| Heat pumps are a popular choice for heating | | | | Generally speaking, using only a heat pump to |
| businesses and homes due to the economical | | | | supply all your heating needs will not be |
| factors it can offer over a conventional heating | | | | cost-efficient. However, if you use your heat |
| system. A heat pump provides climate control for | | | | pump in conjunction with another source of |
| your home or business all year-round by supplying | | | | heating – such as an electric, gas or oil furnace |
| heat to it during the winter months and then | | | | – you have consistent and cost-efficient |
| cooling it throughout the summer months. Also | | | | heating in wintertime and cooling in summer. |
| certain varieties of heat pumps can even supply | | | | |
| additional hot water heating as a conventional | | | | Before you purchase a heat pump, it is important |
| heating method to your home or business. | | | | to consider all the costs and weigh all the benefits. |
| | | | | Heat pumps do possess a lower fuel cost, but are |
| A heat pump is an electrical device that transfers | | | | more expensive to buy than standard heating |
| heat from one location to another. This type of | | | | systems. You must carefully compare your |
| device has been used in North America and | | | | projected savings on fuel with the initial cost of |
| around the world for decades. Two very | | | | buying a heat pump. In general, heat pumps will be |
| common examples of heat pumps are | | | | most cost-effective if they are used year-round, |
| refrigerators and air conditioners, both of which | | | | so if you intend on using both winter heating and |
| are examples of a heat pump which is functioning | | | | summer cooling systems, it will be more sensible, |
| only in the cooling mode. However, a heat pump | | | | and even advisable, for you to invest in a heat |
| cycle is fully reversible. In this situation, a heat | | | | pump. |
| pump can supply your home or building with | | | | |
| year-round climate control despite outside | | | | It is important to have an assessment done on |
| weather conditions. | | | | your home or building’s insulation before |
| | | | | installing a heat pump. If your home or building is |
| Heat pumps relocate heat by transferring a | | | | losing heat through inadequate insulation of walls, |
| substance known as refrigerant through a | | | | doors, ceilings or windows, there will be little point |
| sequence of rotating evaporation and | | | | in spending the money on an efficient heating |
| condensation. A compressor pushes the | | | | system. It would be highly recommended that |
| refrigerant through two heat exchanging coils | | | | you upgrade your insulation levels to reduce the |
| – the condenser and the evaporator. The | | | | loss of quality air before installing a heat pump or |
| evaporator is the coil where the refrigerant takes | | | | heating system in your home or building. |
| in heat from its surroundings and becomes a | | | | |
| low-temperature vapor. The condenser is the coil | | | | Installing a heat pump in your home or building can |
| where the refrigerant gives off its heat to its | | | | greatly increase your level of comfort on those |
| surrounding environment and becomes a liquid. | | | | hot summer days and cold winter nights. |
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