Heat pumps are the often underestimated but actually much cooler little brothers of traditional heating devices. Many people overlook the option of using a high-efficiency heat pump in place of expensive, energy sucking, bulky furnaces and cooling units. While a heat pump won’t be the most practical
option if you have a large space to heat or live in an extremely hot or cold climate, those with moderate heating and cooling needs would benefit from a high-efficiency heat pump.
Heat Pumps Can Save You Money
So what does a heat pump do exactly? They use electricity to move heat from a cold space to a warm space. Basically, when it’s cold outside, it will move the warm air into your house and when it’s hot outside it moves the warm air out of your house. Since the heat is just being moved, not created, the cost of operating a heat pump is considerably less expensive to operate.
The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that running a heat pump can provide equivalent space heating for as little as a quarter of the cost of operating conventional equipment.
They Save The Environment
Space heating accounts for an estimated 45% of most energy bills, making it the largest energy expense in the United States. Luckily, if you heat with electricity, a heat pump can decrease the amount of electricity you use for heating by as much as 30% to 40%. While that directly translates to cutting costs on your bills, it also directly translates to helping the environment. Yes, you are saving electricity, but by using an electric heat pump you’re also saving the natural gas (which is the most commonly used home heating fuel) or propane you would be using if you were running a boiler or furnace.
They’re Customizable To Your Needs
Many heat pumps have extra, advanced features to better suit your needs. For instance, two-speed compressors allow you to control the capacity at which your heat pump is functioning. Traditional compressors can only operate at full capacity, meaning either full-blast heating or none at all. Two-speed compressors give you control, which can also cut down on your electricity bill. Another feature, the desuperheater, recovers waste heat from the heat pump’s cooling mode and uses it to heat water. The Department of Energy states that a desuperheater-equipped heat pump can heat water two to three times more efficiently than an ordinary electric water heater.
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