Heat pumps are designed to transfer heat, rather than generate it, effectively providing both heating and cooling to many homeowners in Lenexa and the Kansas City area. Despite the name, heat pumps provide cool home comfort for the coming summer (and heat next winter). In fact, they do both jobs much more efficiently than an air conditioner and furnace or AC/boiler HVAC setup. Wondering if you might benefit from a heat pump?
How Do Heat Pumps Work?
Heat pumps do not burn fuel to cool or heat your home, which is the key to their energy-efficient operation. A heat pump is a two-part compression refrigeration system that can be reversed from cooling to heating, depending on the season. In essence, the heat pump absorbs and removes heat from inside your house in summer, releasing it outdoors. In winter, the pump absorbs heat from air outside (there is always some heat to extract) and transfers it indoors to warm your home.
The components of the air-source heat pump system are the indoor air handler and the actual heat pump located outside your home. The pump circulates chemical refrigerant, which alternately absorbs and releases (transfers) heat as it cycles through the indoor/outdoor components. Air-to-air heat pumps are most common, but heat pumps can also transfer heat to and from a nearby water source or the ground (geothermal heat pump).
What Are the Advantages of a Heat Pump?
Here are the biggest benefits of using a heat pump in Kansas and Missouri:
- Provides both heating and cooling in a single system for optimal home comfort.
- May save space over a traditional AC and furnace (or boiler).
- Offers supreme energy efficiency. You can save up to 75 percent on heating and cooling costs, according to the US Department of Energy.
- Kind to the environment and uses no fossil fuels.
- Heats or cools quickly.
- Highly efficient heat pumps can dehumidify better than a standard AC.
- Programmable systems offer scheduling convenience.
- If your home has no ducts, we can install a mini-split heat pump.
- Remote control options let you adjust your home environment from your phone, making the heat pump part of a smart-home system.
Factors to Consider when Installing a Heat Pump
Though most local homeowners don’t consider these to be drawbacks, they are important factors to keep in mind:
- Purchase and installation costs for a heat pump can be higher than a portable heater, but you’ll typically more than recoup the difference over the life of your heat pump. Heat pumps are very cost effective when you think long term.
- The outdoor compressor unit can create a bit of noise, but systems are getting quieter as engineering evolves. As an experienced heat pump installer, Top Notch Heating, Cooling & Plumbing can advise you on the best heat pump options for your needs. During heat pump installation, we take care to locate the outdoor unit so that it won’t disturb your family or neighbors.
- Heat pumps can be slightly less energy-efficient when outdoor air temperature reaches below about 30 degrees; however, they can still provide comfortable home heating down to about 5 degrees, especially those models with RCC (reverse cycle chillers) depending upon the model chosen. You may need an extra heating source on the very coldest days with sustained freezing temperatures. Top Notch can add supplemental burners to your system if needed.
Expert Heat Pump Installation & Repair in the Lenexa, KS & Kansas City Areas
At Top Notch, we have installed heat pumps locally for the past 44 years. To keep your heat pump in great shape, schedule a professional maintenance visit at least annually. If you note any issues with your heat pump between maintenance calls, we have experience repairing older heat pumps and the latest models.
To learn more about heat pumps or schedule installation, contact Top Notch online today!
