Is a Heat Pump Enough to Keep You Warm in Autumn?

With the leaves falling and temperatures dropping, you’re probably minimizing your use of air conditioner to save some cash on energy. However, the closer you get to winter requires you to run your heating system. If you have a furnace, running it during this time of year may be too expensive and you’re perhaps looking for ways to stay comfortable at home without having to break the bank. You have come to the right place.

Four Seasons Air Specialists is your trusted HVAC company in Dellwood MN. In partnership with Lennox Industries, we offer you an array of energy-efficient heat pumps that deliver both heating and cooling for your home. In this blog, we will give you some helpful information to guide you in deciding whether you need a heat pump for your home or not.

What is a Heat Pump?

A heat pump is a device that uses a small amount of energy to move heat from one location to another. It usually pulls heat out of the air or ground to heat a home, but the process is reversible to cool it during summer. A heat pump operates the same way an air conditioner does, the only difference is that it has a reversing valve that changes the direction of the heat transfer.

Is it Energy-Efficient?

Since a heat pump only moves heat instead of generating it, it uses very minimal energy, and the smaller the difference between the temperature outside and the desired temperature, the lesser energy it consumes. 

A ground-source heat pump can deliver up to 3-4 kilowatts of heat for every 1 kilowatt of electricity it consumes. Since it uses free heat energy from the ground, a heat pump achieves greater energy efficiency compared to any other heating system, i.e., a furnace.

What this means is that since a heat pump delivers 3-4 times the consumed energy, it can reduce your home’s heating costs by as much as two-thirds compared to direct electric heating. 

When Does a Heat Pump Start to be Ineffective?

There is thermal energy in the air, even when temperatures are low. To humans, the difference between zero degrees to 70 degrees Fahrenheit is significant. However, even when the air has a temperature of zero degrees, it still contains about 85 percent of the thermal energy as the air at 70 degrees Fahrenheit. A heat pump does not pump in the air directly; it takes away the heat from the air and uses it to heat your home. A slight difference in thermal energy greatly impacts a heat pump’s energy efficiency. When the temperature goes as low as 40 degrees Fahrenheit, it begins to drop in efficiency and it becomes less efficient than a furnace when the temperature reaches 25 degrees and lower.

Benefits of a Heat Pump

Aside from energy efficiency, you will enjoy several advantages when you use a heat pump during mild weather, including consistent heating. You will appreciate having the same level of heat in every area of your home, and you will avoid having frequent temperature fluctuations. 

Heat pumps are quiet and convenient to operate. The compressor is typically placed outside the home and helps to keep noise levels to a minimum. Your family will have peaceful nights, perfect for a relaxing sleep.

Certain heat pump models offer advanced features to better suit your needs. A unit with a two-speed compressor allows you to control the capacity at which the device is functioning. As a result, your energy consumption is greatly lowered. Other models can also recover waste heat from the heat pump’s cooling mode and use it to heat water.

With proper maintenance and care, a heat pump can last between 15 and 20 years. Having a qualified professional to periodically take care of your unit will enable you you can rely on this HVAC system for many years.

Work with Heating Pros

If you are looking to have a heat pump installed in your home, call Four Seasons Air Specialists. Our heating professionals will help you find the right unit that meets your home’s heating demands. With us, you are guaranteed to have a heat pump that’s properly sized and installed, ensuring optimum performance. We are your reliable White Bear Lake heating and air conditioning company.