The winter months are upon us and most of the country's temperatures are steadily dropping.
It is also the time of year when people are cranking up the heat in their homes.
But what do you do when your heat pump breaks? There is never a good time of year for this to happen, but that applies doubly so when it is cold outside.
When thinking about choosing a new electric product, most people will immediately think about energy efficiency.
It is great if your new pump is energy efficient and can help you save a few bucks on your monthly electric bill, but make sure to balance that with the cost of service and repair bills.
Be sure to choose a pump that will help decrease the cost of your utility bills but will not cost an arm and a leg if there are any repairs needed later down the road.
Check out the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating (SEER) and the Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF) ratings.
These two numbers are now required by the Department of Energy to evaluate and rate the efficiency of the equipment.
The higher the rating, the more efficient the heat pump will be.
They might cost more, but the overall operating costs will be lower, so you should start seeing some savings pretty soon after the system is installed.
Also, be sure that the heat pump you choose is the right size for your house.
If the pump is too big for your house, it will cycle on and off too much, which causes more wear and tear on the pump.
This will decrease its overall efficiency and could result in costly repairs or having to go out and buy a whole new heat pump.
If the pump is too small, your home will not be properly heated in the winter or it will not be properly cooled in the summer.
To get an accurate measurement of the heat pump size you will need, you will have to call a reliable HVAC contractor.
One type of pump that might be worth checking out is a ground source heat pump.
Nowadays, these pumps are becoming more affordable for the average homeowner.
Using the earth's relatively constant temperatures, they provide heating, cooling and hot water for homes.
Just make sure that any geothermal installation company you use is certified through the International Ground Source Heat Pump Association.
It is also the time of year when people are cranking up the heat in their homes.
But what do you do when your heat pump breaks? There is never a good time of year for this to happen, but that applies doubly so when it is cold outside.
When thinking about choosing a new electric product, most people will immediately think about energy efficiency.
It is great if your new pump is energy efficient and can help you save a few bucks on your monthly electric bill, but make sure to balance that with the cost of service and repair bills.
Be sure to choose a pump that will help decrease the cost of your utility bills but will not cost an arm and a leg if there are any repairs needed later down the road.
Check out the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating (SEER) and the Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF) ratings.
These two numbers are now required by the Department of Energy to evaluate and rate the efficiency of the equipment.
The higher the rating, the more efficient the heat pump will be.
They might cost more, but the overall operating costs will be lower, so you should start seeing some savings pretty soon after the system is installed.
Also, be sure that the heat pump you choose is the right size for your house.
If the pump is too big for your house, it will cycle on and off too much, which causes more wear and tear on the pump.
This will decrease its overall efficiency and could result in costly repairs or having to go out and buy a whole new heat pump.
If the pump is too small, your home will not be properly heated in the winter or it will not be properly cooled in the summer.
To get an accurate measurement of the heat pump size you will need, you will have to call a reliable HVAC contractor.
One type of pump that might be worth checking out is a ground source heat pump.
Nowadays, these pumps are becoming more affordable for the average homeowner.
Using the earth's relatively constant temperatures, they provide heating, cooling and hot water for homes.
Just make sure that any geothermal installation company you use is certified through the International Ground Source Heat Pump Association.