What to Look for when Choosing Heat Pumps

Heat pumps are a essential part to various types of systems, such as, refrigerators, air conditioners, and freezers. A heat pump is a device that uses only a small amount of energy to transfer heat from one location to another. This process is commonly used to heat homes in the winter time. The heat pump also has a unique ability to perform dual heating and cooling with only a single compressor. All that is required is the just flip a switch in the pump and it can go from heating a place, to cooling it. As you can see a heat pump is a valuable piece of equipment, so it is essential to understand what to look for when investing in a heat pump. So you need to go over a couple of things a heat pump needs to ensure it will meet a buyers needs. The first thing to look for when buying a heat pump is the manufactures efficiency ratings. The manufactures rate their pump by two way: SEER and HSFP ratings. The higher the SEER or HSFP ratings, the more efficient the pump system will work. SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating and provides a value on how well the pump cools. You are looking for a SEER value of between 14 to 18. HSFP stands for Heating Seasonal Performance Factor and measures how well the unit will heat a place up. You are looking for a HSFP value between 8 to 10. The second thing to look for in a heat pump is the actual hardware and accessories that are built into the system. Check to see if a ‘desuperheater’ coil is installed, which heats water by recycling waste heat. Having one installed will eliminate wasted heat and save money through the winter. Another item to check on the heat pump is if it has a dual mode compressor, as this provides you options on how hot or cold you like the place to be. Having this capability will also save money and keep the heat pump running at the maximum efficiency. Finally, check to the compressor type as you want a scroll type, as it is quieter, more efficient, and usually last longer than the standard compressors. Doing a bit of research on heat pumps can save a person thousands of dollars in savings and repairs. By making sure you have the most efficient heat pump to fit the buyers needs is the most important aspect when buying one. So take some time before buying and be prepared to reap the rewards of purchasing one.

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