Efficiency is a major benefit when it comes to installing a heat pump, particularly for geothermal heat pumps. Heat pumps are known to emit more hot and cold air per volume than the energy required to run them. This makes them an ideal choice for those looking to save on energy costs. Maintaining heat pumps is also more advantageous since, during the twice-yearly maintenance, the technician will inspect both parts of the system to ensure everything is running smoothly.
Mini-divided heat pumps are also a great way to add temperature control to areas of the house that need it, but they usually don't have newly finished attics or extensions. According to this concept, they have been used for years to cool homes by transferring heat from inside the house to the outside and reversing that process to heat homes. This makes it easier for the heat pump system to extract and move heat (and, ideally, should result in more consistent electricity bills, even in the event of unexpected extreme weather events). This is because a heat pump that uses metal coils, a fan, and coolant absorbs ambient heat from outside the house and transfers it inside (or outside in cooling mode), instead of generating heat by burning fuel or using an electrical resistor that consumes a lot of energy.
It may be wise to keep (or add) a backup heating system in case the weather gets so unusually cold that the heat pump can't keep up. In addition, like the heat pump, air conditioning units rely on refrigerants to extract heat from the house and release it outside. Since heat pumps use a whole-house duct system, the heat produced is evenly distributed throughout the house, reducing the number of cold spots and allowing everyone to feel comfortable. A geothermal heat pump, for example, draws heat from the ground, so it is necessary to excavate the yard and drill a well.
For the Northeast in general, a University of California at Davis study estimates that switching to an air-source heat pump should reduce household carbon emissions from heating by approximately 75 percent compared to a gas oven. If you replace an air conditioner with a heat pump, you'll still have the same cooling effects in summer but you'll also be able to enjoy the warmth during colder months without having to switch systems. Duct systems are more traditional and involve installing ducts that circulate hot or cold air throughout the house. If your heat pump is only running at 100% efficiency due to cold temperatures (as opposed to its normal 300% to 500%), you are using three times as much electricity to reheat your home until optimal performance conditions are reached.
However, when temperatures drop below 30 degrees, the heat pump is activated in auxiliary or supplementary heating mode because there isn't enough heat in the outside air for it to draw from. Dan Zamagni from Boston Standard - a company recognized as Mitsubishi and Trane's preferred installation company - commented: “We are trying to use a few brands so that our installers are familiar with the equipment.” This ensures that any installation or repair work is done correctly and efficiently. In conclusion, installing a heat pump with your air conditioner can be beneficial in terms of efficiency and cost savings. It can also provide consistent temperature control throughout your home while reducing your carbon emissions.
However, it is important to consider whether you need a backup heating system in case of unusually cold weather and whether you need additional excavation work for geothermal systems.
