Heat Pumps a Good Fit for Warm Climates

Heat Pumps a Good Fit for Warm Climates

Heat pumps are considered a much more energy-efficient way to heat and cool a home than air conditioning and furnace alternatives. A heat pump is capable of delivering one-and-a-half to three times more heat energy than the energy it uses to run. Heat pumps are becoming an increasingly favored type of heating and cooling option, particularly in areas with moderate winters.

The most common heat pump is the air source type. An air source heat pump uses a refrigeration system comprising a compressor and two coils. When a heat pump heats an area, liquid refrigerant in the outdoor coil will absorb heat from the outside air, evaporating it into gas, and sending it indoors to another coil. A fan pushes air from the home past the indoor coil with the refrigerant, where it is heated and then released throughout the home’s duct system. This is much more cost-effective than a furnace because the heat pump is moving heat. In a regular furnace, heat is combusted, costing much more in energy and electricity costs.

In addition to the air source option, there are several other different types of heat pumps that are manufactured and available in the United States. These include absorption heat pumps, geothermal and ductless mini-splits. Generally speaking, though, an air source heat pump is the best choice for moderate to warmer climates.  They do not perform as well in areas that have prolonged periods of freezing weather because heat pump switches to an alternative, more expensive heating source when it gets too cold outside for it to extract heat efficiently.

Selecting a heat pump is made easier by the EnergyGuide label each one bears.  The EnergyGuide label indicates a heating season performance factor (HSPF), and a seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER), which measures cooling efficiency.

To discover which type of heat pump may be right for you, and for more expert advice about heat pumps and other issues related to home comfort, please feel free to contact us at Air-Tro, Inc. We’ve been serving the California area since 1969.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the greater Monrovia, California area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).

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