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Buying a Heat Pump
A heat pump is essentially an air conditioner that can both heat and cool a house.
(For more information on how a heat pump accomplishes this bit of wizardry, please see our article
on how heat pumps work.) A simple explanation
is that a heat pump can extract heat found in the air (or ground) outside your house and transfer that heat into your
house instead. Under the right
conditions it can do this substantially more cheaply than a gas or oil furnace.
Consider the following questions when buying a heat pump:
- Is a heat pump the best choice -- or would you be better off buying a furnace and a central
air conditioner?
- What size heat pump should you buy?
- What is heat pump efficiency, and how efficient should your heat pump be?
- Which brand of heat pump is best?
- Who should install your heat pump?
Is a Heat Pump the Best Choice?
Since a heat pump can both heat and cool a house, wouldn't you always rather buy a heat pump than
a central air conditioner? And wouldn't you rather have a single piece of equipment to purchase,
install and maintain than both a central air conditioner and a furnace?
While the answer may be this simple, you should consider several factors.
The seasonal weather in your region is probably the most important factor in this decision. If
the temperature rarely dips below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, you can probably heat your home more
affordably with a heat pump than a furnace. However, if the temperature is often colder,
you should consider having a backup heat source. Many people choose a gas or
oil furnace to serve this purpose -- both for reasons of cost and because a furnace can more easily
maintain warm temperatures when the difference between the temperature outside and inside increases.
Second, heat pumps are generally more expensive than a central air conditioner of the same efficiency
and capacity. For example, at one direct-to-consumer retailer, a 1.5 ton, 13
SEER
Rheem heat pump
retails for about $100 more than the equivalent 1.5 ton, 13 SEER Rheem central air conditioner.
Contractors may also charge more to install a heat pump than a central air conditioner.
A third criteria to consider is longevity. Since a central air conditioner is typically only used
during the summer months, and a heat pump is used during both summer AND winter, the lifespan of
a heat pump is typically shorter than that of a central air conditioner. Maintenance costs are
typically higher as well, since the compressor, controls and other components will run more months
out of the year.
Finally, natural gas and oil have historically been more affortable than electricity. However, as petroleum
costs have skyrocketed in the past months, this may not be true in your area. ( Of course, this also varies
by region. Some, for example, have pointed out that the many hydroelectric dams in the
Pacific Northwest of the United States often result in electricity costs lower than natural gas costs.)
Since heat pumps almost often run on electricity, you'll want to consider whether a gas furnace
would be cheaper.
What size heat pump should you buy?
Choosing a heat pump that outputs the correct amount of warm and cold air
ensures comfort, low maintenance, and efficient operation.
Heat pumps should be sized to run continuously to maximize efficiency. A heat pump that
is too large for your house cycles on and off too often, which increases the wear on the equipment
and decreases its efficiency. Too small, and the unit may not be able to keep you comfortable during
both summer and winter.
Unfortunately, there is no shortcut to an accurate measurement -- you need to get an
HVAC contractor
to calculate your house's heating load. The standard
measure of a heating load is a Manual J calculation,
and it takes into account your house's insulation, size, amount of shade, and many other factors.
Heat Pump Efficiency: SEER vs. HSPF
The heating and cooling functions of a heat pump each have their own measure of efficiency.
A heat pump's cooling efficiency is measured by its "Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating", or
SEER. Its heating efficiency is measured by its
"Heating Seasonal Performance Factor" or HSPF.
In warm climates where you'll
want to generate cool air often and hot air rarely, you'll want to choose a heat
pump with a high SEER. In cooler climates, you'll want to make sure that your
heat pump has a high HSPF.
Highly efficient heat pumps typically cost more than less efficient models. You may want to
consider how many months it will take to pay off this increased cost through savings in your
energy bill. If you are planning to leave your current house within a few years, you might
prefer to install a lower efficiency heat pump, as you are unlikely to recoup the extra cost.
(Of course, money is not the only factor to consider -- you may be willing to pay more to
reduce your house's impact on the environment.)
Which Brands make the Highest Quality Heat Pumps?
Many companies manufacture heat pumps. Please browse the profiles of the following heat
pump manufacturers:
Who should install your Heat Pump?
One of the most important choices you will make in buying a heat pump is which contractor
to hire.
A good contractor will correctly size your heat pump, help you calculate the payback
period of high and low-efficiency equipment, and ensure that the equipment is installed
properly. In addition, they will respond promptly when you have an HVAC crisis, provide ongoing
maintenance, and act as a go-between with the manufacturer to replace failed parts under
warranty. Much like choosing a lawyer or an accountant, you should approach the choice of
an HVAC contractor carefully.
Approach your selection of an HVAC contractor the same way you would hire an employee --
interview several, get references, and decide slowly. Probably the best way to start is
to call friends that live in your town, and ask them who they would recommend. Small businesses
(such as the typical HVAC company)
live and die by word-of-mouth referral -- if a contractor knows that one of their current clients
referred them to you, they will work harder to make you happy.
If you can't find enough
contractors through word-of-mouth, consider working with a company that maintains a network
of HVAC contractors. (For example, FurnaceCompare.com happily recommends hiring contractors
through
ServiceMagic.
ServiceMagic provides a free, no-obligation service to match people with pre-screened contractors.
After the contractor completes a job, ServiceMagic emails the customer to request feedback on the contractor.
They then use that feedback to select which contractors to refer for future jobs.
Make sure to ask your contractor to show you a license and proof of insurance.
Ask if they will perform a load calculation to determine how large of a heat pump to install.
If they suggest that they have a shortcut for determining the correct heat pump size, keep
looking! In addition,
check with the Better Business Bureau to see if anyone has filed a complaint about
their company. Ask for references from three previous customers -- and then call to followup with those
references. Make sure that there's a good fit between
personalities -- you want to be sure that you feel comfortable asking questions.
While price is usually an important consideration, make sure that the low-cost contractor you
hire has an excellent reputation!
