If you’re thinking about replacing your air conditioner to save money via energy efficiency, stop. Before you do that, consider getting an air-source heat pump instead.
Why?
Because a heat pump is an air conditioner that can also work in reverse as a more energy efficient version of your furnace.
In fact, heat pumps, according to Energy.gov, can deliver 1 1/2 to 3 times more heat energy to your home than the electrical energy it uses.
So, how is this possible? And why exactly is this good news for homes in the Atlanta area?
This post will tell you everything you need to know about how heat pumps work, and why they’re especially compatible for southern states like Georgia.
A heat pump is an air conditioner that can also work in reverse. So it can cool your home during the summer and heat your home in the winter. Basically, it’s a two-for-one special for HVAC.
But how does this work? You can find a detailed explanation of this at Energy.gov, but we’ll just give you the short and sweet of it.
The mechanics of cooling your home with a heat pump is same as your air conditioner. But how it heats your home is different than your furnace--and it’s the reason why it’s more energy efficient.
Instead of generating heat by burning fossil fuels, the heat pump has a reversing valve so it can work in reverse to absorb heat from the outside air and pump it into your home. Not only is this more energy efficient, but it’s also greener as well!
Although heat pumps work well in most places, they don’t work well during extended periods of subfreezing temperatures. This is because the heat pump has to run longer, and therefore it’s not cost efficient.
However, Georgia is classified as a humid subtropical climate (humid summers and generally mild to cool winters). The weather (as you know) doesn’t get cold enough to cause a heat pump to struggle to meet your heating needs.
So heat pumps and the Atlanta area are a match made in HVAC heaven!
Nope. Your furnace can stick around. In fact, it may be better to keep your furnace around, just in case the temperature does get to sub-freezing, in which case your furnace can kick on to heat your home until the really cold weather passes.
Now that you know more about heat pumps, you can make a more informed buying decision when you’re upgrading your HVAC system. We just want you to make the decision that makes sense for your home and saves you the most money.
Interested in saving money through an energy efficient heat pump for your Atlanta-area home? Contact Coolray today for more information about our selection of high quality heat pumps.
Get up-to-date current news, promotions and industry tips.