Homeowners around the nation discuss the advantages and disadvantages of providing their home with a central air conditioning unit or a heat pump. Both systems provide your home with cooling, and they look fairly similar after installation, so finding the difference between the two systems can be a little tricky. To help new and old homeowners alike, here is Warner Service’s breakdown of heat pumps versus air conditioning units:
Operation:
Both appliances essentially operate the same way. To cool your home, heat pumps and air conditioning units use a refrigeration process to extract the heat energy and moisture from the interior of your home then release the heat to the exterior. Both machines use refrigerant, copper coils, a powerful indoor fan (to circulate cool air) and a compressor.
Temperature:
Unlike air conditioning units, which are solely made to cool your home, only heat pumps can provide your home with heating and cooling options at a high efficiency. The process explained above just reverses, so the heat energy is extracted from the outdoor air then released into the indoors. When the outdoor temperatures drop below freezing (the duration of this cold weather is dependent upon where your home is located), the heat pump may have a difficult time adjusting, but most heat pumps come with an emergency generator or back-up heating element/gas furnace.
Model Types:
There are many different kinds of heat pumps, such as geothermal or ground-source, as well as various types of air conditioning models, such as central or room units with adjustable thermostats. No matter which you decide is best for your home, ask for a ductless model, especially if you live in a low-energy consumption home, and remember: the smaller the model is, the better it will be for your home. In the long run, the system will use less energy (which helps the environment and your cooling and heating bills) and require less hefty maintenance and upkeep, including possible replacements or repairs.
Cost:
Breaking down the bill for heat pumps and air conditioning is fairly similar in terms of installation, but when deciding which you should purchase, you should highly consider your location as the most important factor. For states that receive all 4 seasons in a year, heat pumps tend to be a better investment because they provide both heating and cooling in a single appliance. It is basically a 2-for-1 deal, and ductless heat pumps are an even better option, as they can cut your energy costs by 25 to 40 percent. If you reside in a humid state for most of the year, installing an efficient air conditioning unit with a high Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating (SEER) is of upmost importance.
Though you or someone you know may be brilliant when it comes to home improvement projects, you should leave the installation of an air conditioning unit or a heat pump to a set of professionals and specialists like Warner Service. We would be happy to discuss pricing, scheduling and installation of either system with you, so contact us today.
