UNDERSTANDING YOUR A/C - PART II

 

Heat Pump

A traditional air conditioner uses a refrigerant cooling system. The coolant in the coils cools down the air, which is then forced into your home. As you might imagine, this takes a ton of energy.

A heat pump, on the other hand, actually pulls heat out of the air inside your home and dumps it outside. (It can also be used for heating by gathering warmth from outside and funneling it into your house.) This is a much more efficient way to transfer heat and can save you up to $750 a year, according to Purvis.

Heat pumps are efficient enough for both cooling and heating in milder climates. If you live in an area with colder winters, you may need a duel-fuel system, which uses the heat pump in spring, summer and fall, but runs a gas furnace backup in the winter.

If you do choose a heat pump, do your research, as there are different types. A geothermal heat pump, for instance, uses the relatively stable temperature underground to provide heating and cooling, but these systems are quite pricey and are more difficult to retrofit.

In general, retrofitting an air conditioning system or heat pump should not be complicated in a building with a forced-air gas furnace, Purvis writes. Still, you will want to talk with a local heating, ventilation and air conditioning professional to determine the cost of retrofitting your home with a heat pump.

For some, Purvis points out, a high-efficiency, conventional air system could be a more practical, cost-effective solution.

For more information visit www.evenflowmechanical.com