Heat pumps are essential when homeowners want to maintain comfortable indoor temperatures throughout the year in an efficient manner without necessarily installing energy-consuming systems like electric heaters and gas furnaces. The device is mounted outside a home to draw and circulate air inside the home. During cold months, a Daikin heat pump pushes warm air inside the house, while the reverse is the case in hot summer months. This article helps new homeowners to understand some top facts about heat pumps.
Low Cooling and Heating Costs
Unlike a traditional HVAC system, a heat pump is more energy efficient regarding maintenance of conducive indoor temperatures. Even though a heat pump can be expensive when purchasing, it is cheaper to run compared to other systems. Also, because a heat pump plays a double role in heating and cooling, you save money that would have been spent on purchasing two separate systems. Notably, a heat pump relies on thermal energy rather than electric or fuel energy, which is more cost effective.
Consider Floor Plan and Spaces
One or two heat pumps can suit a small home, especially one with an open floor plan. Walls and other barriers tend to reduce the efficiency of heat pumps, thereby forcing homeowners to buy multiple units. It is recommended that you position a heat pump at the most open location of a home to improve efficiency. Further, choosing the right size heat pump can dictate whether your home will be energy efficient or not. Too small a heat pump for a large space will cause the unit to struggle or even burn. A huge heat pump for a small area or room can also be overkill concerning the initial cost of buying and operational expenses.
Home Insulation
Insulating a home to improve thermal efficiency is essential if homeowners want to realise savings when using heat pumps. Air sealing and insulation will reduce the size of a heat pump that is required in a home, and thus minimise energy bills. It is a no-brainer that a large heat pump consumes more energy and might be costly to own compared to a smaller unit. Therefore, insulation and removal of drafts can be a cost-effective way to help cut down the overall energy demand of a heat pump.
Cleaning the Heat Pump
Since most heat pumps are located outdoors, the vents that draw in the air can get clogged with all kinds of dirt and debris, such as twigs, leaves dried mud and pests. You should wash the exterior part of the heat pump unit gently to remove all the dirt and debris. Failure to remove dirt can cause the heat pump to work twice as hard to either cool or warm a home, thereby leading to high energy bills.