Is A Heat Pump Right For My Pennsylvania Home?
In our area of Pennsylvania, we experience all four seasons: Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall. With each of these seasons, we see some very different weather, with snow and cold in the winter, and heat waves during the summer. When considering an upgrade to your home’s HVAC system, you’re looking for reliability, efficiency, and comfort across all four seasons. This is why we love and recommend heat pumps regularly to our customers, because they are perfect for homes in our area.
John Cipollone Inc. has been serving the Philadelphia Main Line and surrounding areas since 1953, and we’ve seen heat pump technology evolve. There was once a time where heat pumps weren’t as efficient as other solutions, but today, we know they can handle all the weather we see around here.
In this article, I’m going to go over what a heat pump is, and how it can effectively keep your home comfortable all year round. If you want to speak to an expert or schedule an estimate, give us a call at (610) 446-7877, or contact us online!
What Exactly Is a Heat Pump?
A heat pump uses electricity and an air transfer process to heat and cool your space. Unlike a furnace that burns fuel (like gas or oil) or a central AC that only cools, a heat pump moves heat from one place to another in order to create comfort.
- In the summer: It acts like an air conditioner, pulling heat out of your home and moving it outside.
- In the winter: It reverses the process, pulling residual heat from the outside air (yes, even cold air contains heat!) and transferring it indoors to warm your house.
Because they don’t have to generate heat like a furnace, and rely more on this air transfer process, it reduces the amount of energy used. This more energy-efficient process allows your system to work more easily and consume less energy, lowering energy bills and reducing the wear on your system.
The PA Winter Challenge: Can a Heat Pump Handle the Cold?
The biggest concern for homeowners when it comes to heat pumps in the winter is handling the cold weather. Traditional heat pumps struggled when outside temperatures dropped near or below freezing. They either couldn’t keep the house warm enough, or would use so much energy that it would cost too much to run. Luckily, modern technology has largely solved this issue, and heat pumps can keep you warm even in frigid temperatures.
The Rise of Cold-Climate Heat Pumps (CCHP)
Newer, high-efficiency models—often referred to as Cold-Climate Heat Pumps (CCHP) are specifically engineered to operate effectively in temperatures well below 0°F. Some of these systems designed by Carrier were designed to operate in temperatures down to -22 degrees!
Here are some of the advantages of heat pumps over some other forms of HVAC technology:
Key Advantages of Heat Pumps:
- Variable Speed Compressors: These allow the system to adjust output based on the precise heating demand, providing steady, consistent warmth without the sharp blasts of hot air common with furnaces. Older HVAC systems had one speed and would turn off and on as needed. This led to uneven temperatures and inefficiency.
- Enhanced Refrigerants: Modern refrigerants are much more efficient at absorbing and transferring heat even when the outdoor temperature is low. These refrigerants are also more environmentally friendly. This is why manufacturing R-22 and other kinds of coolants has been banned in the US.
- Ability To Heat & Cool: In the past, many homes in our area of PA would be outfitted with an air conditioner, as well as a furnace or boiler. One system would cool in the summer, and the other would cool in the winter. Luckily, heat pumps are able to both heat and cool your home, meaning you only need 1 system rather than 2!
Environmentally Friendly: Due to the reduced amount of energy they consume, and the type of energy they consume, heat pumps have become an environmentally friendly choice to heat and cool homes. Often these systems will qualify for rebates and tax credits in order to incentivize homeowners to install these, and help reduce climate change.
The Efficiency & Cost Factor
The primary driver behind the heat pump’s popularity is efficiency. Since they move heat instead of creating it, they can provide up to three times the amount of energy they consume in electricity. This is very different from heating systems that have to burn fuel like gas or oil, or older AC systems that used R-22 and other inefficient coolants.
Savings on Utility Bills
If you currently rely on oil, propane, or inefficient electric resistance heat, switching to a heat pump can lead to substantial reductions in your annual heating costs. Newer furnaces and boilers tend to be more efficient than older systems, but at the end of the day, a heat pump is generally the most energy-efficient HVAC system for a home. The heat transfer process and cost of electricity usually result in lower energy costs.
Incentives and Rebates
As we mentioned above, there are typically rebates and incentives to lower the initial cost of installing a heat pump. In our area, PECO and the Electrical Association of Philadelphia both offer rebates, depending on the season. Carrier and other manufacturers will also offer rebates to give you a little relief when you are purchasing a new heat pump.
Be sure to ask us about these rebates, financing, and any other incentives that might be available. Our experts will help you find the best available rebates on new HVAC equipment in our area of Pennsylvania!
Is a Heat Pump Right for Your Home?
A heat pump is an excellent option for the majority of Pennsylvania homeowners looking for a reliable, energy-efficient solution. Maybe a ductless mini split may be a better option, which is just a different sort of heat pump, but still, heat pumps are generally a solid answer to your heating and cooling needs.
Here are some instances where you should consider installing a heat pump in your home:
- You are replacing an aging or inefficient central AC system.
- Your energy bills are very high from using an older system that wastes energy (oil, propane, baseboard electric).
- You want one system for both heating and cooling.
- You are interested in making your home more environmentally friendly (No more burning fossil fuels).
Consulting with a professional like the experts here at John Cipollone Inc. is the best way to figure out what system fits your needs best. We can help you figure out if your home needs a new heat pump, and help you pick the right one that fits your needs. We will also help you find the best ways to save money in the process of purchasing a new syste,.
Contact John Cipollone Inc. now! Give us a call at (610) 446-7877, or contact us online to schedule an appointment today!
