What Is A Heat Pump?
A heat pump is a device that usually serves as part of home heating and cooling systems. Since the heat mode moves heat from one location to another, it can cool your home and provide heat as required. In cases where you need to heat your home, the heat pump pulls in the outdoor air to supply heat. When you need to cool your home, it pulls heat out of the indoor air to cool your home.
What Is A Geothermal Heat Pump?
Geothermal heat pumps use the relatively constant temperature below the earth to heat and cool buildings. Although the air above the ground changes depending on seasonal temperatures, the air below the earth’s surface maintains a relatively constant temperature.
About a few feet below the earth’s surface, the air has a constant temperature between 50 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit, depending on latitude. This means that the temperature below the earth is usually warmer than the air above it during winter. Meanwhile, the soil temperature during summer is usually cooler than the air in the atmosphere.
Geothermal heat pumps are sometimes referred to as ground-source heat pumps, earth energy systems, earth-coupled, geo-exchange, or water-source heat pumps. A factor that influences the name you would hear about a geothermal heat pump is called is your geographical region.
Another factor is the field of study. Depending on the field of study where you find yourself, the geothermal heat pump may be called other names.
In scientific and engineering communities, people would mostly refer to geothermal heat pumps as ground source heat pumps and geo-exchange. This is to prevent confusing geothermal heat pumps with conventional geothermal power.
Unlike geothermal heat pumps, conventional geothermal power serves a different purpose, so it is essential to differentiate them. In case you are wondering, conventional geothermal power generates electricity by extracting hot water from below the earth.
Geothermal heat pumps, on the other hand, use the energy from beneath the earth to heat and cool buildings.
Heat Pump vs. Furnace
To compare the heat pump and Furnace, we must consider some factors. These factors include how they work, their costs, maintenance requirements, etc.
How Heat Pumps Work
Heat pumps use electricity to pull heat from the outside air and then transfer the heat indoors. Meanwhile, furnaces burn oil or gas to produce heat.
Furthermore, heat pumps are more versatile than furnaces. They can function as heating machines in winter climates, and they can also function as air conditioners in the summer. On the other hand, furnaces only offer one functionality: to provide heat.
Heat Pump Cost Compared To A Furnance
When comparing a heat pump to a furnace in terms of cost, there’s something you will have to consider first. The cost you will incur for installation will initially depend on the current facilities in your home.
If you have a direct supply of natural gas in your home, it may be cheaper for you to install a furnace. However, it will be an added expense if you don’t have a steady natural gas supply.
Above all, it is cheaper to install a heat pump if all other factors are equal.
Heat Pump Maintenance
While regular maintenance is necessary for both a heat pump and a furnace, a furnace requires less maintenance than a heat pump. As a result, your heat pump’s long-term maintenance costs will also be more expensive.
Heat Pump Performance
The performance difference between a heat pump and a furnace varies depending on where you reside. Since heat pumps only transfer heat while furnaces produce heat, a heat pump will only function better in mild temperatures.
Due to the low temperature, the heat pump will have a harder time transferring heat in colder regions. Meanwhile, a furnace will keep producing heat even in the winter.
Heat Pump Lifespan
In most cases, furnaces have a higher lifespan expectancy.
How Does A Heat Pump Work?
A heat pump functions quite similarly to a refrigerator. Just as the refrigerator makes a cool place cooler by transferring the heat in the surroundings to an outdoor location, so does the heat pump.
In winter climates, the heat pump draws heat from the ground heat exchanger winter and transfers it to the building’s air transfer system. This helps keep the temperature inside the home warm and comfortable.
The heat pump does the opposite of the above cycle in the summer. The ground heat exchanger receives heat that is extracted from the air inside the building. The heat exchanger then transfers the heat into the soil.
Heat Pump Cost
Even though heat pumps aren’t as expensive to run as furnaces, the cost of installing heat pumps can be high. With installation prices ranging from $4,000 to $7,500, you will need an average of $5,500 to install a heat pump in the United States.
If you decide to purchase a low-end heat pump, your installation expenses could be as little as $2,500. However, if you purchase a higher grade type, you may spend as much as $10,000.
In general, your particular installation cost for a heat pump may differ since it will depend on some factors. Some of them include pump efficiency rating, pump type, size of your home, location, climate, etc.
Brands of Heat Pumps
Here are some of the best heat pump brands in no particular order.
- Vaillant
- Worcester Bosch
- Daikin
- Viessmann
- Nibe
- Mitsubishi
- Grant
- Samsung
- LG
- Panasonic
- Hitachi
- Calorex
Heat Pump Installation and Repair
There are many different types of heat pumps, and each has its own specific installation and repair requirements. However, some general tips can help ensure that your heat pump is installed correctly and properly. First, it is important to ensure that the outdoor unit is installed on a level surface. This will help to ensure that the pump can operate efficiently and prevent damage to the unit. Second, it is important to clean the outdoor coils regularly. This will help to remove any dirt or debris that could clog the coils and prevent proper operation.
Finally, it is important to have your heat pump serviced regularly by a qualified technician. This will help identify potential problems and ensure that they are repaired promptly.
If you’re unsure how to install or repair a heat pump, don’t worry! Our team at Green Attic can help you out. We’re experts in HVAC systems, and we’ll ensure that your heat pump is installed correctly. So if you need help with your heat pump, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’d be more than happy to assist you!
