Warm Up, and Cool Down, To a Heat Pump

If you live in a climate with moderate temperatures, meaning it doesn't get much colder than 30F during the winter, you may want to consider installing a heat pump for your heating and cooling needs. Heat pumps operate much like your refrigerator - they use electricity to move heat from a cool area into a warm area and vice versa. During the winter, heat pumps move heat from the cool outdoors into your home; during the summer, they remove heat from your home to the outdoors. Because they move rather than generate heat, heat pumps can provide up to 4 times the amount of energy they consume, saving you money. There are generally two types of heat pumps: air-source heat pumps and ground-source heat pumps (or geothermal heat pumps). Air-source heat pumps are the most common type of heat pump and transfer heat between your house and the outside air. Geothermal heat pumps operate like air-source heat pumps, but they use the ground or water to absorb or dissipate heat. Of the two, geothermal heat pumps operate more efficiently because ground and water temperatures remain much more constant year-round. Learn more about choosing a heat pump:

• Air-Source Heat Pumps and Geothermal Heat Pumps from the U.S. Department of Energy
• Choosing A Heat Pump from DoItYourself.com
• All About Residential Heat Pumps: Maintenance, Repair, and Operation

Great article on heating and cooling pumps from the Canadian Natural Resources Department, Office of Energy Efficiency: Heating and Cooling with a Heat pump Heat-Pump Manufacturers:

• Trane Heat Pumps
• Carrier Heat Pumps
• Bryant Heat pumps

photo courtesy of Trane