Our climate lends itself to heating and cooling with an air-source heat pump, which makes us fortunate, since these are among the most energy efficient HVAC appliances. Heat pumps do not use any fuel other than electricity to create or remove heat. In the summer, the heat pump takes heat from your home and exhausts it outdoors. In the winter, the process reverses, and the system brings heat inside.
A heat pump has two energy efficiency ratings. The SEER is the seasonal energy efficiency ratio and the HSPF is the heating season performance factor. The minimum SEER is 13 and the HSPF is 7.7. Higher ratings indicate better efficiency. In our region, choosing an air-source heat pump with a higher HSPF rating assures better heating in the winter. Air-source pumps rely on the heat in the air and when temperatures drop into the 30s, they don't work as efficiently. Choosing an air-source pump that has either a scroll compressor or is a dual-fuel system allows you to take advantage of the energy efficiency of these systems year-round. A scroll compressor can deliver warmer indoor air by as much as 10 to 15 degrees. An air-source heat pump with a standard compressor creates three times the heat per watt of electricity it uses. However, when temperatures fall, a supplemental electric heating coil kicks in to increase the heat the pump delivers, raising your bill. A scroll compressor may create enough heat for your home so the coil never has to turn on. A dual-fuel system combines the heat pump with a fuel source, like gas or oil, that takes over when temperatures drop into the 30s and lower. Our humidity levels are high in the summer; heat pumps that have variable-speed air handlers create more indoor comfort by removing more humidity. These blowers run more quietly and use a fraction of the electricity of a single-speed motor. If you'd like more information about heat pumps for the Hampton Roads region, contact Russell's Heating & Cooling. We have provided HVAC service in this area since 1977. Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about air-source heat pumps and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide. Russell’s Heating & Cooling services the Chesapeake, Virginia and the surrounding areas. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!