Skip to Main Content
iComfort Heating and Air Conditioning Logo
Contact Us Today: 818-837-0022

Advantages & Disadvantages Of Having An Electric Heat Pump Installed In Your Home

Ac units two

An electric heat pump is one of the most efficient home heating systems on the market today. Heat pumps operate much like a furnace in the wintertime, but during warmer periods of the year, they can also provide your home with fresh cool air for your home's air conditioning system. Heat pumps can be fueled by electricity or gas, and it's important to do your research before making a decision on what heating and cooling option will be right for your home.

Heat pumps are a system that moves heat from one place to another in your home by using a compressor and a circulating structure of liquid/gas refrigerant, through which heat is extracted from outside sources and pumped indoors. A good example of this process working in your home already can be found inside your refrigerator, as the process is based on the same principles. Pumping the heat uses less electrical energy than converting electricity into heat. During the summer cycle, this process can be reversed and the unit begins to act like an air conditioning system.

If you think a heat pump might be the perfect answer for your home's heating and cooling issues, our San Fernando Valley Heating Contractors have included a list of advantages and disadvantages associated with this particular type of system to help you make a final determination on whether or not an electric heat pump is a system that is best suited for your and your home.

Advantages To An Electric Heat Pump

Electric heat pumps provide an efficient system for heating and cooling in your home. During colder seasons, it provides warmth to your home by absorbing heat from the atmosphere or ground, multiplying it, and then transferring that heat throughout your home, and during the summer months, it basically runs this process in reverse. In general, these systems are much cheaper to use than those fueled by natural gas and do not generate dry air when heating. This can spare you from having to use a humidifier in your home during the winter months like you will sometimes have with furnaces. The heat pump also provides you with uniform heating throughout your home, so you will not have to worry about temperature fluctuations as you can with some other home heating systems. Electrical heat pumps are also quiet and comfortable to use as the air compressor is usually placed outside the home to help keep the noise down. Electrical heat pumps are also a more environmentally friendly option as opposed to other heating system options.

Disadvantages Of An Electric Heat Pump

The installation cost of an electric heat pump can be costly enough to be a deterrent to some homeowners. However, the savings you would see on energy bills over time can help to balance out the initial cost. The installation often involves considerable technical expertise and specialized tools, and proper wiring must be done to ensure the system works correctly. To be safe, you should always hire a qualified electrician to help install the pump. Electric heat pumps also require a significant amount of maintenance to ensure that it is operating efficiently throughout its lifetime. Also, in areas where temperatures frequently fall below freezing in winter, the pump could run less efficiently unless you have invested in the ground pump variety. This will usually occur because the pump has to spend more time and energy to gather heat before it can transmit it throughout the home. If you live in a particularly harsh winter area, you may even have to invest in a backup system to help ensure your home stays as warm as you would like it to.

Contact Us

If you are looking for a professional San Fernando Valley heating and air conditioning contractor for heat pump services, give us a call today at 818-837-0022 or fill out our online request form.