In the last 15 years, the number of heat pumps Canadians have installed in homes has more than doubled from 400,000 to 850,000. There are many reasons for this, but lower energy costs are one major benefit.
If you are considering installing a heat pump, here are some of the main benefits you can expect including potential energy savings.
What Is a Heat Pump?
A heat pump is a type of HVAC system that is capable of both heating and cooling your home. Homeowners may still need a separate heating system like a furnace to deal with extreme cold. However, a heat pump can replace the cooling provided by an air conditioner. Heat pumps are powered by electricity and use refrigerant to adjust the air.
There are two main types of heat pump systems: air-source and ground-source. Air-source pumps, which capture outside air and adjust it to heat or cool your home, are the most common residential type.
Ground-source or geothermal heat pumps transfer air from your home to the ground. They are more efficient than air-source pumps but are more expensive to install.
How Does a Heat Pump Work?
Contrary to their name, heat pumps do not generate heat but rather transfer it from one location to another. For heating your home, they absorb heat from the outside air (or the ground, in the case of geothermal pumps) that is then used to evaporate refrigerant.
This gas moves through a compressor, increasing the pressure and raising temperatures. This heated gas passes over a heat exchange and is blown through the ductwork into your home.
When cooling your home, a heat pump takes warm air from inside your home and blows it across evaporator coils. The heat is absorbed by the refrigerant, and the remaining cool air is blown through the system of ducts.
There also are ductless heat pumps, also known as “mini splits.” As the name suggests, they do not move conditioned air through a system of ducts but heat or cool different zones. They do have an outdoor compressor, but the air handler is in the room or area that you wish to heat or cool.
There are many advantages to these, including being easy to install. Perhaps the biggest benefit is that you can set different temperatures for distinct zones in your home.
This can contribute to huge energy savings. Since they are not interconnected, you can run some units without running all of them. Also, if there are issues with one unit, it does not affect the ability of other units to operate.
How Heat Pumps Save Energy
Almost 13 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in Canada come from buildings. Switching to more sustainable systems is good for the environment. That is a very good reason, along with lowing your utility bill to consider a heat pump install.
In general, since heat pumps work by transferring air, they can be much more energy efficient than a furnace or central air conditioner. They can produce much more hot or cold air relative to their electrical power usage.
Another way that heat pumps are better environmentally is that they do not rely on the burning of fossil fuels to generate cool air or warmth. With electricity generation increasingly coming from renewable energy sources, heat pumps are becoming cleaner energy components.
Install a Heat Pump System for Your Winnipeg Home
Now that you understand how a heat pump works, you can decide if it is the right choice for your home. It can help reduce energy costs and improve the efficiency of your system.
At Fair Service Heating and Air Conditioning, we pride ourselves on quality service and parts at affordable prices. We offer a range of HVAC services, including heat pump installation, repair, and maintenance in Winnipeg. Contact us to schedule an energy-efficient heat pump installation or other service today.
