Which is more efficient for cooling an AC unit or heat pump. The trade off is that air conditioners is a little more energy efficient at cooling. To calculate how many days that would be, you could take a look at an average temperature record for your area (easily available with online search), and find the days between 35 degrees and the average temperature at which you don’t run your heat. Gary, welcome to Washington! Under optimal conditions, air-source heat pump systems can drop a home’s energy consumption by as much as 40 percent. Since it is consistently hot in Florida, more customers need A/C there. Our climate here in Washington state is very different from yours in Maryland. I’m a little confused because I once lived in Florida, where they sold “Air Conditioners” which both heated and cooled. Wow that sounds like an interesting system with lots of options for saving you money. I’m a senior and like my heat warming up fast. We have a huge range of air conditioning units, save money on your energy bills now. I liked that you explained that it would be smart to get your pumps checked. If your power is higher cost, then having a gas furnace in the mix might save you in the long run. Sometimes these things can be improved so the equipment can better deliver cooling, other times we have to look at supplemental cooling for difficult areas, primarily with ductless products. We hope this helps! Probably not. My question is, are they correct or misinformed? Plus the furnace is not that old and has been maintenanced once a year. Best of luck! Posted in Depending on your home’s location, the heat pump may be an excellent choice. Here in the Seattle metro area I figure we would need AC for two, maybe three months out of the year. It seems that in the NW, gas and electricity are relatively inexpensive. If you live in our service area, we would be happy to provide you with one. Changing out a heat pump for an AC would not provide better cooling. Heat pumps are the most efficient, but there are times when a heat pump will not perform well – in cases of extreme cold and heat. If so, then the source of your payback on the $1000 will come from efficiencies when you are in heating mode. I am currently purchasing a home with central ac with ducks in the ceiling and electric base board though out the house. The AC may have a slightly lower initial cost, but depending on how you currently heat your home, the heat pump should be able to pay you back for the difference over the life of the product (or sooner). The heat pump’s main advantage is it can cool and heat, so you can use it all year round. down to freezing, when you’ll want to have a back up heating system kick in. Hi Brian, thanks for the question. Hello and thanks for asking. I had no idea that a heat pump could cool and heat a home. If you have experience with either of these systems or an opinion you’d like to share, please feel free to leave us a comment below. These units are made up of large compressors that can produce lots of cool air at once to distribute throughout a space. Anything is possible if you have the will! (2) what’s economically friendly? Buying cooling equipment may seem like a large investment for only a couple months, but on those nights when you are losing sleep due to a hot bedroom, air conditioning seems like a life saver. Right now I am leaning towards the A/C unit since the house was built in 2011 and is well insulated. The portable isn’t strong enough for the whole house and only keeps the area near it cool. You’d be very surprised, especially if you’re remembering how loud they were in the 80’s and 90’s. We have been since 1957. Your AC guy is probably right. We are finding that the heat pump is not cooling the second story of our home to low enough temps (still uncomfortable at night). Our gas furnace works great, but our home is way too hot when the temps get above 70 for more than a week. If you live in Western Washington, give us a call! Hi, The investment could pay for itself on the heating costs alone – and your air conditioning would be free! When we speak of air conditioners in this article, we refer to units that only do cooling. We encourage you to find a top rated contractor in your area and ask them to do a detailed comparison including how much you might save on your heating costs from the portion of time you use the heat pump. Q#2 Would I be correct in assuming that a heat pump has far too big a start up surge to make powering one with a typical residential generator in an outage situation? What would need to be done to have ac with the heat pump or is this possible? Daikin and Fujitsu are what we sell, too. Several different factors can determine whether you’d want to use a heat pump vs air conditioners, and there is no one answer for everyone. A heat pump works instead by transferring heat from the air back and forth, from inside your home to the outside without producing heat, thus using less energy. Is it possible AC be added? Ft ductless home and need some direction as to which way to go. The most efficient type of heating and cooling solution is a ductless heat pump, but as you mention you are skeptical of heat pumps. Then you could pencil out your savings. House will have gas furnace and ductwork. It seems like the cost saving may not be as much, plus the heat pump has a shorter life span compared to an AC. For smaller apartments or single rooms, window units are the most common type of air conditioner. In the winter, the opposite will happen and your heat pump will warm your house instead. Heat pumps work by moving heat from one place to another. But are there things we should have the builder do to make installation at a later date easier? A BPI certified auditor will do a whole home assessment including a blower door test and infrared imaging. July 17, 2019. Approximate cost for 1800 sq ft ranch with basement?thank you. REBATES & DISCOUNTS, Know Your Home My wife and I are looking at a home to buy and it has a heat pump with all duct work, the description says heat pump for heating and cooling is listed as other. Because heat pumps remove heat from a cool area and transfer it to a warm area, they can be used to both heat and cool and so can be useful all year long. Hi Bobby, we would suggest a Heat Pump as they are the most efficient and work very well in a temperate environment. If you live in a climate that can get extremely hot, having central air can be the most reliable way to keep your home at a comfortable temperature during warmer months. It's true that heat pumps can be very efficient, but most air conditioners are similar in terms of their efficiency. People have told me that I would not like a Heat pump based on their reputation and my heat preference. But that’s only 4 months. We don’t sell Trane – we are a Bryant dealer, a brand we very much believe in. I think you’ll find that AC will not be necessary unless you want a complete guarantee of year-round comfort. All AC duct work is in place. Homes in Florida are more likely to have air conditioning than heat pumps because heat pumps become less effective at delivering cooling once the temperature rises past a certain level. Hi Kim, We would probably recommend a ductless heat pump. /articles-tips/heat-pumps-vs-ac-infographic, http://www.ehow.com/how_7683604_determine-heat-pump-size.html. However, it is typically better to add it from the outset to minimize installation costs. Hi Ed. Hi Susan, I would be remiss if I didn’t suggest to you to give us a call at 800-398-4663 and get us down there for a quote. I have attached a link to an article about how you might do this and as you will see, importantly, it notes that you should have a pro contractor confirm it. Thanks for asking. So again that means that it’s the same? Tubing connects the two units, and the heat is absorbed from one area (such as inside your house) and then released in another area (outside). gas fired water heater and considering replacing those with a heat pump + tankless gas water heater. You should also consider that the larger your house, the more indoor units you’ll need for the air to move efficiently, and so the more expensive installation becomes. Every home and user is different but in general, AC compressors with less use can last a little longer with annual maintenance. How would I determine if I need a 2 or 3 ton unit for a heat pump system, Thanks for asking about heat pump sizing. Should I consider a heat pump? The best equipment with inadequate ductwork will not perform anywhere near its potential (imagine a Porsche with off road tires instead of sport tires). . So how to get cool? If you wish to share with us the brand and model of both, we might be able to investigate further. Thanks! Given this, is the heat pump still a much cheaper option? For an AC only unit, 16 SEER vs 13 SEER – both will cool your house. What would you recommend for Jarrettsville MD. Also ask about any local or state rebates available. Summers are hot and humid, winters can get cold (below 32F) but not too often (several times a year). Heat pumps are also mor… Our house is 3930 sq ft & have been told we need a 5 ton unit. Heat pumps and air conditioners are the two of the most popular systems in today’s market and each has strengths and weaknesses. 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