
You have plenty of options if you own a home in Kirkland, WA that needs a new HVAC system. One of them is to install a heat pump. However, you may have reservations based on what you’ve heard about heat pump technology. To separate fact from fiction, here’s everything you need to know about heat pumps to decide if you’d like one.
What Is a Heat Pump?
A heat pump is an electrically powered heating and cooling system. However, unlike other electric heating systems, it consumes no power to produce heat. Instead, a heat pump relies on the heat energy in the outside air to warm your home. You may be interested to know that all air conditioners are types of heat pumps. Your home’s refrigerator, although not exactly a heat pump, uses similar technology.
In an HVAC context, however, a heat pump is a system that can move heat bidirectionally. In cooling mode, it collects heat inside your home and expels it outside. In heating mode, it reverses its operation to collect heat outdoors and bring it inside.
How Does a Heat Pump Work?
Heat pumps rely on a few basic scientific principles to operate. One is the relationship between a liquid or gas’s state, pressure, and temperature. Increasing pressure on a liquid or gas will raise its temperature and boiling point. Lowering the pressure has the opposite effect. If you’ve ever used a can of compressed air, you’ve seen the effect in action. When you depress the trigger, you lower the pressure, leading the can to grow cold.
The other scientific principle heat pumps rely on is that heat energy spontaneously flows from warmer to colder substances. Heat pumps manipulate the temperature of a refrigerant to make it capable of absorbing or releasing heat. The process works as long as the refrigerant gets colder than the air from which you’re extracting heat.
Heat Pump Efficiency in Cold Climates
One of the things you may have heard about heat pumps is that they cost too much to operate in cold weather. Here in Kirkland, we see our fair share of cold days and nights every year, so that’s a significant problem. The good news is that cold-weather inefficiency is no longer a big issue for most heat pumps. Standard heat pumps remain more efficient than the average gas furnace down to somewhere between 40 and 25 degrees.
It’s worth noting that all heat pumps come with supplementary heat strips. They use electric resistance heating elements to generate extra heat when temperatures drop. While inefficient, they guarantee you’ll never go without heat, even on the coldest days.
Cold-weather heat pumps operate efficiently at even lower temperatures. Most retain their high efficiency even at temperatures as low as -15 degrees. Those systems should rarely need the help of heat strips to keep your home warm. While they come with a higher up-front cost, they can allay your fears about running short of efficient heat.
Heat Pump Efficiency in Optimal Conditions
Heat pumps are one of the most efficient cooling system options you can get. Most ducted heat pumps have SEER2 ratings that place them among the most efficient tier of air conditioners. Ductless heat pumps can have SEER2 ratings much higher than most central AC systems. There are some models with SEER2 ratings as high as 42.
In heating mode, heat pumps really shine, efficiency-wise. Since they don’t consume fuel to make heat, they operate at impressively high efficiency levels. Many units achieve up to 400% efficiency in mild weather. Maximum heat pump efficiency typically requires temperatures of about 40 degrees or higher. No matter the weather, that efficiency level isn’t achievable by any other type of heating system. For example, the best furnaces only reach approximately 98.5% efficiency.
Other Heat Pump Advantages
Heat pumps offer other advantages beyond high efficiency. One is that they’re safer than gas-powered furnaces. They don’t rely on combustion and present almost no risk of fire. There’s also no chance of gas leaks that might lead to explosions. While rare, those emergencies are possible with a furnace.
Another advantage of heat pumps is that they evenly heat and cool homes evenly. That’s especially true in heating mode. Since heat pumps don’t operate at temperatures as high as a furnace, they don’t cycle on and off as often. The average furnace air temperature output is between 140 and 170 degrees. Heat pumps output air that’s between 90 and 120 degrees. That means they must run for longer to affect the desired temperature changes. Extended run times lead to stable temperatures and avoid producing hot and cold spots.
Heat pumps’ longer cycle times can also improve your home’s indoor air quality. They provide more passes through the heat pump’s air filter, trapping more dust and dirt in the process. Some models allow for upgraded air filters that can do an even better job of cleaning your home’s air.
What’s more, one of the most significant advantages of heat pumps is that they’re eligible for generous tax credits and subsidies. Currently, heat pumps qualify for federal tax credits worth up to 30% of their cost up to $2,000. Plus, a point-of-sale rebate program is about to begin here in Washington. It provides discounts of up to $8,000 on qualifying heat pumps based on your income level. Local energy companies also offer rebate programs to reduce the cost of heat pump installation.
All the rebates are in place because heat pumps are less damaging to the environment than gas furnaces. They’re nearly carbon neutral when paired with renewable energy, either from a grid provider or rooftop solar. They’re even environmentally friendly if you don’t opt for renewable energy sources. Some estimates indicate that installing a heat pump cuts the average home’s annual carbon output between 36% and 64%. They also make an ideal HVAC solution if you’re trying to electrify your home to eliminate natural gas use.
The Heat Pump Bottom Line
The main takeaway is that heat pumps can operate efficiently here in Kirkland. That applies both to standard air-source heat pumps as well as cold-weather models. If you’re considering upgrading to a heat pump, Black Lion Heating & Air Conditioning can help. We’re a Bryant Factory Authorized Dealer and a Mitsubishi Electric Diamond Contractor. That means we sell and install the latest quality ducted and ductless heat pumps. We also offer comprehensive HVAC and electrical services, as well as indoor air quality and ductwork services.
We’ve served local homeowners for over 20 years, and our HVAC technicians are among the best in the business. We’re a Nextdoor Neighborhood Fave and have numerous positive customer testimonials. We can help you navigate the various rebate programs for a new heat pump. We also provide comprehensive heating services as well as serving your cooling and electrical needs, plus duct cleaning and help with indoor air quality. We also offer financing options on approved credit.
So, if you’re interested in a new heat pump for your Kirkland home, contact Black Lion Heating & Air Conditioning today!