Should You Add a Heat Pump?
No matter whether you own a home or a business in Lake Oswego, OR, there’s no doubt that you want it to be comfortable at all times. If it’s the coldest day of winter or the warmest day of summer, you want to have a respite from the temperatures for your family or clients alike.
For the past several decades, the most common heating and cooling system in Lake Oswego has been an air conditioner and a furnace. Now, however, there’s a different option. A heat pump could be the perfect heating and cooling solution for you.
What Is a Heat Pump?
A heat pump can replace both the air conditioner and the furnace. The state of the art technology of a heat pump extracts heat from one environment and pumps it into another. Instead of cooling the air inside of a building, it removes any heat that is present. In the winter, it can sense even the smallest amount of heat in the air and pump it inside to warm it up. It is similar to a standard Heating, Air Conditioning system since it uses a compressor and coil. The big difference is that you only need one heat pump for cooling and heating, as opposed to having an air conditioner and a furnace.
Residents of Lake Oswego are making heat pumps the choice in bigger numbers every year for new builds and for replacement Heating, Air Conditioning systems. Wolfer’s is the best choice for all of your heat pump needs.
Do Heat Pumps Save Money?
They sure do. You will notice the savings with your very first energy bill after installation. They are more efficient to run than Heating, Air Conditioning systems are.
Installation for a heat pump will cost you between $1,500 and $10,000. The price is determined by several factors, including how big of a heat pump you want, and the level of quality of the unit. The better it is manufactured with quality materials, the most expensive it will be. An air conditioner will cost a similar amount.
The savings will come from your energy usage. Most estimates give heat pumps an efficiency benefit of around 30% when compared to a furnace or air conditioner. Heating and cooling the air as opposed to pumping it into different environments uses much more energy.
It’s not uncommon for a family to spend an average of $300 a month on their energy costs. Heating and cooling tends to be about 40% of that number, which is equal to $120 a month. A 30% savings from installing a heat pump means that you could save around $432 every year. After around a decade, your heat pump will have already paid itself off with a $4000 installation, with more years to come on top of that. Plus, a heat pump takes up very little space in your home.
Types of Heat Pumps
There are three types of heat pumps:
- Air-to-air
- Gas-fired
- Geothermal
Air-source Heat Pumps
Usually when someone says the word “heat pump,” and air source heat pump is what they are referring to. It takes the heat that is present on the outside of a building and moves it inside, or it pumps the inside heat to the exterior. On the heating side, a heat pump uses less than 50% of the energy that a furnace does. An air source heat pump also provides dehumidification, which can make it even more comfortable.
Do you live in Lake Oswego and do not have ductwork? That’s okay! You can have a mini-split heat pump installed, which can heat or cool your whole building without the need for ductwork. A reverse cycle chiller heat pump is another option. It uses water to heat or cool buildings. They are especially helpful with radiant floor heating systems.
Gas-fired Heat Pumps
A gas-fired heat pump is also known as an absorption heat pump. It may use gas for fuel, however, it might also use propane or solar energy to provide fuel. These types of heat pumps are usually powered by natural gas, and they have ammonia to act as a refrigerant instead of the type found in most refrigerators.
Geothermal Heat Pumps
Instead of drawing and draining heat from the air, a geothermal heat pump extracts heat from objects, the ground, and water. They are more expensive to have installed, but they also come with several benefits, including:
- They reduce energy use by 30-60%
- They control humidity well
- They are robust and dependable
- They are suitable for a range of homes and buildings
- They can be used in regions with more extreme temperatures
Heat Pump Installation and Repair Contractor Lake Oswego, OR
installing a heat pump is not a DIY job. You should trust a professional to handle your installation, servicing, and repair needs for your heat pump. Call the best heat pump company in Lake Oswego.
Call Wolfer’s for your Lake Oswego heat pump installation and repair.
