Heat Pumps

Posted in: Heat Pumps
Is a Heating Pump the right choice for your house?
By Martin Smith
Mar 30, 2008 - 2:39:03 AM

Richard Jarvis, Technical Specialist with NATAS (National Appropriate Technology Assistance Service) says it would be wiser to use the traditional heating systems in the house if natural gas is easily available, as it is cheaper and has a better efficiency over electricity.

In regions where electricity and oil-fuel are more conveniently available, especially the Northeast, heating pump is a better option and is more cost efficient. In comparison to the electrical-resistance heating which is cheaper than heat pumps, the pumps have been reported to provide one and a half to two and a half times more heat consuming the same amount of energy and based on other factors like the climate, the house size and location and the heating system model installed.

The heat pumps re designed to provide both, heating and cooling inside the house. However, it has been noticed that they consume less energy when providing heat rather than cold air. The air-sourced heat pumps face a problem when there is a high fall in outside temperatures. They consume a lot of energy when they cross the “balance point”, which is a level of temperature till efficient working of the system. It is normally from 30 to 45 degrees F. Below these temperatures the heating system consume additional energy to form heat.

The best way to determine the perfect heating or cooling appliance for your house is to analyze the factors associated, such as, the cost of the model and its efficiency level, the fuel cost and the home requirement in terms of load. If you need more information about the right kind of fuel, you can go through the fact sheet by the Department of Energy, "Comparing Energy Sources", at the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network (EREN) which is available on the internet.



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