The Differences between AC and Heat Pumps

The warm months are standing at the threshold to make space for the cooler months, which will arrive soon. As a responsible homeowner, you may be ready to get your AC serviced, repaired and maintained before it is ready to hibernate until the next season. On the contrary, if your air conditioning system has failed to keep your home comfortable in the warm months, then it’s time for a change. The change will promise a more comfortable summer next year.

Heat Pump vs AC

However, the choices for heating and cooling Plymouth systems are many. You can purchase a heat pump or an AC for cooling your home. Both cool effectively, but a complete understanding of these systems will help you purchase the right one for your home.

Insight into the Systems

A heat pump and AC do similar tasks. Both the systems cool the home by transferring cold air from the inside of the system. However, a heat pump can reverse its direction by the means of a reverse valve and heat the home by transferring hot air from the system to heat the outside space in the colder months. Therefore, while both systems perform the same task in summer, they differ in their operations in the winter season.

The choice of system depends on factors like price, energy efficiency and climate.

Basis for Choice

Here’s how each one affects the choice

Climate and Heat Pumps: Heat pumps fail to heat effectively in temperatures below 40 degrees. They need to work harder at such low temperatures and the utility bills shoot up as a result. The heating capacity can be increased with the use of heat resistant strips, which again call for greater consumption of electricity. What’s more, heat pumps often go into emergency heat mode in lower temperatures. Moreover, as heat and electricity are expensive in colder places, HVAC systems are more affordable, as they work effectively in keeping the home comfortable throughout the year at low and high temperatures. An additional boiler or furnace can be used to further enhance the heating capacity.

Energy Efficiency and Heat Pumps: Heat Pump HVAC systems are more energy efficient than the conventional air conditioning systems. This may qualify homeowners for a tax benefit. As both air conditioners and heat pumps work similarly in summer, the choice is based on the efficiency in the colder months. Air conditioners are comparatively inexpensive to purchase, maintain and operate. Heat pumps, on the other hand work with greater efficiency in the winter months, and thus, reduce the monthly cost of operation. What’s more, the cost of a heat pump is only five percent higher than the cost of an air conditioner.

Therefore, considering the cost and efficiency, heat pumps are best suited for places with mild winters. Therefore, depending on the climatic conditions and temperatures, home owners can choose the right system for heating and cooling Plymouth.

The author is an HVAC repairer by profession and love to write articles on this topic. In this article, he has highlighted the things that one needs to consider when hiring professionals for heating and ac repair in Pembroke.