Firmly positioned as one of the most energy-efficient ways to heat and cool homes, heat pumps have come a long way. Today’s systems use advanced technology that leads to improved home comfort, lower energy bills, and a longer life span for the system.

If you’re looking to upgrade your HVAC equipment, or need to replace an older heat pump, look for high-tech heat pump features to maximize your investment.

To choose features to optimize performance, you first need to understand how a heat pump works. A heat pump essentially moves already-existing heat from one place to another, depending on the season. That makes it far more efficient than a furnace that burns fossil fuels or uses electricity to generate heat.

Among the heat pump features you should consider to increase performance:

• A two-speed compressor. This component reduces wear and tear on the system, as well as the amount of electricity consumed during heating and cooling.
• A multi- or dual-speed motor. Powering the air handler, these motors can operate at several speeds to deliver a more even velocity of air at a lower cost.
• A desuperheater. This component uses excess heat to provide hot water for your home.
• A high-efficiency compressor. Generally called a scroll compressor, this component uses refrigerant more efficiently due to its increased surface area. It also lasts longer and operates more quietly than standard compressors.

Homeowners living in hotter climates like ours in San Antonio often choose a heat pump because they can invest in one system to provide both heating and cooling. In summer, heat pumps are about as efficient as conventional A/C systems. Their real benefits are their ability to heat more efficiently and to deliver conditioned air at a steady rate often making them more comfortable than standard forced-air systems.

When upgrading, look for these heat pump features to improve your comfort and leave more money in your pocket each month. For help selecting a system, contact Jon Wayne Heating & Air Conditioning today.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about heat pumps and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Heat pump image via Shutterstock

If it is time to replace your existing heating and cooling system, you may want to consider a heat pump system.  Heat pumps are much more efficient than the traditional combination of a furnace and air conditioner, so monthly utility bills tend to be lower year-round.

Instead of generating heat, heat pumps work by transferring it from a cooler space to a warmer space.  When it is cooler outside, a heat pump will draw heat from the outside air and into your home.  When it is warmer outside, the heat is moved from inside your home to the outdoors, which makes the air inside cooler.  Heat pumps are not always suitable for areas with extreme cold, which is why they are great for San Antonio’s milder winters.

All heat pumps are very efficient, so there are no bad choices, but every home has different needs, so look at these features to help you decide:

• Heating Efficiency – The heating season performance factor (HSPF) number indicates the heating efficiency for electric air source heat pumps.  A number between eight and ten will be the most efficient, and seven is the minimum rating for Energy Star systems.
• Cooling Efficiency – Measured by the seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER), cooling efficiency should be in the range of 14 to 18.  The higher the number, the more efficient the system.  In San Antonio, the SEER rating is the most important since the system will be primarily cooling.
• Noise Reduction – Fans and compressors can make noise, so look for a heat pump with a lower outdoor sound rating, ideally 7.6 bels or lower.
• Technology Type - In addition to an air source heat pump, there are other types such as ductless, mini-split, and absorption.  It is important to know which systems will work best in your home.

The professionals at Jon Wayne Heating & Air Conditioning can help you find the new heating and cooling system that is right for your home.  Not all equipment is suitable for our extreme summers, so it is important to work with a contractor when making decisions about this significant home investment.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about saving money with heat pumps and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Jon Wayne Heating and Air Conditioning services  San Antonio and the surrounding communities of Seguin, New Braunfels, Bulverde, Boerne, and Comal County. To get started, check out our website or see our current promotions.

A heat pump is an efficient heating and cooling system that can reduce your energy bills and your reliance on fossil fuels.  This system is a good alternative for many homeowners, especially in areas where electricity is relatively inexpensive and temperatures don’t go below 30-40 degrees in winter.

Why are heat pumps so efficient?  Instead of burning fuel such as oil or propane, which is costly in many areas and often wasteful, the heat pump uses the principle of heat transfer.  It extracts heat from the outside air and transfers it to the inside of your home. During warm weather, the heat pump works in reverse by extracting heat from your inside air and pumping it outside.

Two basic principles are at work in the heat pump:

• Movement of heat from a hot object to a cool object.
• A pressurized gas allowed to expand becomes cool.

In the summer, heat pumps work in much the same way as refrigerators. Coils carry refrigerant gas, a compressor turns the gas in to hot, high-pressure gas, and fans circulate the air.

During the winter, a fan blows air over the outdoor coil.  This extracts heat from the outside air. Why does this work?  We may not feel it, but even in winter the air holds a lot of heat. The compressors pressurize the gas in the coil, raising its temperature even more.  The heated gas then moves  to the indoor coil.  A circulating fan blows air across the indoor coil and through heating ducts to warm your home.

Heat pumps are economical to operate and don’t require the burning of fossil fuel.  Ask us about heat pumps, and if they are a good option for you.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information on how heat pumps work and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Jon Wayne Heating and Air Conditioning services  San Antonio and the surrounding communities of Seguin, New Braunfels, Bulverde, Boerne, and Comal County. To get started, check out our website or see our current promotions.