Among the many types of heat pumps on the market, air source heat pumps are easily the most popular choice. With the ability to meet multiple needs ranging from heating and cooling to hot water, these devices are a tried-and-tested choice for property owners on the search for greater energy efficiency.
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In the interests of proving a well-balanced outlook on this heating and cooling solution, our blog this week dives into the pros and cons of air source heat pumps. Continue reading to find out what these are!
PROS
High energy efficiency
With air source heat pumps, one of the primary benefits users can look forward to is a high energy efficiency rating.
The efficiency of heating and cooling devices are measured in terms of the Heating Season Performance Factor (HSPF) and the Season Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER), respectively. In terms of SEER, heat pumps boast a rating that stretches to the mid-20s - well beyond the minimum rating of 13. When it comes to HSPF standards, the minimum is around 7.7. Here, air source heat pumps offer three times the heating efficiency of conventional devices including electrical heaters.
Minimal power consumption
Unlike most other heating or cooling solutions, air source heat pumps do not require extensive power consumption in order to provide supreme comfort to a given property.
Given that this device powers up heating and cooling supply through the air in the external temperature, electricity is only used to power the heat pump&#;s internal operations. Fortunately, for energy conscious households, offices, and commercial properties, this usage is rather slight, reducing electricity bills like no other device on the market.
Alternatively, heat pumps can also be powered using solar or wind energy, reducing electricity consumption down to zero.
Long lifespan and low maintenance
Another factor heat pumps are renowned for are their long lifespans. Given that these devices generally last around 20 years, they&#;re a long-term energy solution that generates returns from day number one.
They also require little maintenance. In terms of air source heat pumps, cleaning can be done every few months and servicing just once a year.
Affordable
Another factor that works in favour of those opting for air source heat pumps is their relative affordability. While startup costs can still be high in comparison to other heating and cooling solutions, these devices are far more affordable than alternatives such as geothermal heat pumps.
CONS
Climate adaptability
Given that air source heat pumps rely on the outside air to power up heating inside a property, these devices are somewhat unreliable for homes in colder climates.
While they can, in fact, power heating even during winter, for those that live in temperatures that are perpetually on the lower side, these may not be the most reliable choice. In this regard, geothermal heat pumps are far more useful, given that heat is extracted from the ground underneath the earth&#;s surface.
Noisy
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Another factor that works against air source heat pumps is that they can prove to be somewhat noisy. This, however, can be remedied to a great extent by placing these devices a certain distance away from the building or home.
Warm up time
When it comes to air source heat pumps, another consideration that must be kept in mind is that these devices take a certain amount of time to heat a given property.
As with most other heating/cooling devices, property owners may be left feeling somewhat cold and uncomfortable before the device really changes the internal climate to a more desirable level.
Key takeaways
As can be demonstrated by the roundup of pros and cons detailed above, air source heat pumps are among the finest heating solutions on the market.
Owing to their impressive efficiency, affordable nature, long lifespan, and more, these devices represent the future of home heating systems. Given that its drawbacks are, by nature, those that can be remedied to a certain extent, users have little to second-guess when it comes to choosing these heat pumps.
Heat pumps aren&#;t just some expensive tech for do-gooders. Though the cost of installation varies widely, CR members surveyed between and paid an average of $8,348 for a system compared with $6,221 for a gas furnace.
But in many cases, heat pumps are the most affordable way to heat and cool a home. Even by the most conservative estimate we&#;ve found (the study from the University of Texas, et al.), an air-source heat pump will be the most cost-effective HVAC system in 32 percent of households, or more than 37 million.
Homes that heat with propane, oil, or &#;regular&#; electric-resistance systems are the most likely to save money by installing a heat pump. Propane and oil are always expensive (even when we aren&#;t in the midst of a massive price spike). And electric resistance heating uses an average of two-and-a-half to three times as much electricity as a heat pump does to produce the same amount of heat.
So in many parts of the country, you could save more than $1,000 per year on your heating bills by switching to a heat pump. The DOE has some state-by-state fact sheets that can give you an idea of how much you might save per year.
You may also be eligible for subsidies or tax incentives that shrink the costs of heat pumps even further. Many states and utility companies offer rebates for heat pumps.
Massachusetts, for example, currently offers a $10,000 rebate for whole-house air-source heat-pump systems if you remove your old equipment. And the federal government offers a 30 percent tax credit on ground-source heat pumps through the end of . Punch in your ZIP code at DSIREUSA.org to see what&#;s available near you.
Mark Norris, a professor of environmental science at Stevenson University who lives in Baltimore County, Maryland, found that a ground-source heat pump was the most affordable way to heat and cool his home&#;a bit of a surprise because they&#;re much more difficult to install than regular air-source heat pumps or traditional HVAC equipment.
Norris had the ground-source system installed to a depth of 250 feet, straight down into the dirt in the front yard of his &#;tiny suburban lot,&#; as he described it. It cost about $23,000 up front, but as the rebates and incentives from his utility company and federal, state, and local governments trickle in, the total out-of-pocket cost works out to be around just $8,000. Norris says that the final cost is lower than the quote he received to install a basic gas furnace and central AC.
Most of the time, though, gas heating will cost less than a heat pump, particularly in colder climates. Installing both a basic gas furnace and basic central AC is usually cheaper than installing one whole-house cold-climate heat pump.
And gas-fired heating equipment tends to cost less to install than electric cold-climate heat pumps, says Dave Lis, a director at the Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships, though the operating costs are often pretty close. There are nuances and exceptions to this, though, including the option of using a hybrid or dual fuel system that combines a heat pump and furnace system, running the heat pump in milder temperatures when it&#;s most efficient, then switching to a furnace when it saves money to do so. (You can read more about hybrids in our heat pump buying guide.)
The easiest way to figure out whether a heat pump is right for your home is to get a few quotes from local HVAC contractors, according to Francis Dietz, vice president of public affairs for the Air-Conditioning, Heating, & Refrigeration Institute.
&#;They&#;re going to know how many heating days you have based on where you live, and what your [utility] rates are,&#; Dietz says. They&#;ll also know what equipment works well in your area and what subsidies are available. A good contractor will do a proper load calculation to figure out exactly how much heating and cooling capacity your home needs, and whether you&#;d benefit from efficiency upgrades. (Our heat pump buying guide has more information on finding an experienced contractor.)
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