If it’s time to replace your old heat pump, it’s a good idea to be familiar with the newer innovations that you can opt for when shopping for a new one. Ask for these advanced features to improve the performance of your heating system, making it more effective and more efficient.
Compressor Options
While standard compressors can only operate at full capacity, two-speed compressors enable heat pumps to operate closer to the heating or cooling capacity needed at the time. This saves a lot of electricity and has the added benefit of reducing wear and tear on the compressor.
Another available option is a scroll compressor, which compresses refrigerant by forcing it into increasingly smaller areas. These types of compressors are not only more quiet when operating, but they also have a much longer operating life. Heat compressors with scroll pumps are capable of providing noticeably warmer air when compared to heat pumps with piston compressors.
Motor Speed
Some heat pumps are equipped with dual or variable speed motors which attempt to keep the air moving at a comfortable and more consistent velocity. This helps to minimize drafts and increase your savings on electricity. Variable speed motors tend to be more quiet when running at full speed.
Desuperheater
When you’re shopping for a new heat pump, you may notice that high-efficiency models come equipped with a desuperheater. The desuperheater heats water by recovering waste heat from the heat pump’s cooling mode. This allows the unit to heat water up to three times more efficiently than an ordinary electric water heater.
Backup Heating
Most heat pumps employ electric resistance heaters as a backup in the event of cold weather, but they can also use burners powered by propane or natural gas to supplement the heat pump. Back-up burners assist the heat pump when the weather is cold, so it doesn’t supply relatively cool air on a cold day.
For help with shopping for a new heat pump, or any other questions about home comfort, contact us at Cox Air Conditioning & Heating. We’ve provided expert service to Clearwater area homeowners since 1958.
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