Beyond the Furnace: Why Texas Homeowners Are Switching to Heat Pump Systems

Does it make sense to install a heat pump in your home this year? It might, especially if:

• An emergency replacement is underway to replace your aging system
• You planned to replace your air conditioner this year
• You are exploring a heat pump system as an energy/money saver to improve your family’s budget

Here are some heat pump basics to help inquiring homeowners considering a change.

AC is part of your HVAC System

Your air conditioner (AC) is a component of a larger building system, the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system (HVAC). This larger system performs several functions to keep your home healthy, safe, and comfortable. We are most familiar with the comfort function, but it is only a part of what is happening simultaneously.

• Air is kept within a comfortable range of temperatures year-round and throughout the residential space.
• The air moves frequently, keeping it fresh, not stale like a closed-up space.
• The air is cleaned regularly. An air filter removes dust and other airborne contaminants with every heating or cooling cycle.
• Excess humidity is removed from the air, as both a health and comfort operation.

These comfort and healthy features allow the family to be safely inside, rather than keeping doors and windows open for ventilation.

Enter Heat Pump Technology

More traditional HVAC systems have a furnace and an air conditioning system. The furnace creates heat via electrical heating elements or by combusting natural gas or propane. This technology uses a different process: it reverses the air conditioner process. It works like this:

• Air conditioners do not cool; they move heat. A chemical refrigerant moves heat from inside the house to the outside of the house.
• Heatpumps use the same process during the heating season, moving heat from the outside of the house to the inside of the house.

Since the heatpump does not use energy to create heat, there is significant energy savings, which results in significant cost savings.

The Fine Print Details of a Heat Pump 

South Texas is a great place to install a heatpump, since we experience moderate winters. That means there is plenty of heat to be collected outside. The refrigerant efficiently collects heat and transfers it to the air handler unit, where it is pushed throughout the home. However, when outdoor temperatures drop below 350 Fahrenheit, the heat pump struggles to find enough heat to warm the home. For this reason, heat pumps come with a backup system, a furnace that creates heat using electricity or natural gas—a dual fuel system.

A heat pump offers both energy efficiency and the peace of mind of a backup heat system during the few times that winter temperatures drop below thirty-five degrees.

What About the Cost?

• Heat pumps use the same ductwork, electrical connections, and refrigerant tubing used by traditional HVAC systems.
• Heat pump equipment costs a little more than traditional HVAC systems, due to the backup furnace system.
• The operational expense of a heat pump is much less than that of a traditional HVAC system.

Is a heat pump a good choice for your home? There are too many variables to answer that question for everyone who might read this article. Call Northwind for a consultation and estimate to see if a heat pump is a wise choice for your home.

Beat the Heat (and the Cold) with a Heat Pump Installation by Northwind

Ready to see how much you could save on your monthly energy bills with a high-efficiency system? Every home is unique, and our experts are standing by to help you determine if this technology is the right fit for your specific needs and budget. Call Northwind Air Conditioning and Heating today for a personalized consultation and a free quote on your new heat pump installation.