to look into heating-and-cooling ductless systems, or are my existing radiators more efficient? Best of luck! HEAT PUMP LONGEVITY. In this article, we’ll compare a heat pump vs AC, and explain the advantages and limitations of heat pumps. My oil furnace is 15 years old and is working fine. Homes here can get by with a heat pump because we don’t have the temperature extremes you often experience there. When it comes to household cooling, a heat pump and A/C are essentially the same machine. Knowtheflo is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. My gas/electric (joint) PSE bill runs about $95 in the summer and $250 in the winter. Thanks. The filters and coils in AC units also need to be cleaned on a regular basis. Air Conditioners are paired usually with a gas furnace, as you explain, to provide heat. What would you recommend for Jarrettsville MD. Heat pumps and air conditioners actually perform virtually the same, with very similar energy efficiency levels. We don’t know enough about the SLC climate or your energy usage / cost to make that recommendation. It was built with higher insulation and we added solar panels last summer. This means that the underfloor heating or wall heating can function as underfloor cooling or wall cooling during the summer – without any additional investment costs. That’s good to know that a heat pump can heat and cool your home and that it also is an economical source for heat. Hi Michael, only heat pumps perform both heating and cooling. Will one heat pump be adequate to heat and cool my house. If your home is currently heated by an inefficient heat source, for example oil, you’ll see much lower heating costs with a heat pump. Because heat pumps remove heat from a cool area and transfer it to a warm area, they can be used to both heat and cool and so can be useful all year long. Washington Energy Services’ home energy specialists can help you choose your best cooling option. Heat pumps can provide cooling and reduce the cost of your heating, to give most homeowners better payback, especially if you have a less efficient or older furnace. What most people do not realize though is that heat pumps also work in reverse and pull heat out of your house during the summer. Give us a call at 800-398-4663 or fill out our free estimate form. A heat pump should be a near absolute in an application where the alternative is propane only for heat. Maintenance and upkeep can be a major hassle with air conditioning units. I’m looking to replace my heat pump but I’m not sure if a heat pump or an air conditioner is the best way to go. Will I save more energy if I go with a Lennox Signature Collection XP25 Heat Pump? Hi, If so, give us a call to discuss your options. If you have a very efficient, relatively new furnace that provides sufficient heat and do not think you could benefit from energy savings on your heating, a central AC might be all you need. People have told me that I would not like a Heat pump based on their reputation and my heat preference. It seems like the cost saving may not be as much, plus the heat pump has a shorter life span compared to an AC. The majority of heat pump systems found in homes are air-source systems. I understand the difference between the two and my question is: Since the heat pump will use electricity to heat until the oil furnace needs to kick in at lower temps,do you think that the cost of the electricity would substantially offset the price of oil, if using oil alone? Or do you recommend a subordinate heat source for our cold wet winter days? I recently replace my furnace with an energy star efficient unit. The AC quote was for a Trane 16 SEER for $5750 and the heat pump quote was $6250 for a Trane14 SEER. Ductless air conditioners generally are more energy efficient than conventional central air-conditioning. They use the science of thermal energy to transfer heat in the air from one place to another. The heat pump you describe sounds like it's designed to move heat in both directions. The cost for AC and the heat pump will be similar, likely around $4,000 – $6,000. So said another way, for days that you would have heated with oil but are now able to heat with a heat pump, you save about 2/3 of the cost you were paying for the oil. We live in South Louisiana. It’s a wonderful blog and it will be helpful to so many people. Geothermal heat pumps use pipes to move heat from inside your house to outside. The way you explain is very easy to understand. With a Home Performance Audit, a full understanding of your home is achieved and a plan is created so both the homeowner and the contractor understand what’s going on with the home’s systems and then decide the best approach to keep you and your family comfortable. Posted in A heat pump will have the ability to provide cooling (air conditioning), but will only do so evenly if the builder has the HVAC contractor install a notable sized return air duct on the ceiling of the upper level (if it is a two story house). The refrigerant, now warm, goes to the condenser coils, where the compressor makes it cool again before returning it to the indoor coils. It was built in 2006 and has a gas furnace and existing ductwork. However, with your sq.footage we’d suggest that you schedule