Three Heat Pump Features to Consider When You Upgrade
May 11, 2018 7:30 pm Leave your thoughtsThe average lifespan of a residential heat pump is around 10 years, although some can last as long as 15 years without problems. Heat pumps are great for efficiently heating and cooling your home but, like other HVAC units, will require maintenance and some repairs over time. When your heat pump finally stops working or is not running as efficiently as it used to, you should call HVAC contractors in Panama City, FL to have it replaced.
As much as we know it’s never fun to have to replace a crucial appliance or component of your ventilation system, upgrading your heat pump after over a decade might be more exciting than you think! Recent technological advancements have made heat pumps more versatile, more efficient, quieter and better for overall in-home comfort.
When speaking with HVAC contractors in Panama City, FL about a new heat pump for your home, consider investing in one that offers one or all of these three features:
- Desuperheaters: In Florida, heat is almost always readily available, and extra heat energy can be extracted by your heat pump. Normally, this extra energy would not be put to use, but by installing a desuperheater, or heat exchanger, in your heat pump, the extra heat can be converted into energy to heat your water! This is extremely useful for heating household water heaters, as well as pools and spas. This translates into additional cost savings for your household.
- Supplemental heat sources: Although heat pumps are effective year-round, they may require some assistance to heat your home when outside temperatures drop below freezing. Although most heat pumps have an incorporated electric resistance coil system to provide supplemental heat, you can also have a gas furnace configured within the pump for more cost-effective heating. These furnaces are called “dual-fueled” systems and use gas, which is less expensive than electricity for backup heat.
- Scroll compressors: The compressor in your heat pump prepares the refrigerant that extracts heat from the air. Older heat pump models typically have a fixed-speed compressor that operates at full capacity all the time. Newer scroll compressors only allow for maximum output when it is necessary on truly hot days. The rest of the time, scroll compressors shift to a reduced output, which saves energy, lowers unit noise and can reduce wear on the compressor itself.
In addition to these three advanced features, ask your HVAC contractor about models with higher seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) and heating season performance factor (HSPF) ratings. Models with higher SEER and HSPF numbers will be more efficient during heating and cooling seasons and can result in lower utility bills. Thanks to recent technology, SEER and HSPF ratings are getting better all the time.
Do you need to replace your old or inefficient heat pump? Call Complete Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Inc.! Our expert HVAC contractors in Panama City, FL have more than 30 years of experience and will be happy to discuss options for your residential heating and cooling needs. We also work on commercial HVAC as well as commercial refrigeration and ice machine installation, repair and maintenance. Call today!
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