5 Benefits of Installing a Heat Pump in Portland
A heat pump is part of a heating and cooling system, much like an air conditioner or furnace. A heat pump has the ability to both heat and cool your house. However, it operates differently than a traditional system. Using refrigerant, the heat pump redistributes heat from the air or ground. During colder months, the heat pump absorbs heat from the outside air or ground and distributes it indoors. When it’s hot and you need to cool down your house, the heat pump absorbs the heat from inside and releases it outside.
But why should you consider installing a heat pump? Are there any advantages over a traditional air conditioner and furnace? Let’s look at why a heat pump may be the best alternative for heating and cooling your Portland home.
1. Energy Efficient
Heat pumps are an energy-efficient alternative to air conditioners and furnaces. Using electricity, they move heat rather than generate it. Moving heat from warm spaces to cool spaces, rather than creating heat, reduces the electricity used by about 40 percent. More conventional systems, such as an electric furnace or gas boiler, must convert their power source into heat, using more energy.
Advancements in technology have also improved the efficiency and performance of heat pumps. High-efficiency heat pumps have the ability to recover waste heat from the cooling process, doubling their efficiency at heating.
Heat pumps operate best when there’s little temperature difference between the source and the supply. New two-speed compressors allow heat pumps to operate closer to the level of cooling or heating needed, rather than at full capacity at all times. Overall, heat pumps use fewer kilowatts of electricity to achieve more kilowatts of heating or cooling power than conventional furnaces and air conditioners. This energy savings can greatly reduce the cost of utility bills, saving you money annually.
2. Improves Air Quality
Heat pumps do not use combustion or burn anything to create heat. Conventional systems that use a power source to generate heat can impose the risk of harmful or allergen-producing emissions seeping into and circulating within your home. Transferring heat eliminates this risk. Rather, as your heat pump moves air, the filters help clean the air by removing dust, mold spores, and other particles.
The design of the heat pump also acts as a dehumidifier. Typically, in the summer and winter months, your heating and cooling systems are working on overdrive as you try to combat the extreme heat or cold. This can severely dry out the air during the winter and create an excess of moisture during the summer. A humidifier can alleviate dryness and a dehumidifier can remove excess condensation. Your home will benefit from a heat pump because it has humidity control, making humidifiers and dehumidifiers unnecessary. It won’t dry out the air during winter, and it reduces condensation during the summer.
3. Reduces Environmental Impact
Heat pumps don’t burn fossil fuel as traditional furnaces do. With conventional systems, combustion is needed to create warmth. This burning of fossil fuels creates carbon emissions. Electricity is a cleaner source of energy than gas or oil, significantly reducing its carbon footprint. Heat pumps use less electricity and energy than gas or oil furnaces, making them more environmentally friendly.
Additionally, with improvements to the systems, there are more eco-friendly options available. Heat pumps now use R410A refrigerant, which is safer for the ozone layer when it’s released. Water source heat pumps, which move heat from a water source rather than air, have an even more efficient conversion rate of energy to heat. These can reduce your energy use by upward of 60 percent. Installing a heat pump may not only benefit your home but the environment as well.
4. Safer
Furnaces using natural gas are a potential safety hazard. With combustion-based heating systems, your home is at risk of gas leaks, explosions, or fires. Natural gas is highly flammable; a leak increases the risk of fire and explosion. It also increases your chance of exposure to carbon monoxide and the serious risks of carbon monoxide poisoning. Heat pumps don’t use combustion, nor do they burn natural gas, making them a potentially safer alternative.
5. Increases Home’s Value
Though the initial cost of installing a heat pump can be expensive, it can save you money over time. Updating your heating and cooling to a new energy-efficient system increases the value of your home. The initial cost is an investment that you can make back in your energy savings and if you ever choose to sell your home. Cheaper energy bills may appeal to a potential buyer. Heat pumps also have a long life span, lasting 15 years or longer. This can mean peace of mind to a buyer, knowing they won’t have to worry about replacing an old furnace and can save on maintenance or replacement costs.
Not only will a heat pump save on energy costs, but they operate quietly. Many heating and cooling systems are loud, disrupting the comfort of your home every time they kick on. This can be particularly obtrusive if you’re trying to sleep. HVAC systems are designed to make your home life more comfortable, so don’t let the noise cancel that. Potential buyers may be attracted to a home that offers peace and quiet while regulating temperatures.
If you’re looking to install a heat pump in Portland and would like to save on installation costs, contact our skilled team at Entek. We’re a leading heating and air conditioning company and are committed to serving our customer’s needs. Using quality materials and equipment, professional design, and the highest standards of installation and service, we make your home safer and more comfortable. Call us today for fast service so you can enjoy the most important comfort system in your home.
Now that you know some of the many benefits of installing a heat pump, consider making the switch so you can increase the efficiency and comfort of your home.
