Heating and Cooling System

What You Should Know About Heat Pumps

by Furnishly | Nov 11, 2022 | Home Improvement

Heat pumps offer an energy-efficient alternative to furnaces and air conditioners. (American Standard Heating and Air Conditioning)

Want to reduce your home’s utility bills and its carbon footprint? Switch your heating and cooling system to a heat pump!

This energy-efficient system provides up to three times more heat than the energy they use. They also can reduce electricity use for heating by about 50 percent compared to electric furnaces or electric baseboard heaters, according to Energy Saver.

Plus, with the recent passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, you can actually get money back when you install one.

Right now, you can receive a $300 tax credit for purchasing efficient heating and cooling equipment. And beginning in 2023, all households will be eligible for rebates up to $4,000, while low-income households could receive up to $8,000 for home efficiency. (For the tax credit program, the incentives apply to equipment installed on Jan. 1, 2023, or later.)

Read on to learn more and determine if this energy-efficient HVAC system is right for you.

This post is sponsored by American Standard Heating and Air Conditioning.

Platinum 19 Low Profile Variable Speed Heat Pump close up on logo

What is a Heat Pump?

Don’t let the name fool you — heat pumps both heat and cool your home.

This HVAC system heats your home by collecting heat from the air, water, or ground outside and concentrating it for use inside. It does double duty as a central air conditioner by collecting the heat inside your house and pumping it outside.

During the heating season, a heat pump moves heat from the cool outdoors into your warm house. Then, during the cooling season, it moves heat from your house into the outdoors.

Because these systems transfer heat rather than generate heat, they can efficiently provide comfortable temperatures for your home.

Set of air conditioner ac inverter heat pump mini split system with indoor outdoor unit and remote control isolated on white background — *A ductless mini-split system heats and cools a small space. (Deposit Photos*)

Types of Heat Pumps

The three main types of heat pumps are air-to-air, geothermal and water source, according to Energy Saver.

Air-to-Air

Air-source heat pumps transfer heat between your house and the outside air. These are the most common type and can be used in all climates. There are also cold-climate air-source heat pumps designed specifically for cold climates.

Ductless mini-split systems are air-source heat pumps that can be installed in homes or additions without ducts. They’re small and offer flexibility for zoning or heating and cooling individual rooms.

Geothermal

Geothermal (or ground source) heat pumps transfer heat between your house and the ground or a nearby water source. Because they move heat that already exists in the ground, they are among the most energy-efficient and comfortable heating and cooling technologies available.

Water Source

Absorption heat pumps are driven by a heat source such as natural gas, propane, solar-heated water, or geothermal-heated water. They usually only make sense in homes without an electricity source.

*If you live in an area with below-freezing temperatures in the winter, a heat pump alone will not be enough to keep you comfortable. (Willoxpix, Getty Images Signature)*

How Do I Know If My Home Needs a Heat Pump?

Every home and homeowner has unique needs, but generally, a heat pump is right for you if your winters are mild — rarely dipping below freezing. For instance, it’s ideal for a climate like the Southeast, which has mild winters.

Also, if you live in an area with low electric rates, then you’re a prime candidate for one.

What’s the Difference Between a Heat Pump and a Furnace?

A furnace converts fuel (either gas or oil) into heat that’s then delivered throughout your home.

Heat pumps, on the other hand, don’t burn fuel like a furnace — they run on electricity and circulate outside air to warm your home during the winter.

And because they don’t have to be matched with a separate heating or cooling system, they can be a less expensive option over time.

*Pairing a heat pump with a gas furnace capitalizes on both systems’ strengths. (3 Echoes Content Studio/AdobeStock)*

What Are the Benefits of Hybrid Heating?

One of the best ways to improve a heat pump’s efficiency is to pair it with a gas furnace. This dual-fuel system is also called hybrid heating. Here’s how it works:

During milder temperatures, the heat pump operates because it’s more efficient. As the outdoor temperature gets colder, the system will automatically switch over to the gas furnace.

This switching back and forth means the most efficient heating method is always used, which in turn saves on your utility bills.

For a more detailed explanation of hybrid heating, read Hybrid Heating: How Dual-Fuel Heat Pump Systems Save Energy & Money.

