Heat Pumps - The Downside of Choosing a Heat Pump for your Home
There is a lot of buzz these days about heat
pumps, and for good reason. They offer an energy efficient solution
for home heating and cooling, and that is good news for your bank
account and the environment. Of course, some people would have you
believe that everyone should rush out and invest in a heat pump, and
that is just not true. Heat pumps are great for some people but they
are not for everyone, and they are certainly not without their
downsides. Here is your heat pump wake up call – the real info you
need to know about heat pumps so you can weigh up the pros and cons
and make an informed decision.
One of the biggest things you need to consider before getting a heat
pump is the cost. Although it is often touted that heat pumps will
save you money that is not the whole story. Heat pumps can save you
money – but not up front. Even through a heat pump is a single unit,
they are significantly more expensive than a central heating and
cooling system up front. The installation is also more expensive for
a heat pump system. A good contractor can help you figure out how
long the money you save on your energy bill will offset the money
you invested in the system. This can take years. Some people decide
that they cannot commit to staying in a home long enough to make a
heat pump a good investment, and some people decide to get a
smaller, less expensive heat pump because they are shocked at how
long it will take to get the return on the heat pump.
Heat pumps also are not for people who live in extreme climates. The
definition of extreme climate by heat pump manufacturers is a little
extreme itself – frequent dips below 40 degrees in the winter counts
as extreme in their book. Even the south experiences lows like that,
but according to heat pump experts, you may need a back up system of
heating if that applies to you. Further, if you have very warm
summers, heat pumps are not ideal ways of cooling your house. You
are not likely to ever get a sufficiently cool feeling inside your
home if you live in a hot, humid climate.
Very large homes also do not do well with heat pumps. Even large
enough heat pumps generally are not up to the job of keeping homes
comfortable if they are of a certain size.
Heat pumps can be a great investment for some people, but it is
important to dig through the hype before you go for one for your
home.
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