a free estimate from one of our trained craftsmen at Washington Energy Services. It sounds like you’re well on your way to a more comfortable and efficient home. We have a two level 1750 sq ft home in Vancouver Wa. I have contacted a couple of HVAC dealers to quote for a heat pump to replace an old gas furnace only system (no AC and no solar). A heat pump will both cool and heat. We serve the Olympia area and can draw up a list of very comparable options with higher SEER ratings to get your return on investment even faster. Several different factors can determine whether you’d want to use a heat pump vs air conditioners, and there is no one answer for everyone. Then again, it could have a failed component. The collected heat is expelled through an exhaust process. In the summer, heat pumps will move the warm air outside, leaving your house cool. A heat pump pulls heat out of the outside air when it heats your home but can be reversed to pull heat out of your house and cool. But don’t count air conditioners out just yet! Hi Kim, We would probably recommend a ductless heat pump. They will have 20 SEER and 13 HSPF and would be a little more efficient. I think you’ll find that AC will not be necessary unless you want a complete guarantee of year-round comfort. It’s difficult for us to say about your radiators, but at the very least you can be sure that ductless is a great way to achieve cooling in an efficient way. What is your opinion or recommendations? We would be happy to do that for you, just give us a call. There are a lot of benefits to using a heat pump vs air conditioners: Pros. Although heat is included in the name, you can use a heat pump for air conditioning. We live in Seattle and put in a heat pump last year for our 5000 sq ft home. I’m not sure if it needs service or if that is to be expected of a heat pump? Even though your current system is working fine, we applaud your forward thinking just in case it fails. The home has a crawl space and attic. Insulation has a huge impact on the comfort of your home – in both winter and summer. I am in favor of heat pumps and the house is about 2100 SQ Feet split foyer. I have a heat pump and find it is not keeping up with the current hot weather. We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you. These systems are made up of two different parts. I thank you because the article has told me something new. There are enough differences between the various types of equipment in function and cost which can influence which one a person would like to purchase. A heat pump does exactly what the name implies, it pumps and heats air into your home from outside to help keep it warm during winter. I liked that you explained that it would be smart to get your pumps checked. Another option for a lot less money is a Solar Attic fan. Installation costs of heat pumps can be high, and while they may save you money in the long-run, an expensive upfront cost is not possible for everyone. To start, let’s examine some similarities between heat pumps and air conditioners. It’s a two story house approximately 2500 Sq ft. The average lifespan of a heat pump is generally 15 years. A BPI certified auditor will do a whole home assessment including a blower door test and infrared imaging. For homeowners with ducts the leading options are central air conditioning or a heat pump. I would like to get AC for our short summers in the northwest. If we get a heat pump, it will run most of the time for heat and AC just outside our family room and kids rooms (they’re on the 2nd story) and I’m concerned about hearing it all the time, whereas an AC will run only a few weeks out of a year. We are looking in to getting a AC unit or heat pump. If in Western Washington, where we operate, heat pumps are ideal and it is what we would recommend. Since they do pull ambient heat from the cold outside air to heat your area, heat pumps aren’t nearly as effective in brutally cold climates. Split-ductless heat pumps also are made up of an indoor and an outdoor unit. Would a heat pump be better? House will have gas furnace and ductwork. Okay, there’s more science than that, but you get the idea (or check out http://home.howstuffworks.com/ac.htm). When I moved to Washington, I was told I had a “Heat Pump” (and that’s what it says on the outdoor unit) AND a “furnace” (which in FL was called “Auxiliary Heat”), and that it only heated. Air conditioning, Ductless heat pump, Heat pump. 2020 © Washington Energy Services. There are room air conditioners that hang out your window and cool one room and air conditioning systems, aka central air, which is what we are comparing to heat pumps today. Ditto Chris, above! This is helpful since I’m looking to replace my HVAC system since it is about 20 years old, so I’m trying to figure out what to replace it with. Thanks. In the Miami FL nearly all year warm climate which is the best option between A/C and Heat Pump? When you live in areas where the summers are very hot or the winters quite cold, most heat pumps are not equipped to be able to handle the extremes, so you may need a backup system. Good luck on your install! Knowtheflo.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. 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