With such a wide range of heat pumps and oil- or gas-powered furnaces to consider, how can you know which heating system is best for your Easton, Maryland, home? If you want to save energy and streamline your home’s heating setup, a ductless heat pump could be ideal for your family. Find out how ductless heat pumps work and learn how to ensure that the model you choose can keep your family warm this fall.
How Ductless Heat Pumps Work
You might know furnaces, but heat pumps rely on completely different technology to keep your home warm. In fact, heat pumps are actually refrigeration systems. They can cool you down in the summer, and you can reverse them to provide heat during the fall and winter.
All heat pumps have indoor and outdoor units, an air handler that works inside and a heat pump that works outside. Heat pumps don’t actually generate heat, but the units work together to transfer existing hot air into or out of a space to achieve a comfortable temperature.
Since these systems are ductless, they don’t need the system of ductwork that most HVAC components require. Instead, a conduit connects the indoor and outdoor units and facilitates the heat transfer. Due to the lack of ductwork and the small size of these systems, installation tends to be fast and easy.
How to Ensure Your Ductless Heat Pump Is Up to the Challenge
If easy installation and straightforward operation sound like good fits for your household, find out how you can ensure that you choose the right system for your home.
Have It Properly Sized
Ductless heat pump technology has come a long way over the past few decades. Years ago, heat pumps were considered best for warm climates where the temperature rarely hit freezing during the fall and winter months. Today, however, most ductless heat pumps are up to the challenge of keeping your Easton home warm. To confirm whether the system you’re considering can handle your home’s heating needs, talk with the Griffith Energy Services team about accurate sizing.
Consider Multiple Units
One ductless heat pump probably won’t be able to keep your entire home warm, but our team can easily determine just how many indoor and outdoor units your family needs. Most outdoor units can control between four and eight indoor units, which we can position throughout your home. Larger homes may need more than one outdoor unit, along with indoor units for each area that you want to keep warm.
Look for New Technology
There’s no reason to settle for outdated heat pump technology when the latest advances will keep your home much more comfortable. Look for a system with a variable-speed motor, as this type of ductless heat pump is designed to operate at a low level around the clock. This keeps your home from getting too cool, even when you have the thermostat set relatively low. When a cold blast hits or when you turn up the temperature, the system will kick into a higher gear to keep you comfortable.
Prioritize Efficiency
Many ductless heat pumps are designed to be incredibly efficient in warm and cool weather. To make sure it’s as efficient as possible during the heating season, look for a high heating seasonal performance factor (HSPF) rating. Heat pumps must have an HSPF rating of at least 8.5 to receive Energy Star certification, which is the gold standard for efficiency.
Schedule Regular Maintenance
To keep your ductless heat pump as efficient as possible throughout the fall, be sure to schedule heating system maintenance at least once a year. Our team will inspect the system, calibrate the heat pump, lubricate any moving parts, and refill any fluids to keep the system running as smoothly as possible. Scheduling maintenance just takes a few minutes, but it can extend the life of your system and help identify minor issues before they become expensive and inconvenient.
Ready to make the move to a ductless heat pump this fall? Call Griffith Energy Services, Inc. to learn more about our efficient heating systems: 888-721-5705.
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