Five Signs An Air Source Heat Pump Is Right For You

Air source heat pumps use refrigerants to extract heat from the outside air and release it into your home. If you are thinking about investing in a heat pump, you may want to consider an air source heat pump. Here are five signs it's right for you:

1. You live in a relatively mild climate, with cold but not extremely cold winters.

Air source heat pumps were originally designed to only work in mild climates. As of 2015, however, engineers have improved these pumps so that they work at lower temperatures. In mild temps, they tend to be one of the most efficient heating solutions available, but unfortunately, they start to lose efficiency at 5 degrees. In temps that cold, the pump begins to run defrost cycles more often to prevent ice from building up on its coils, and that increases the amount of energy the air source heat pump uses, making it less efficient than many other types of home heating.

As a result, these heating solutions work in most mild or even cold climates, but if you live in a place like Fairbanks, Alaska; Williston, North Dakota; or Duluth, Minnesota where average low temps are significantly below 5 degrees, this is not the most efficient heater for your needs.

2. You have an additional heat source.

In mild climates, an air source heat pump can provide all of your heating needs, but if you decide to use this heater in a very cold climate, you may need a backup method. For example, in Minnesota, the average low temperatures in January are 8 degrees.

This means that on average, your air source heat pump will work as expected. However, on the days when the temps fall below 5 degrees, which they invariably do when an area has 8 degrees as its average, your heat pump will lose efficiency, and to keep your home warm without expending a lot of energy, you may want a backup heat source like a wood burning stove.

3. You also need a new air conditioner.

One of the benefits of air source heat pumps is that they can do their process with either hot or cold air. If you want an efficient heater rolled into an efficient AC, this may be the right choice for you. Conversely, if you already have an AC or a swamp cooler that meets your needs, you may not need that built-in versatility.

4. You don't want to rely on combustible fuel.

If you don't like having appliances powered by natural gas because you have concerns about the combustible oil or about the risk of carbon monoxide leaks, an air source heat pump may also be right for you. These pumps use a refrigeration system to move warm and cool air around, and they run on electricity, completely removing the need for oil.

5. You want to save money on your heating bill.

In the right climate, air source heat pumps can provide a lot of savings. According to one study, homeowners who switched from electric resistance heating to an air source heat pump enjoyed a $459 savings on their annual electricity expenses, or the equivalent of nearly $40 per month. Homeowners who switched to air source heat pumps from oil-based heating systems, saved over twice that amount with an average savings of $79 per month. When homeowners with more efficient heat systems are thrown into the mix, the average annual savings of switching to an air source heat pump is $300.

Want to learn more about air source heat pumps? Then contact a distributor near you to decide if they are the right choice for your home.