Spring has arrived, and with it, the promise of warmer weather. Unfortunately, the spring season is much less predictable than winter. Rain, snow and sun can all make visits throughout a single week (or a single day).
This creates a conundrum for homeowners who want to stay comfortable indoors without reverting back to propane or fuel oil usage. Fortunately, heat pumps provide a solution.
Heat on the move
Using electricity, heat pumps extract heat from the air and move it around to either keep your home cool or warm depending on the weather and your preference.
Working alone or in combination with other systems, heat pumps can reduce your heating costs by as much as 40 percent. Additionally, these devices remove moisture from the air, which results in superior air quality.
This falls in line with the demands of modern homeowners. According to the 2016 American Home Comfort Study, many HVAC buyers were spurred by a desire for a more efficient product to reduce utility bills and because they wanted to improve the comfort of their homes.
For some homeowners, the problem may be individual rooms more than the house as a whole.
Whether it’s due to poor insulation, HVAC system imbalances, ill-fitting windows or a faulty furnace, the solution may be a mini-split ductless system. Mini-split heat pumps are designed to control hot or cold spots in a home and make ideal replacements for AC window units.
Make the most of your equipment
If you decide a heat pump is right for your home, there are steps you can take to ensure its efficiency and effectiveness.
First, heat pumps won’t result in substantial energy savings if your home has substandard insulation. Investing in proper insulation for your attic, walls and crawl spaces will help boost the energy savings potential of your heat pump. Adding weather stripping and caulk around doors and windows, respectively, will do the same. It’s also worth examining the ductwork throughout your property to ensure it’s properly sealed.
Next, focus on proper maintenance of your heat pump. Parts such as fans, refrigerator coils, reversing valves and compressors should be cleaned and tuned regularly. Filters should also be changed or cleaned on a monthly basis. Finally, the heat pump system as a whole should be serviced by a professional once a year.
Spring weather may be spotty, but the best heat pumps allow you to keep your home as cool or warm as you want without breaking the bank.