Heat Pumps - Energy Efficient Heating

These are electric heat pumps which use pipes that travel under your home to extract natural heat from the earth and water beneath your home. Both ground and water temperatures remain relatively constant, so geothermal heat pumps are the most efficient of all heat pumps. They circulate either water or a refrigerant through the tubes running under your home and produce steady, reliable heat or cooling.

Geothermal heat pumps are cost-efficient, durable, and clean. They are great for allergy sufferers because they don't draw in outside air (meaning they don't bring in pollen spores and such from the outside) and they are environmentally friendly.

Air source heat pumps extract heat from the air, using a completely renewable resource to both heat and cool your home. A unit placed outside the home converts heat from the air into heat for your home, and in the summer, the unit extracts heat from the air inside your home and pumps the heat outside the home. Some of these pumps actually heat your water also, which increases the cost-effectiveness even more. These are the most common types of heat pumps. They are energy-efficient and are growing in popularity quickly.

This is a gas furnace and electric heat pump combined. The electric heat pump is the most efficient heating device when the temperatures are above freezing, but when the temperature drops below freezing, the gas furnace kicks in, providing steady and cost-efficient heat. The dual system helps you use the most cost-efficient heat at all times of the year.

What sort of regular maintenance does a heat pump require?

* Change your air filters monthly. During peak usage months, you may want to check the filters even more often and change them if they look dirty.

* If your outdoor heat pump is in an area where a lot of natural debris accumulates, makes sure you clear the unit of all leaves, grass clippings, and branches as necessary. Trim shrubs and bushes so that they do not cover or interfere with the unit.

* Every spring, flush the indoor drain.

* Oil the fan motors annually.

* It is recommended you have the heat pump serviced once a year by a licensed HVAC technician.

Water is running off the outdoor coil of my heat pump. Is something wrong?

* This is normal. Just make sure proper drainage is in place to direct the water away from the foundation of the house.

* Sometimes frost or ice may build up on the coils, at which time the system should defrost itself, producing steam. This is also not a problem, but if the ice is not defrosting on its own, you will want to pour water (warm or cool) over the coils to aid in the defrosting, especially if the outside temperatures have been very low. Turn the unit off before defrosting it yourself.

When is it time to replace a heat pump?

* It's cost-effective to replace your heat pump if the system is over ten years old and is giving you significant trouble. For example, if the compressor or outdoor coil gives out, you would probably be better off replacing the heat pump altogether. Most heat pumps last around fifteen years.
What if the heat pump is not producing enough heat?

* Keep in mind a heat pump will always have a lower temperature output than an oil furnace or boiler system. The air coming from the vent may feel cold because it may be lower than your body temperature, but the room temperature it maintains should be what you have the thermostat set to.

* Check the thermostat. Try increasing the temperature a few degrees, then check the temperature in an hour or two and see if the temperature has risen appropriately. If the room temperature has not responded, have someone check the thermostat itself.

* Have a licensed HVAC technician check to see if the problem lies in undersized ductwork or inadequate system design or poor installation.

* You may need to get an energy audit done to determine the problem.

Do not try to fix your heat pump by yourself. These systems operate off very high voltage circuits and could cause serious electrocution or even death of handled improperly. They also must comply with federal regulations, so any repairs must be done by a licensed HVAC technician.