Why Do California Residents Find Heat Pumps So Attractive?
Many La Puente, California, residents are changing from a traditional forced air heating system to incorporating heat pump technology into their homes. They have found it to be effective, economical, and environmentally friendly. The pumps can be used to heat the home as well as for most hot water needs.
How Does a Heat Pump Heat the Home?
It’s easier to understand what makes heat pumps so attractive to California residents when you know how the unit works. Heat pumps extract heat from the outdoor air and transfer it inside the home. A compressor in the device uses electricity to increase the temperature of the heat extracted from the outside. A heat pump’s function can be reversed, allowing it to pull heat from inside the home and transfer it outside, lowering the indoor air temperature.
Heat pumps can be great for new homes or retrofitting existing HVAC systems. The two sources of thermal energy primarily used for heat pumps are air and ground.
An air-source heat pump pulls heat from the outside air during the winter and removes heat from inside the home during the cooling season. Many are surprised that even when outdoor temperatures are below zero, there is still enough heat in the air to allow a heat pump to heat a home to a comfortable level. In a place like La Puente, California, where winter temperatures rarely drop below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, an air-source heat pump can easily keep a house warm.
Ground-source air pumps use the earth, or geothermal energy, as a source of heat for the winter and as a reservoir for rejected heat removed from the house during the warmer parts of the year. While not as commonly used as their air-source counterparts, ground-source heat pumps are becoming more popular because they are not affected by extreme temperature fluctuations. Instead, they draw their heat from the ground, which at certain depths maintains a constant temperature regardless of the air temperature outside.
California Residents May Save Money Using a Heat Pump
A heat pump can be less expensive to run than a gas furnace. The amount of money a homeowner will save will depend on the current energy cost in the state. A heat pump uses much less energy to produce the same amount of heat, making it up to three times more efficient than traditional gas furnaces. This can minimize home energy waste dramatically.
Heat Pumps Do Not Require Fuel Storage
With gas, oil, or propane pumps, the fuel must be delivered to the home via a fuel line or stored in a tank. This can be an issue for homes off the grid or in off-gas areas. Since a heat pump does not create energy from fuel, it only requires a steady electrical connection to heat or cool the home.
Efficient Heat Pumps Work Regardless of the Outside Temperature
Contrary to popular belief, modern heat pumps can heat a home efficiently even when the temperature dips below 10 degrees Fahrenheit. Even at this temperature, energy-efficient heat pumps offer a higher heating per energy unit than boilers or furnaces. This is why heat pumps have become so popular in areas around the world that are known for frigid temperatures, like Sweden, Norway, and Finland. Compared to these areas, the average 50 degrees Fahrenheit winter weather in La Puente, California, is no threat to heat pump efficiency.
Heat Pumps Are Surprisingly Quiet
A heat pump’s outdoor and indoor components will make some noise. An average outdoor component of a heat pump will produce a sound at about 60 dB. This is the equivalent of normal conversation or the sound of moderate rainfall. However, newer, ultra-quiet models produce much less sound. You can expect the indoor unit of your heat pump to have a sound level rating between 18 and 30 dB.
The sound level rating for different heat pumps varies by manufacturer. The compressor fan and other moving parts produce some noise. And the condition of your home’s ductwork and whether or not it is the right capacity for your heat pump can also impact how noisy it is when the heat pump is operating. If you have questions about the right-size heat pump for your home, which model is the quietest, and if your system’s ductwork is in optimal condition, contact our technicians at Temp Air System Inc. and let us use our skill and experience to help you keep your home comfortable.
California Residents Appreciate a Heat Pump’s Low Maintenance Needs
Heat pumps are relatively easy to maintain. This is partly because they use the same components to heat and cool a house. A home or business with a furnace and air conditioner must use two cooling and heating units with separate energy and fuel sources. The mechanical operation of a furnace and air conditioner is also drastically different, requiring unique yet distinct skill sets.
Furnaces and air conditioners are complicated pieces of machinery. A heat pump has fewer parts than two separate units, making it less likely that something will need to be replaced or repaired. You can minimize the need for heat pump repair by keeping your unit well maintained. The technicians at Temp Air System Inc. stand ready to provide annual heat pump maintenance to ensure that it works longer for you.
Heat Pumps Have a Long Service Life
Your typical furnace is expected to last between 10 and 12 years if well maintained. A heat pump has an average life cycle that is almost double that of a forced air furnace and, with proper maintenance, can last up to 25 years.
In addition to being long-lasting, heat pumps are flexible. Many homeowners use heat pumps in connection with underfloor heating and radiators with low surface temperatures.
The fact that heat pumps use natural energy sources, such as the ground, air, or water, means they are a sustainable way to heat your home or produce hot water. Since they operate using electricity, solar power, or an alternative energy source, they produce no emissions, making them an environmentally friendly option compared to traditional systems.
Heat Pumps Improve Indoor Air Quality
California residents are happy to learn that heat pumps can help to improve the air quality in their homes. You can use a heat pump to filter and dehumidify the surrounding air. Good air quality is key to minimizing sickness and health complications.
Trust Us for the Best Heating and Air Conditioning in La Puente
Since 2002, we have provided the best HVAC services in La Puente and across Los Angeles County. Our team believes in fast response times, transparent communication, quality workmanship, and providing our customers with the highest return on their investment. As a family-owned company, we are proud of our A+ Better Business Bureau rating and our EPA, NATE, and Energy Star certification.
Our services include air purification, HVAC installation, maintenance and repair, electrical installation, UV lights, thermostats, and air filtration. Contact Temp Air System Inc. today to learn more about the services we provide, and let us show you why we are so trusted.