American Standard’s heat pumps run at lower speeds for longer periods than conventional systems. They have reduced noise and result in lower electricity bills. (American Standard Heating and Air Conditioning)

American Standard Heat Pumps

If you’ve decided a heat pump is right for you, consider purchasing one from American Standard Heating and Air Conditioning.

American Standard heat pumps operate quietly, have customizable heating and humidity controls, and they offer a variety of models to best suit your needs.

If efficiency is your top priority, then you’ll want the AccuComfort Platinum 20 Variable Speed. It comes with AccuComfort technology that allows the multi-stage heating and cooling system to consistently adjust to run at a more efficient speed to maintain your personal level of comfort. Plus, with up to 20.00 SEER and 10HSPF, it’s both efficient and quiet.

Is noise your main concern? The AccuComfort Platinum 19 Low Profile is American Standard’s most efficient and quiet to date. It’s specially designed to meet the noise requirements of some cities and is perfect for installations near bedrooms and outdoor living spaces.

Learn more about these heat pump models and discover more options at americanstandardair.com.

Save Energy, Lower Utility Bills With a Geothermal Heat Pump

by Furnishly | Aug 16, 2022 | Home Improvement

Homeowners in the U.S. average $1,900 a year on utility bills, with over 20 percent going to heating and cooling costs. So, it only makes sense to have the most energy efficient HVAC system for your home — a geothermal heat pump.

Heat pump by brick home — Geothermal heat pumps don’t burn fossil fuels, so they’re eco-friendly. (jpproductions, Getty Images)

What are Geothermal Heat Pumps?

Both the Deptartment of Energy and the EPA endorse geothermal heat pumps. Also known as ground source heat pumps, they’re among the most energy efficient and eco-friendly ways to heat and cool your home.

Geothermal systems are 50-70 percent more efficient for heating than traditional furnaces. They’re also 20-40 percent more efficient for cooling than standard air conditioners.

Unlike systems that burn fossil fuels – such as gas, fuel oil, coal, or wood – geothermal heat pumps don’t produce carbon dioxide greenhouse gas emissions.

About one million geothermal heating/cooling systems have been installed in the U.S. since 1980.

Illustrated diagram of a geothermal heat pump, showing underground pipes that supply ground-source heat — *A series of underground pipes absorb heat from the ground in the winter to warm your home.* (DepositPhotos)

How Does a Geothermal Heat Pump Work?

While a standard heat pump uses the temperature of outside air for heating and cooling, a geothermal heat pump draws on the more constant temperatures found underground.

A series of underground pipes absorb heat from the ground in the winter to warm your home.

In the summer, the process is reversed, with heat removed from your home and transferred back into the ground.

The network of buried polyethylene pipes used to exchange heat operate as either a closed or open loop.

In a closed loop system, the heat pump circulates a mixture of antifreeze and water through the pipes and back again.

An open loop, on the other hand, draws water from a well or pond, then returns it to the ground after use.

Pipes for a closed loop geothermal system can either be buried horizontally 4- 7 feet deep or vertically 150-400 feet underground.

Once the heat has been extracted from the fluid, it’s transferred to an air handler and ductwork to your home similar to other forced air HVAC systems.

A geothermal heat pump can also efficiently heat your home’s water. Waste heat from the compressor can be used to produce hot water at very little expense.

House with stacks of money as background — Through the High-Efficiency Electric Home Rebate Program, you could be eligible for $8,000 to cover installation costs. (Andy Dean Photography)

Is a Geothermal Heat Pump Worth It?

Geothermal heat pumps last 25 years on average while underground pipe loops can operate for over 50 years.

Over the life of the system, geothermal heat pumps cost 25 percent to 50 percent less than a traditional system. Homeowners can recoup the added installation expense in as little as five to seven years.

Find out how much you can save on your home’s heating and cooling with the Bosch Geothermal Savings Calculator.

Geothermal systems are also eligible for a federal energy efficiency tax credit of 30 percent of the cost, up to $2,000, of installing the system. This tax credit is available through the end of 2032.

Both principal residences and second homes are eligible for the federal tax credit, and you may also qualify for additional state and local tax incentives or rebates.

Beyond the tax incentive, you also could be eligible for up to $1,750 for a heat pump water heater and $8,000 for a heat pump for space heating and cooling through the High-Efficiency Electric Home Rebate Program.

More information is available at Bosch Thermotechnology.