What You Should Know About Heat Pumps
So, you're in the market for a new heat pump, the question is which one. There was a time when buying a new heat pump would have been a daunting task. Today every homeowner can take advantage of heat pump reviews and heat pump comparisons on line. There are many trusted web sites that offer trustworthy reviews such as Consumer Reports and Consumer Search.
The best known heat pump manufacturers such as Trane, Carrier, Lennox, Rheem Ruud, American Standard, Amana and York all have on line web sites detailing all of their models. Another very respected source of information is ACEEE or American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. They offer a booklet called Consumer Guide to Home Energy Savings Online. They help you to understand all the information available. Their website is also a great place to find out about tax incentives offered by the federal government and state governments.
One way to make sure you get a great deal and find the best heat pump for your home is by reading and becoming familiar with ratings and what they mean. You're going to notice the abbreviations SEER and HSPF a lot when reading information about heat pumps. These ratings are used by all heat pump manufacturers and refer to the energy efficiency of each individual unit. You'll see SEER ratings between 13 and 19 and HSPF ratings between 7 and 9.5. The question is do you need to spend the extra money for the highest rated unit?
Home improvement and HVAC experts generally agree that the only way to make sure you're getting the best value for your dollar and that you're going to have real energy savings from a new heat pump unit is to size it to your home and to the area of the country in which you live. Buying too big of a unit for your home is going to be disastrous. Not only will you be spending too much money up front, the unit will never run efficiently. A unit that is too large will not cycle on and off enough to keep you comfortably cool or warm.
It seems that the biggest piece of the puzzle when it comes to heat pumps is choice of installer. It's estimated that 85% of heat pump troubleshooting and repairs are due to poor installation. You need to make sure you choose a qualified dealer/installer, one who is very knowledgeable about the particular unit they're installing. Most manufacturer web site offer a dealer locator. Start there. Ask friends and family about their experiences if they've had a heat pump installed recently. Call your local Better Business Bureau. Make sure you get at least three different estimates and make sure you get everything in writing. Whether or not you choose to get a service contract is up to you and will affect the overall price.
A reliable and well installed heat pump should give you between 18 and 20 years of service. You want to make sure that you make the right decision at the start. That means educating yourself about the different manufacturer options and heat pump ratings. Understanding how the size of your home, quality of insulation and area of the country in which you live should impact your decision is important. Making an informed choice is the only way to make sure you're getting the best heat pump for your home.
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