When your heating and cooling systems have finally reached the end of their service life, it’s time to start shopping around for some new HVAC equipment. But did you know that just because you had a furnace and air conditioner doesn’t mean you have to stay with these HVAC systems? You have options, and heat pumps are one of the best alternatives for heating and cooling your home.
The team at Chesterfield Service explains what heat pumps are, why they work well in the Chesterfield, MO area, the benefits of installing a heat pump, and how you can afford a new heat pump for your home.
What is a Heat Pump?
A heat pump is a heating and cooling system that operates by transferring heat from one place to another. Unlike traditional heating systems that create warm air, heat pumps move heat from the outdoors into your home during winter. In the summer, they extract heat from your home to lower its temperature.
There are two kinds of heat pumps. Air-source heat pumps are the most common. They rely on the heat from the outdoor air to heat your home. Even in cold weather, heat pumps are still able to heat homes reliably.
The other types of heat pump systems are geothermal heat pumps or ground source heat pumps. These systems rely on the constant temperature of the Earth for heat. About 6-10 feet below the ground, the temperature remains consistent throughout the year. Pipes are laid in the ground and they transfer heat into your home. In the winter, heat is transferred out of your home into the dirt. While a geothermal heat pump system is more energy efficient than an air source heat pump, they are much more invasive and expensive to install.
Whichever heat pump system you’re interested in, the Chesterfield, MO area is located in an ideal climate for heat pumps. Even in winter, heat pumps efficiently extract heat from the outside air, even in temperatures as low as -15°F. This means that even on the coldest days of the year, a heat pump can keep your home warm and cozy.
During the summer months, when your heat pump is in cooling mode, you’ll be happy with how cool your home is without the high energy bills.
Benefits of Switching to a Heat Pump System
Switching away from a central air conditioner and a gas furnace system may seem like you’re taking a big risk in the comfort of your home when actually, there are many benefits to installing a heat pump system.
Energy Efficiency
Heat pumps are significantly more energy efficient than traditional HVAC systems. On average, a heat pump can deliver 2 to 3 times more heating or cooling energy compared to the electrical energy it consumes. This efficiency is achieved because, unlike combustion heating systems, heat pumps do not generate heat by burning fuel; instead, they transfer heat from one location to another. The low operating costs of your heat pump will also result in lower heating and cooling bills.
Versatility And Convience
Heat pumps are versatile systems that provide both heating and cooling from a single unit. Homeowners can save space and simplify their HVAC setup by eliminating the need for separate heating and cooling systems. Having only one heating and cooling unit also makes troubleshooting issues and performing maintenance easier.
Heat pumps can use duct systems to distribute air, but you can also connect them easily with ductless mini-splits to create personalized comfort zones around your home. This can improve energy efficiency even more because energy loss is often tied to leaky ductwork. With a ductless system connected to a heat pump, the transfer of heat energy is done through a tiny conduit and not ducts, so there is way less energy loss.
Enhanced Comfort
Say goodbye to cold spots or sudden blasts of hot air—heat pumps are known for providing better even temperatures around your home to maintain a balanced and pleasant environment throughout the year. Heat pumps are also known to control humidity better than air conditioners. Improved indoor air quality is a great benefit for the health and safety of your family.
Environmentally Friendly
Heat pumps have a lower carbon footprint compared to traditional systems that rely on fossil fuels. They produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions, helping to reduce your household’s environmental impact and contribute to a more sustainable future.
How Can I Have a Heat Pump Installed In My Chesterfield Area Home?
While there are many great benefits of installing a heat pump, they can be more expensive than a traditional split system, which deters many homeowners from making the switch. Recently, the federal government has made efforts to make switching to more energy-efficient systems around your home more affordable than ever.
The Residential Clean Energy Act and the Inflation Reduction Act are helping homeowners switch to a heat pump system with tax breaks and other incentives to make the purchase and installation of a heat pump much more affordable. Some HVAC manufacturers are also offering rebates and incentives to help homeowners as well. Chesterfield Service is a Bryant Factory Authorized Dealer, which means we install high-quality Bryant brand heat pumps to help keep your home comfortable all year long.
If you’re unsure of which tax incentives and rebates you qualify for, don’t worry. Our financing experts at Chesterfield Service can help find out how we can make heat pump installation more affordable for you. Following that, we can see if you qualify for flexible financing with approved credit. This way you can have a heat pump installed in your home without paying it off entirely. It will make your home and wallet comfortable while you make small monthly payments.