When the cold winter weather sets in, your family will be relying on your heating system to stay nice and comfortable throughout the short winter days. While there are many different heating systems on the market to choose from, heat pumps tend to be an increasingly popular option. We’re going to discuss some of their most well-known benefits so that you can make a better-informed decision of what type of heating system is ideal for your home.
Energy-Efficient Operation
One of the most well-known benefits of a heat pump is its exceptional operating efficiency. Heat pumps have been shown to have efficiencies between 300 and 400%. Compare this to other types of heating systems and the only thing that comes close is an electric furnace with an efficiency of around 100%. The beauty of having an ultra-efficient heat pump is that it can greatly reduce your energy bills throughout the wintertime.
There’s one caveat to heat pumps’ efficiency, however. They begin to lose efficiency when temperatures drop below freezing. When it gets too cold outside for it to absorb heat, the heat pump will switch to auxiliary heating mode, where it will work similarly to an electric furnace with an internal heating element. This is why heat pumps are only recommended as the sole heat source for homes in a mild climate. Homes in a cold climate that want to take advantage of the efficiency of a heat pump should invest in a backup furnace to deal with below-freezing temperatures.
Non-Toxic Heating
With traditional fuel-burning furnaces, there is a process known as combustion that takes place. This is where fuel is fed into the furnace and a burner essentially burns the fuel to create heat. During this process, toxic fumes like carbon monoxide are produced. Normally, all of these toxic fumes are vented outdoors via a chimney.
However, if there is a malfunction with your furnace, it can allow that toxic air to back up inside your home. This is why it’s necessary to have carbon monoxide and smoke detectors in your home when you have a furnace. Because a heat pump doesn’t use the combustion process, it doesn’t create any toxic fumes, making it a safer way to heat your home.
Both Ducted and Ductless Options
Heat pumps are available in both ducted and ductless units. A ducted heat pump simply connects to existing ductwork and delivers hot air by circulating it throughout your home. A ductless heat pump is better known as a ductless mini-split system. Instead of using ductwork, this system relies on multiple indoor mini-split units to deliver hot air to each major room of your home. This ductless technology allows homeowners who don’t have existing ductwork to enjoy an energy-efficient heating system without having to invest in expensive ductwork installation. It also removes the need for duct maintenance services such as duct cleaning and leak repair.
No Fuel Required
Another lesser talked-about benefit of the heat pump is that you don’t have to worry about getting fuel for your heating system. There’s no need to pipe in natural gas from the city’s supply and there’s no need to have a fuel tank to store heating oil or propane on your property. All you need to run your heat pump is simple electricity, which most homes already have. Better yet, you don’t have to worry about constantly remembering to get a fuel delivery to keep your home warm during the wintertime.
More Consistent Indoor Temperature
Another commonly overlooked benefit of a heat pump is it can provide a very consistent temperature for your home. Heat pumps are designed to be continuously running at a very low speed. When you compare this to a traditional heating system like a furnace, there’s a very big difference.
A furnace will kick on to heat up your home until the air reaches your set temperature. Then, over time the air in your home will start to cool down. Next, your furnace will kick back on and reheat the room. This type of heating system offers temperature swings that can be uncomfortable for homeowners. Fortunately, with a heat pump, you never have to worry about these temperature swings. Rather, your family can stay comfortable all the time.
Mini-Split Zone Temperature Control
When you opt to go with the ductless mini-split heat pump setup, you get the added advantage of zone temperature control. Each mini-split unit has its own remote so that it can be set at whatever temperature settings you want regardless of the other units. During the wintertime, this can allow you to be more efficient with your energy usage. For example, you can set the temperature for the mini-splits in your bedrooms to be lower than your regular rooms. You can even turn down the temperature in rooms that you don’t use that often.
Tax Rebate
If you’re ready to purchase a new heating system, a heat pump is one that will make you eligible for a federal tax incentive. Because heat pumps are so energy efficient, the federal government rewards homeowners who buy them in an effort to encourage more eco-friendly behavior. Under the Inflation Reduction Act, homeowners can enjoy a tax rebate of up to $3,200 when they purchase a heat pump. Furthermore, some local municipalities and even state governments also offer tax incentives for homeowners who invest in heat pumps.
Fresher Air
Another commonly forgotten about benefit of heat pumps is that they offer fresher air for your home. Many people are familiar with the staleness that air has when it isn’t circulated through a system like ductwork or a mini-split unit. While having your furnace circulate heat throughout your ductwork is great for enhancing the freshness of your air so it’s not stale, it only operates for so long.
On the other hand, a heat pump is consistently moving air at a low speed. This helps to ensure continual freshness in your air. This has been shown to lead to fewer negative health symptoms like headaches, fatigue, and sinus pressure. Furthermore, because of this constant circulation, your indoor air is undergoing more filtration than simply with a furnace. This leads to fewer indoor air pollutants and better indoor air quality. When your air quality is high, you’ll experience fewer allergy-, asthma-, and respiratory-related symptoms.
Quieter Operation
Another advantage of a heat pump is that it offers fairly quiet operation. This is simply due to the fact that its compressor is situated within its outdoor unit so the majority of the noise is being made outside of your home. This outdoor operation can help you to stay comfortable in your home while enjoying some peace and quiet.
Offers Cooling Capability
While not as useful for heating as a furnace in the wintertime, we can’t talk about a heat pump without mentioning its dual functionality. A heat pump not only heats your home but cools it as well. This allows you to use it during all the milder seasons, for closer to year-round comfort from one HVAC system instead of having to invest in separate heating and cooling systems.
Superior Heat Pump Services
John Henry's Plumbing, Heating, Air, and Electrical offers superior heat pump services for the entire Omaha, NE community. Our HVAC techs can help with all your heating, air conditioning, plumbing, drain, electrical, commercial, emergency, duct cleaning, UV air sanitizer, and filter needs. Reach out today for help with your heat pump and more!
