Why You Need a Heat Pump Replacement in Decatur Every 15 Years
Heat pumps gained popularity in the 1970s when the nation was in the midst of a gas crisis. These pumps were more efficient than the traditional heating and air conditioning methods of the time and remain more efficient today. They are used widely in HVAC – Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning – units and they work with the unit whether it’s heating or cooling. The pump itself does wear down over time, and experts recommend a heat pump replacement in Decatur every 10 to 15 years to ensure optimal energy efficiency and working capacity.
Don’t Be Fooled
If you envision a heat pump like a pump in your automobile’s engine, don’t be fooled. Even though it’s called a “pump,” a heat pump is a complex unit that looks a lot like an air conditioner. You might have a pump and not even know it, because your HVAC in Decatur looks just like the air conditioner at your previous residence. These weigh as much as air conditioners do as well, sometimes as much as 3 tons or more, and their efficiency is ranked by SEER, or Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, measurement just as heating and air conditioning systems are ranked.
How They Work
An HVAC in Decatur that is a heat pump works like a normal air conditioner would when you cool the house. It cycles refrigerated air into your home to keep the temperature where you have set the thermostat. When the outdoor air cools in the fall and winter and you switch your heater on, the pump reverses the cycling motion to bring warm air into the home instead of cool air. How it does this is it takes the cold air from the conditioner and blows it outside and brings the warm air from the unit that would normally go outside in. This is a unique process, as the pump works the same but reverses motion to achieve the desired effects inside your home.
Lifespan per the U.S. Department of Energy
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the lifespan of a heat pump is 10 to 15 years, but before your huff in disgust and call a contractor to rip out the unit and replace it with separate heating and air conditioning systems; they don’t last any longer than heat pumps do. You might not need a heat pump replacement in Decatur after 15 years, but you should do so anyway, because the unit will begin to fail regularly and the repairs will ad up.
As with replacing heating and air conditioning units every 10 to 15 year, replacing your HVAC in Decatur will save you money on your energy bills. Technology changes quickly in this industry, and newer units are being engineered and built all the time to increase energy efficiency. If you select an ENERGY STAR unit for your heat pump replacement in Decatur, people have reported saving up to 20 percent on their utility bills after the new system has been installed. That’s a lot. Contact a professional contractor today to come out and inspect your heat pump to see if it’s time for a new one.