More than ever before, heat pumps are boldly in the spotlight. Whether it is ground, monoblock, mini-split, or even air to water heat pump, there is a buzz around this climate-friendly HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) system.
A heat pump system is different from traditional central heating systems or furnaces that use gas or oil to produce heat. Unlike other heating systems, heat pumps don’t emit carbon (an element capable of destroying the environment). Hence, why the government and utility companies have expanded the rebates and incentives given to homeowners who install them. This is to encourage everyone to partake in keeping the environment sustainable.
According to an analysis conducted by the International Energy Agency (IEA), global sales of heat pumps increased by 11% in 2022, making it the second year for its double-digit growth. The IEA even predicted that heat pumps would nearly double their share of heating by 2030 at this growth rate.
In this post, we will explain all the heat pump pros and cons you need to keep in mind.
Heat pump is the modern version of traditional HVAC appliances like boilers and furnaces. They are built to perform both heating and cooling functions. Unlike traditional heating equipment, heat pumps are designed with metal coils, a fan, and refrigerant. Instead of generating heat by using energy-intensive electrical resistance or burning natural gas, they extract ambient heat from the outdoor environment and transfer it inside (vice versa in cooling mode).
The benefits of heat pumps are numerous. Here are what to expect if you install a heat pump:
One of the most discussed advantages of heat pumps is their dual functionality, i.e., capability to perform heating and cooling functions. Using heat pumps simplifies your heating and cooling needs into one system, keeping your home comfortable throughout the year.
In the winter, heat pumps efficiently provide warmth by increasing the room's temperature. In the summer, heat pumps can reverse their working cycle. Instead of working as a heating unit, it will switch to air conditioning. In addition to absorbing heat energy from outside the home and transferring it inside, heat pumps also have the ability to extract heat from inside the house and transfer it outside.
All these can be done with a single press of a button. The more interesting fact is that you can control and monitor your heat pump operation from a remote location using a mobile app. You will enjoy premium comfort and convenience when you upgrade to heat pumps.
The combustion process of wood burners and other conventional heating systems like furnaces and boilers causes fumes and smoke, which are detrimental to the well-being of the environment. With heat pumps, you will stop using fossil fuel. Electricity will be your new source of power, allowing you to heat your home more sustainably.
Heat pumps do not generate heat, rather they absorb heat from natural sources like air, water, and ground and transfer it to your home. Hence, they don’t emit carbon other than a little from the electricity needed to operate the compressor.
Generally, these HVAC systems are environmentally friendly, as most heat pump manufacturers use refrigerants like R290 and R410A that don’t contribute to damaging the ozone layer.
Currently, heat pumps are one of the most energy-efficient and cost-effective types of heating. They can achieve a Coefficient of Performance (the relationship between the power drawn out from the heat pump as heating or cooling and the power supplied to the compressor) of 4 or more. This means that to get 4kW of heating or cooling power; heat pumps use an average of less than 1kW of electricity.
On the other hand, a traditional heating system like gas boilers or electric fire systems usually has a Coefficient of Performance that’s below 1. This means it consumes over 1kW of power to generate a kW of heating.
The higher the Coefficient of Performance, the cheaper an HVAC system can run. Heat pumps offer the most energy-efficient and cost-effective heating compared to other HVAC equipment. They provide as much as 300%-400% efficiency.
One of the advantages of heat pumps is guaranteed safety and non-occurrence of fire outbreaks or gas leaks. With no fumes or open flames, there is no risk of gas leaks or carbon monoxide poisoning, making heat pumps one of the safest HVAC systems.
Also, as heat pumps distribute the air in the house, the filters clean and purify the air, removing dust, odours, mold, smoke, and other particles that could interfere with clean air distribution. This can be very beneficial for people with asthma and allergies.
While the initial investment and installation costs of heat pumps can be expensive, in the long run, they are incredibly economical. You can save on energy bills with low operating and maintenance costs.
According to the Department of Energy, heat pumps can reduce energy consumption by about 50% than electrical resistance heating like furnaces and baseboard heaters. Also, heat pumps are more economical to run, especially when combined with other renewables like solar.
NOTE: The more energy-efficient the heat pump is, the higher the reduction on energy bills.
In a bid to encourage more people to use heat pumps to keep the environment safe and reduce carbon emissions, the government offers grants and incentives. This helps homeowners, especially those on a tight budget, successfully upgrade their heating system.
One of the questions people ask is: how long does heat pumps last? Several factors influence this, such as the heat pump’s quality, its installation, and how it’s used and maintained. However, the average life of a heat pump is estimated to be between 10-20 years. Some heat pumps can even last for 20-25 years.
Heat pump durability allows you to enjoy both heating and cooling solutions throughout the year for over a decade without expensive repairs and maintenance costs.
Despite the many benefits of heat pumps, there are a few drawbacks. So, what are the downsides to a heat pump?
Temperature consideration always makes its way into every list of heat pumps pros and cons. This is because heat pumps become less efficient in colder climates. Still, technological advancement has led to the manufacturing of cold climate heat pumps specially designed to be 100% efficient down to -22⁰F.
While heat pump systems are not efficient in icy regions, they still provide better energy efficiency than conventional heating systems that rely on fossil fuel combustion.
Ice is prone to clog your heat pump unit, thus affecting the quality of the heat pump during winter if you live in an icy area. You need to pay more attention to the maintenance of heat pumps in winter. But now, the most new heat pumps, like R290 heat pump, are designed with the ability to defrost intelligently and anti-freezing.
One of the disadvantages of heat pumps is reliance on electricity to function. Installing a heat pump means you will use more electricity than before. But the overall energy cost savings are greater than other heating systems.
Another angle to heat pumps' reliance on electricity is interruption of operation due to power outage. This is more common in areas where electricity is not stable. But this can be curbed by investing in an auxiliary power source, such as solar energy.
While heat pumps are cost-effective and help save on energy bills in the long run, they have higher initial purchase and installation costs than traditional heating systems. The high cost of heat pumps can be attributed to their dual functionality, as they perform heating and cooling solutions. This saves you from investing in heating and cooling systems separately.
Fortunately, homeowners can take advantage of government grants and incentives to offset heat pumps' high costs.
Are you ready to install a heat pump in your building? Or do you need expert insight to decide whether a heat pump is right for you? SPRSUN is ready to help. We are a professional and experienced air source heat pumps supplier you can rely on for high-quality heat pumps with no disappointments. Our heat pump can work smoothly in a -30℃ cold climate, with automatic defrosting and anti-freezing functions. SPRSUN heat pumps also have MCS, TUV, KEYMARK,CE, ERP and other certificates, so the quality won't let you down.
Our team of experts is available to listen to your requirements to produce the best heat pumps that will satisfy your needs. You can contact us to get started.
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