Posting Date: October 31, 2017
Posted by: Al Hill, Branch Manager of Las Vegas, NV
A heat pump offers you a smart, efficient, and versatile way to heat and cool your home. But does it provide enough heat to keep you warm in the winter months?
The answer to that question is a definitive…maybe.
Basically, heat pumps work by absorbing heat from one place and releasing it in another. In summer, that means taking heat from inside your home and placing it outside; in the winter, the process reverses.
The question is can a heat pump remove enough heat from outside during the winter when it’s cold outside – and the answer is yes…to a point.
In general, heat pumps are not as energy efficient during heating mode as in cooling mode. But they can still provide enough heat to keep you warm even if outdoor air is cold: modern heat pumps are designed to extract thermal energy from even freezing air. Down to outdoor temperatures in the mid 30s, a heat pump will keep you warm enough to stay comfortable without a huge drop off in efficiency – but the closer you get to that temperature, the more your heat pump will struggle.
One great solution to this problem is a hybrid or “dual fuel” heating system, which is basically a heat pump with a back-up heating system connected to it. A hybrid system constantly monitors temperatures, switching between heat pump and furnace mode depending on which is more efficient and effective.
What heating system is best for your home?
Deciding what heating system is best for your home depends on a lot of factors – the size of your home, your budget, the local climate, and the availability of fuels in your area, to name just a few.
When it comes time to invest in a home heating system, our team of experts will help you sort through your options to pick the solution that works best for you – then install it quickly and correctly so you don’t have to think about it any more than you have to.
Ready for a new heat pump or any other heating system upgrade? Contact us today for a FREE, no obligation estimate on a system that fits your home and budget!