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Thanks to recent forward motion in engineering science , an electric air - source passion heart like theAccuComfort Platinum 20fromAmerican Standard Heating and Air Conditioningcan save households hundreds of dollars in one-year vitality costs . And since the Union government , world power party , and Department of State and local governments are offering incentives in the variant of tax credits and rebates for those who bribe a heat pump , there ’s really never been a better clip to make the replacement .
If you ’re considering withdraw the leap , read on to come up out how these appliances make for , what makes them energy efficient , and how to size one for your nursing home .
Photo: Courtesy of American Standard
Q: How does a heat pump work?
A : Unlike furnace that work by creating red-hot melodic line , passion pump mould by transferring existing heat either indoors or outdoors , calculate on whether you ’re warming or chill your abode . When function as an air conditioner , the heat pump apply coils to pull in heating plant out of the indoor strain , move it through a compressor , and deposit it outside . It repeats this cycle until the temperature inside the house lower to the setting on the thermoregulator .
When functioning as a heater , the heat pump pulls heating system out of the outside airwave ( yes , there is actually heat present in very cold outdoor air ) . Then it transfers heat through the compressor before releasing it indoors to lift the temperature in the home .
Heat pumps are cube - shaped appliances that look similar to central air conditioning units . The average heat heart measures about 3 feet wide by 3 foot deep by 3 groundwork tall , varying in size count on its heating system and cooling capacitance .
Photo: Courtesy of American Standard
Q: How much electricity does a heat pump use?
A : How much electricity a heat ticker uses depends on its efficiency rating and your home . warmth pumps have a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio ( SEER2 ) rating , which quantify an air conditioner ’s cooling efficiency , and a Heating Seasonal Performance Factor ( HSPF ) paygrade , which evaluate how expeditiously a passion pump warms up your domicile .
A SEER2 rating is calculated by divide a passion ticker or air conditioning unit ’s cooling outturn by its Energy Department input . you’re able to determine a HSPF evaluation by divide the full seasonal heating plant output by total vigour consumption . The higher the SEER2 or HSPF rating , the more efficient the heating system pump .
TheAccuComfort Platinum 20 Heat Pump , for example , has a high SEER2 evaluation of up to 20.5 and an HSPF paygrade of up to 8.7 . For comparison , most air conditioner have a SEER rating that falls between 13 and 21 , and the Department of Energy command heating pumps to have an HSPF paygrade of 7.5 or high .
Photo: Courtesy of American Standard
How much the heat pump will cost you to track down also depends on outside factors , says Mark Woodruff , fourth-year product handler for American Standard . “ incisively how much electricity they will use will look on how enceinte of a system your abode needs , how well isolate it is , and your local climate , ” he enjoin .
Q: Electric heat pump vs. gas furnace: Which is better for the environment?
A : Heat pumps are in force for the environment for several reason . Since heat pumps only transfer exist heat , they ask far less energy to manoeuver than furnaces that process by generating heating plant . Modern accelerator pedal furnace roam from 90 to 100 percent effective . Today ’s heat pump reach 300 to 400 per centum efficiency or more .
This means that while a gas furnace commit out about the same amount of energy in the form of heat as it consumes , a heating plant ticker puts out three to four time as much heat energy as it uses in electricity .
Heat ticker are also cleaner . “ hotness pumps use electricity to sire warmth [ whereas furnaces ] burn fossil fuels like natural gas or propane , ” Woodruff says . He adds , “ Heat pump using electrical energy from a renewable vigour storage-battery grid contribute importantly less environmental emission . ”
Photo: Courtesy of American Standard
Q: Are heat pumps suitable for cold climates?
A : It used to be that hotness heart struggled to keep home plate quick in colder atmospheric condition . Many older heat pump were paired with a backup passion source , such as an electric heating element or gas pedal furnace , which would recoil on when the heat pump could no longer keep up .
“ With today ’s technology , it ’s a myth that you ca n’t have a warmth pump expeditiously heat your home if you live in a colder mood , ” Woodruff says . “ Heat pump applied science has acquire such that they can leave high temperature at much lower outdoor temperatures than in the past — in many case , well below zero degrees Fahrenheit . ”
A young cold - clime warmth ticker uses vapor injection to advance heating capability when temperature cast . For example , vaporization injection heat pumps can provide heating at temperatures well below zero ; some as low as -20 degrees Fahrenheit . And many modern heat pumps also fare equipped with variable - speeding compressor that allow for them to keep consistent temperatures in frigid weather . This eliminates the encompassing temperature swings characteristic of old single - speed heat pump . As a result of these procession , loanblend systems are a necessity only in climates that receive extreme cold .
Q: What size heat pump do I need?
A : warmth pumps are sized in net ton , a practice that stems from the other days of air travel conditioners when their cool down power was rated by the tantamount amount of ice it would take to supply the same amount of cooling . A 2 - ton air conditioner , for example , would have the same cooling power as melting 2 dozens of ice in a twenty-four hour period .
Along with tons , heat pumps are also sized in British thermic units ( BTUs ) , which is the amount of heat require to raise 1 pound of water 1 degree Fahrenheit .
While the sizing terms can be puzzling , identifying the size of heat heart you need for your home is n’t unmanageable . rough-cut size today cast from 2 to 5 tons , or 12,000 to 60,000 BTUs . Each short ton is enough to fire up and cool 500 square feet . This means a 2,000 - square - foot home could require a 4 - short ton hotness pump , and a 2,500 - straight - foot home could need a 5 - ton heat pump . Since 1 ton is equivalent to 12,000 BTUs , making the computation in B.Th.U. is wide-eyed . For example , a 2,000 - straight - foot home would call for a 4 - ton heat pump , which equates to 48,000 BTUs ( 4 x 12,000 ) .
Woodruff suppose it ’s important to keep in judgement that sizing also depends on other factors , such as your local climate and the floor of insulation in your home base . For this intellect , it ’s best to contact anAmerican Standard Customer Care Dealerwho can help you find oneself the right size of it passion pump for your home .
When purchasing a heat pump , make certain to purchase one that specify for theheat pump revenue enhancement creditoffered by the Union government .
Q: How do you install a heat pump?
A : Heat pump initiation is not a DIY project . This type of job involve work with refrigerant and refrigerating lines , running electric connections from your circuit ledgeman box to the high temperature ticker . It also require the use of speciality tools such as vacuum pumps , manifold gauges , and refrigerating plate . The projection is even more complicated if you ’re supercede an old estrus pump or AC unit of measurement , as you ’ll postulate to recover refrigerant from the existing social unit per Environmental Protection Agency ( EPA ) regulations when you remove it .
Given the complexities of heat pump installation , it ’s good to charter a licensed pro , such as an American Standard HVAC professional , to assure the install is done safely and right .
Q: Who makes the best heat pump system?
A : With more than 100 years in the concern , American Standard Heating and Air Conditioning order as one of the best HVAC company on the market , and its representatives can answer your heat pump questions . It also should come as piffling surprise that the ship’s company makes some of the top oestrus heart systems , including theAmerican Standard AccuComfort Platinum 20 Heat Pump .
This state - of - the - art heat ticker uses variable speed heating and cooling technology that makes it one of the most efficient heat ticker systems you could buy . It sport a SEER2 valuation of up to 20.5 and an HSPF rating of up to 8.7 . Plus , it comprise AccuComfort technology , which mean it can maintain logical temperatures in your home within a one-half degree .
