Heat Pump Operating Costs - Can a Heat Pump Save You Money?
The cost of heating and cooling a home can be
extreme. In many cases, the cost is downright prohibitive and many
families end up having to go cold in the winter because the bills
are just too expensive. Whether your heating is electric based or
you have a gas furnace system, energy costs in general have gone
through the roof in recent years and paying these bills has never
been more difficulty.
Some people believe that the solution to soaring energy costs is a
heat pump system. Heat pumps generally cost less to operate than
central heating and cooling systems, so many people believe they are
the way to go. But is it true? Can a heat pump really help you keep
more money in your pocket every month when it comes to your energy
bill?
First, let’s consider how heat pumps work and why they are less
expensive. In the beginning, a heat pump cost less to install then a
central heating and cooling service. Heat pumps heat and cool with a
single unit, while central heating and central cooling are each a
separate unit. Clearly, purchasing and installing one unit rather
than two saves money. During the operating life of the system, heat
pumps also cost less because there is less equipment to maintain.
The real savings come into play when you consider how a heat pump
works. When you have a central heating system, that system takes
air, then uses gas or electricity to warm that air, then expels it
into your home. The same holds true for a central air system. The
air is cooled through some method that requires the expenditure of
energy, and then it is pumped into your home, cooling the temperate
by adding cool air to the air already in your home.
Heat pumps, on the other hand, work with the heat that is naturally
present in the air. Although you may not be able to feel it, there
is hot air constantly present in the environment, even on the
coldest of days. Heat pumps take that warm air from the outside and
pump it into your home. There is no artificial heating process, so
there is less energy expenditure. In the summer, the heat pump takes
the hot air that is inside your home and funnels it outside, cooling
the air inside by removing the heat from it rather than cooling the
air artificially.
In these ways, a heat pump can reduce your energy expenditure – on
average, a few hundred dollars per year. However, this only holds
true if you live in a moderate temperature zone. Otherwise, a heat
pump will not provide adequate heating and cooling.
Heat pumps can save money for people in the right climate.
Otherwise, switching to a heat pump is a false economy.
About the Author: D. Benjamin is the owner of
iapsales.com LLC - a family business specializing in HVAC products. We
are distributors of
Qmark Heaters,
electric tankless water heaters,
bathroom heaters,
patio heaters, electric heaters,
portable air
conditioners & electric towel warmers. Shop on line at
www.heateroutlet.com for these great home improvement products.
Iapsales.com LLC was established in 2003 and is the sister company to
Innovative Air Products located in historical Exeter, NH. We are a 2nd
generation manufacturers’ rep firm dedicated to providing residential &
commercial heating, ventilation and air-conditioning equipment. We offer
a great selection online at the lowest prices anywhere. We can also be
found on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube