Austin Heating And Air

What Is A Heat Pump, And How Does It Work?

heat-pump austin

Enjoying the summertime looks a little different right now (thanks COVID-19), but what probably won’t change is the summer heat. That means most of us are already looking for ways to keep cool while keeping our costs down. You know the usual suspects: AC units, window units, and ceiling fans. There’s also, you know, praying for the heat wave to break.

But what about a whole new approach? What about a heat pump?

What Is A Heat Pump?

A heat pump is an all-in-one heating and air conditioning system. The unit “pumps”—or moves—the heat from one place to another. In the summertime, it acts like an air conditioner—extracting heat from inside and transferring it outside. But in the cooler months, your heat pump works in reverse—collecting heat from the outdoors and transferring it into your house.

Types Of Heat Pumps

Heat pumps come in two varieties: Air-Source and Geothermal.

Air-source heat pumps make the most sense in moderate climates. They take the warm air inside and transfer it outside, cooling you down. Or vice versa—the heat pump takes the warm air outside and brings it inside.

If you’re in a not-so-moderate climate, you might be thinking, “How in the heck does this work in the dead of winter? There isn’t any warm air outside to move into my house!” Well, there’s always some warm air outside, even when it’s freezing. But you’re right: If you’re in an extreme climate, an air-source heat pump likely won’t be sufficient.

That doesn’t mean you’re out of luck, though! For folks in super chilly climates, a dual-system approach might be worth considering. Basically, you add an electric heater or gas furnace that switches on when using the heat pump system would be too inefficient. It even works automagically: The heat pump constantly monitors its own efficiency, and when it senses it needs a bit more help heating your home, it makes the switch over to the other system.

Geothermal heat pumps use the same transfer principle—but between the air inside your home and the ground outside your home. This works especially well in those colder climates because the temperature underground is usually steadier (and warmer) year-round. That makes geothermal heat pumps more efficient. They are, however, more expensive to install.

Do I Really Want A Heat Pump?

Heat pumps offer a good number of benefits.

  • They’re efficient, producing two or three times more heat than the energy they use.
  • They’re cost-effective, turning efficiency into lower operating costs. They’re also less expensive upfront than separate furnace and air conditioning systems.
  • They’re environmentally conscious, emitting nothing into the air because they run on electricity.
  • They offer great humidity control, operating the same as—or better than—traditional systems.
  • They’re safer because there’s no risk of carbon monoxide poisoning or toxic emissions.

Of course, making an informed decision also means looking at the cons. And there are some pretty big ones when it comes to heat pumps:

  • They perform poorly in cold weather unless you’re using a dual heating system.
  • They’re noisy, although not any more than a typical air conditioning system.
  • They’re less common than traditional HVAC solutions, so finding an up-to-date technician can be tricky. (We have you covered!)
  • They may increase your electric bill—although your gas bill should decrease.
  • They’re less durable over time.
  • They require more maintenance than a traditional system.

So, What’s Right For Me?

Give us a call! We can help you determine if a heat pump is a right fit for your unique scenario. We’re Austin’s trusted HVAC pros, and we’d love to help you choose your next steps for heating and cooling your home.

Eddie
2023-10-04
From the get go, Kassidy was excellent in scheduling options and even managed to snag me an earlier time slot than previous discussed. She took the time to reach out and confirm. A major shout out to Jamie and Carlo—talk about pros. They were excellent on providing education and explaining the why behind my duct issues. This was the initial inspection and I’ll make sure to leave details once the work is completed.
Jose Carlos Rodriguez
2023-09-25
Awesome
Eric Corum
2023-09-25
Very professional, great communicators, and very thorough.
Agustin Hernandez
2023-09-21
Todo muy profesional desde que hablé para pedir información la Srita que me atendió muy amable y el técnico que vino a mi casa también muy amable y profesional resolvió todas mis dudas 100% recomendable
Cindi Taylor
2023-09-14
What an amazing team of people! I came home from vacation and my house was hot. It was hot outside- Austin in the summer hot. I spoke with Petra and she was able to get a technician out within a couple of hours. That in itself is quite a feat given it was after 1:30pm. Jaime Ortega was dispatched and came to check the system. This guy has great customer service skills! He is a is very respectful, polite, communicate well, explains what is going on and is very thorough. He was joined by Carlos, who is also very polite, considerate and knowledgeable. These guys make a really great team. I was told there were several problems and I explained I had been trying to deal with one side of my house not working properly and the other side never getting cool in the summer and warm in the winter. My electric bills over the last 2 months were unsustainable. They went into the attic and traced down all the ductwork, discovered some of it had been installed incorrectly and they formulated a solution. It was also decided by me to replace the entire AC system. By the time this was decided, it was well after 6:30pm. I asked when we would be able to get this to happen and they said - tomorrow! They showed up on time and regretably I did not get the 3rd team member's name- and he deserves a shout out too. They worked for more than 8 hours in that horrible heat- got the system installed and everything cleaned up, packed up, and left the space better than they found it. I really appreciate skilled professionals that respect someone's home and who take the time to talk with me and let me know what is going on, what they are finding and how to take care of my investment. I have chosen for several years to be part of their maintenance membership plan and I have never been disappointed- even when I have an unexpected event - like a system failure while on vacation. I have had the privilege of meeting one of the owners, talking with the administrative staff, and 3 technicians that are really awesome people. These guys care about the quality of work they perform and they work to keep their customers happy. No wonder they have such great reviews! I am very happy with the service I received, the way I was treated and the value they bring to their industry. Keep up the good work! I will certainly tell everyone I know to call you when they need help. Perfect name too- GRANDE AIR SOLUTIONS!!!
Lourdes Alonso
2023-09-09
A/C stopped working on a Friday night and Isael came out within the hour and got it working. He was really knowledgeable and showed us other areas to keep an eye on. He stayed long enough to make sure the system was lowering the temperature in the house.
Sascha Rips
2023-09-09
Our A/C went out late in the day on a Friday. Grande Air was able to get us in Friday evening and got our A/C up and running in just a short time. Prices were also very reasonable even though it was a weekend evening. We will definitely use them again for future A/C needs.
Kiersten Legge
2023-09-07
Jaime was AWESOME!!! Professional and let us know each step he was taking in diagnosis and repair. Love Grande!!!!!

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