Heat Pump Installation Tips

What Homeowners Need to Know About Heat Pump Installation

Not all furnaces are the same, that’s for sure! Some furnaces create heat, and some furnaces capture heat and bring it inside. Yes, we are talking about heat pumps.

Heat pumps use the same components and processes as the air conditioner but in reverse. During summer months, the heat pump collects hot air inside the house and moves it outdoors. This technology uses refrigerant gas and the laws of gas chemistry to your advantage. A compressed gas becomes very hot, but by releasing the gas the process creates an immediate cooling effect. The cool gas collects the heat and condenses humidity in the process. The gas, hot again is moved outdoors and cooled by a large fan.

During the winter, the same process to collect heat from the outdoors; compressed gas is released outdoors, collecting heat, and moving it indoors. For this process to be effective, the outdoor temperature must be just right.

• It must be cool enough outdoors to demand heat
• Between 45⁰ and 32⁰, the heat pump can efficiently collect heat and bring it indoors
• Between 32⁰ and 25⁰, the heat pump must work harder, and the process loses efficiency
• Below 25⁰, it requires more energy to collect outdoor heat than an electric or gas-powered furnace requires

For this reason, heat pumps are not particularly energy efficient in very cold climates. However, the Texas climate is perfect for heat pump heating. Daytime temperatures in January and February range between 55⁰ and 60⁰ and overnight lows hover between 30⁰ and 34⁰. ¹

Most HVAC systems that use a heat pump during the winter are also installed with a backup heating system—usually either an electric or natural gas system. How can you know whether you are using the heat pump or backup heat? The thermostat setting for the heat pump will read HEAT and for the backup system, it will read Em Heat or a similar designation.

If you have a SMART thermostat, research to see whether it is capable of toggling between the two systems as the temperature changes. If not, the homeowner will need to switch between HEAT and EM Heat as needed.

Heat pump technology, both heating and cooling requires significant airflow to transfer heat. Therefore, it is very important to keep up with maintenance, from changing the air filter regularly to having the entire system inspected and cleaned annually. Clogged filters seriously restrict airflow and make the system work harder, use more energy, and wear out quickly.

Since a heat pump is not generating heat, the process is three times more efficient than systems that generate heat. For Texans, that means heat pumps are a good energy investment, saving energy and money with utility bills all year long. If you currently own a home with a heat pump, ask some questions and learn to use it to your advantage.

Keep it well maintained. If your present HVAC system does not use a heat pump for winter heating, consider replacing your current system with one that uses heat pump technology at the next replacement cycle.

Let us help with your Heat Pump Installation

Northwind Air Conditioning and Heat can help you with your new Heat Pump Installation and repair needs. Contact us and get the help you need.

¹https://www.usclimatedata.com/climate/winters/texas/united-states/ustx1482