Features To Weigh When You’re Buying A Heat Pump

If you’re buying a heat pump, you’re probably concerned about household efficiency. Heat pumps can produce over three times the amount of energy they run on. There are also advanced features available, which could enhance the efficiency of your system even further.

Here are a few options to consider when selecting a heat pump:

• Dual-speed blower motor: The blower literally blows conditioned air through the filter and into the ductwork. Most blower motors can only operate at one speed, but with a dual-speed (or variable-speed) system, the system can run continuously and at just the right level. Because you don’t always need the blower to blast on at full power, dual-speed systems save energy and increase comfort.
• Dual-speed compressor: A dual-speed compressor saves energy in the same way a dual-speed motor does. This type of compressor reduces wear on the system, increases life span, and creates more balanced comfort throughout the household.
• Desuperheater: A desuperheater comes into play during summer, when the heat pump is in air-conditioning mode, and creating excess heat as a by-product of the air-conditioning process. While this energy is wasted in typical systems, a desuperheater recycles the heat, using it to heat your hot water. The Department of Energy estimates that desuperheaters can save up to three times the amount of energy compared to standard, electrically-run water heaters.
• Scroll compressors: Typical compressors use a piston design, but scroll compressors have two spiraled elements. One is stationary, while the other spirals around it. Scroll compressors force refrigerant into tighter spaces, improving performance and increasing life span.
• Zone control: Zone control can be combined with many HVAC systems, not just heat pumps. Zone control uses a system of dampers installed in ducts to direct conditioned air only where it’s needed. Combining it with a dual-speed blower or compressor means your HVAC system creates only as much energy as is needed in a specific zone, and the zoning dampers direct it to the target.

Call WeatherKing Heating & Air Conditioning if you’re looking for a new heat pump. We’re proud to help Northeast Ohio homeowners find the most efficient comfort options for their households.

Our goal at WeatherKing is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about heat pumps and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Heat pump image via Shutterstock