Everyone needs some sort of heating and cooling system in their home or business to remain comfortable during the cold winters and hot summers. Conventional heating and cooling systems are popular, but heat pumps are excellent alternatives for many reasons.
Heat pumps are a reliable and energy-efficient source of heating and cooling. Using electricity to extract heat from one place and transfer it to another, a heat pump system is cost-effective. A heat pump uses technology like that of a refrigerator or an air conditioner. It extracts heat from a source, such as the surrounding air for example, then amplifies and transfers the heat to where it is needed. Since most of the heat is transferred rather than generated, a heat pump is much more efficient than conventional heating technology (i.e., boilers or electric heaters) and they can be cheaper to run.
As a method of moderating the climate inside your home, the heat pump cycle is reversible. In heating mode, heat pumps draw heat from the cooler external air or from the ground and release this heat into your home rather than into the environment. During the hot days of summer, the system draws in air from the outside portion of the unit and uses refrigerant to either absorb or release heat in the inside portion of the unit, depending on the setting. You can adjust your preferred temperature on your heat pump with ease and quickly switch from heating to cooling and back. It only requires a button to adjust what the heat pump is doing, and the pump will be ready to cool or heat your space as you desire. Many also feature programmable timers for enhanced convenience.
Since heat pumps don’t use expensive fuel and just run off electricity, they are a low-cost alternative to traditional heaters and air conditioners. Heat pumps work by moving heat, not generating it, which keeps costs and energy consumption low. That said, heating pumps are more expensive initially than traditional HVAC systems. However, thanks to reduced utility bills and associated running costs like fuel, these systems end up being far more budget-friendly.
Before purchasing a heat pump system, homeowners may want to consider the type of climate they live in, as heat pumps are more common in milder climates, where the temperatures do not often drop below freezing, if at all. Heat pumps can also be combined with furnaces for energy-efficient heating on all but the coldest days, in colder regions. Meaning, when the temperature outside drops too low for the heat pump to operate effectively, the system will instead use the furnace to generate heat. This kind of system is often called a dual fuel system – it is very energy efficient and cost effective.
Like all other HVAC systems, heat pumps require annual maintenance to operate at peak efficiency. You should schedule heat pump maintenance once per year to minimize energy usage, prevent breakdowns and extend your system’s lifespan.
Schneider Heating & Air Conditioning is the leader in heating, cooling, ventilation, and air quality products and services in the La Crosse area. We have been serving the Coulee Region for more than 80 years. Our technicians are highly and continually trained utilizing the most sophisticated HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) technologies and equipment. All of our service technicians are NATE (North American Technician Excellence) certified—the largest non-profit certification organization that is governed, owned, operated, developed, and supported by the HVAC industry. At Schneider Heating & Air Conditioning, we pride ourselves on amazing customer service. Contact us today.