Heat pumps are quite an effective way of heating your house. However, the technology that drives these heat pumps remains a mystery to those who are not conversant in heating and cooling physics. Most online resources will either recommend you to purchase a heat pump or stick to propane or oil for home heating to fulfill your interests.

So, we have set out to explain in detail the functions of heat pumps while answering some of the FAQs straightforwardly to help you make a well-informed decision in the future. Are you ready to find out more? Read on every section in this article.

How Does A Heat Pump Affect My Heating And Electricity Bills?

Even though you might not realize it at first, heat pumps are an excellent long-term investment. The upfront costs may blind you, so you fail to notice how the heat pumps operational costs bring about significant savings on your energy bills in the long run.

Every single heat pump unit, used daily, is likely to raise your monthly electricity bill by $50- $100. Nevertheless, the heat pump will considerably reduce your heating bill. For instance, a household that relies on about 800 gallons of oil annually, this heat pump can reduce this amount by up to 300 gallons per year.

Is It True That Heat Pumps Stop Working When It Gets Very Cold Out?

Yes, the heat pump will stop functioning when it becomes too cold outside. However, it has to be extremely cold for it to stop working altogether. Various heat pump models will have varying ratings on how cold it needs to be for it to stop operating.

For instance, a heat pump rated for maximum output when it’s 30 degrees outside will function at 100% efficiency. But if the temperatures start falling, this output efficiency decreases as the heat pump operates harder to maintain your home at room temperature. As the temperature goes way below in the ‘negatives,’ it might go to zero efficiencies. But this has to be freezing cold.

Can I Heat My Home With Heat Pumps Without Any Other Heat Source?

In particular warmer areas, heat pumps can be used solely to heat your home during the winter season. But suppose you live far from the tropics and often experience the extreme winters. In that case, it is recommendable that you have a backup or another primary heating source, especially for the long cold days when your heat pump will likely have some trouble trying to keep up with the heat loss.

Some of the recommended heat sources include biomass or electricity, propane, oil, and gas. All in all, you can opt for natural gas or biomass wood pellets to lower the heating costs or reduce carbon emission, which likely results in climate changes.

How Does A Heat Pump Work?

Typically, a heat pump uses refrigerant and electricity to dissipate heat from one space to the other. To heat the room, this appliance functions by tapping heat from the outside air and directing it to a refrigerant coolant, where it is compressed to raise its temperature. This air is then passed above a hot coolant, where it raises the temperature to regulate the heat inside the room thermostatically.

The heat pump features two significant parts: the condenser unit positioned outside your home and the ‘wall cassette’ mounted somewhere inside the room (probably a wall). Both these parts are joined through a refrigerant line. If the room needs cooling, the heat pump will tap heat from the inside and transfer it to the outdoor unit.

What Is The Benefit Of Having A Heat Pump?

Since the heat pump does not generate its heat but uses electricity to power the condenser and evaporator, it’s highly efficient in saving energy costs. The conventional heating means like the space heaters, and electric baseboard generates heat directly proportional to the amount of electric energy they’re consuming.

The lower running costs make electricity bills comfortable for your home. You can now reduce expenses on the costly fossil fuels, such as oil, propane, etc. by about 300 gallons annually. Besides, these heat pumps are quite affordable to purchase and will reduce the level of your house’s carbon footprint.

What Are The Benefits Of A Heat Pump When Used With Solar Electricity?

The advantage of solar panels is that they tap the solar energy from the sun, for free, and convert it to usable electric energy. Because heat pumps are powered by electricity, pairing your appliance with solar energy means you will be heating your house for an average of around 9 cents kilowatt-hour compared to 14.5 cents per kilowatt-hour.

What Are The Benefits Of A Heat Pump When Used With Solar Electricity?

By doing so, you are reducing the running cost of your heat pump by about 40% every year. The money that would have otherwise been spent on catering for the electricity bills for running your heat pump can help offset other bills.

That said, we hope we’ve answered all your pending questions about heat pumps with this article.