#energy efficient pump

[businesspikuk]

How to Choose the Right Energy-Efficient Central Heating Circulation Pump

With so many energy-efficient central heating circulation pumps on the market, choosing the right one for your home can seem like a daunting task. However, by considering a few key factors, you can ensure that you select a pump that meets your heating needs while maximizing efficiency and savings.

The first thing to consider when choosing a new pump is the size and layout of your home. Larger homes with multiple floors or zones may require a more powerful pump to ensure adequate circulation of hot water to all areas. Conversely, smaller homes or apartments may be able to make do with a smaller, less powerful pump.

Next, you'll want to consider the energy efficiency rating of the pump. Look for pumps that have earned the ENERGY STAR label, which indicates that they meet strict efficiency guidelines set by the Environmental Protection Agency. ENERGY STAR pumps are typically up to 30% more efficient than standard models, helping you to save money on your energy bills while reducing your environmental impact.

Additionally, pay attention to the pump's flow rate and head pressure capabilities. A higher flow rate means that the pump can move more water through your system in less time, while a higher head pressure indicates the pump's ability to overcome resistance in your pipes and radiators. Ideally, you'll want a pump with a balance of both to ensure efficient and effective operation.

Finally, consider any additional features or technologies that the pump may offer. For example, some pumps come with built-in variable speed settings, allowing you to adjust the flow of water to match your specific heating needs. Others may incorporate smart technology that allows for remote monitoring and control of your heating system, maximizing efficiency and convenience.

In conclusion, choosing the right energy-efficient central heating circulation pump is essential for maximizing comfort, efficiency, and savings in your home. By considering factors such as size, efficiency rating, flow rate, and additional features, you can select a pump that meets your needs and helps you to achieve your energy-saving goals.

[thoughtportal]

Few climate technologies have ever had a moment quite like the one heat pumps are currently enjoying.

While the share of electric vehicles and induction stoves sales may be growing, they still represent a sliver of all cars and stoves sold respectively. US heat pump sales, though, surpassed those of gas furnaces last year as the tech of choice to keep homes comfortable.

The sudden rise of the heat pump may have you wondering: what actually are they, how do they work, and are there incentives that can help lower the price?

What does a heat pump do?

Calling it a “heat pump” is perhaps a bit misleading. That’s because heat pumps both heat and cool your home depending on the season. To do this, they use electricity rather than methane gas, cutting down harmful greenhouse gas emissions and public health and safety concerns.

“It sounds like magic,” said Vince Romanin, the founder of window heat pump startup Gradient. Spoiler: it’s just physics.

How do they work?

The short answer is they work by moving – pumping, if you will – heat from one place to another. It’s actually the same thing that air conditioners do: they pump heat out of your house and draw cool air in. If you’ve ever stood outside next to an air conditioner, you can feel that heat being pushed out. A heat pump can do that same task in summer, but in winter, it also has the ability to reverse the process and pull heat in from the outside into your home. Some heat pumps, called ground source heat pumps, use the ground outside a home as a place to pull or dump heat.

Are heat pumps better than gas furnaces?

In many cases, yes. They’re wildly more efficient. It’s a lot easier to move heat around rather than creating it from scratch by lighting gas on fire and then blowing the resulting heat around. Romanin noted that heat pumps are 300% more efficient than gas furnaces.

“It is ridiculous to burn a fossil fuel at thousands of degrees to heat up your apartment by 10 to 20 degrees. It’s a crime against the laws of thermodynamics,” he said.

That efficiency can translate to cost savings. An analysis by Carbon Switch found switching from a gas furnace to a heat pump would save the average US household $557 a year on its home energy bill.

Beyond efficiency, it’s also much safer to not pipe gas into your home on a regular basis due to a range of public health and safety impacts. Improperly installed or maintained ventilation systems can result in pollution being sucked up into your home. Then there’s the danger of a flammable material being transported to and ignited in your basement.

We haven’t even gotten to the climate benefits yet. A study released last year found that replacing gas furnaces with heat pumps in every US home could cut carbon emissions by up to 53%. Meanwhile, the Carbon Switch analysis found home emissions would drop by 142m metric tons.

Do heat pumps work in cold weather?

Yes. Mostly.

The conventional wisdom has been that air source heat pumps don’t work well in cold weather, because it’s hard to extract heat from extremely cold air. Some systems also use energy-intensive forms of heating to prevent their icing up, cutting into efficiency gains. Ground source heat pumps have an easier time since the ground temperature remains fairly constant.

But “it’s astonishing what manufacturers, what universities have been able to do”, said Subhrajit Chakraborty, an R&D engineer at the University of California, Davis’s Western Cooling Efficiency Center.

Air source heat pumps have gotten much more efficient at capturing heat even when it’s sub-zero outside. This year, Energy Star, a US government program promoting energy-efficient appliances, launched a cold-climate rating for heat pumps. A database kept by the non-profit Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships shows there are more than 1,400 models that fit the bill.

Real-world tests in cold climates from Maine to Minnesota show that heat pumps can operate in some of the harshest winter conditions out there.

OK, and how much do they cost?

They aren’t overly cheap. In the US, installing a heat pump is a four- or possibly five-figure investment depending on the size of the house, climate and other factors. Air source heat pumps are generally cheaper than ground source ones, though Chakraborty said the efficiency gains of a ground source heat pump may make it more cost-effective over a 15-year or longer timescale.

Are there incentives to help me afford one?

There are. In the US, the Inflation Reduction Act includes tax credits that cover 30% of the cost of a heat pump up to $2,000 (about £1,700). For households with under 80% of the median area income, the law is even more generous. It will cover 100% of the upfront costs of buying and installing a heat pump up to $8,000 (about £6,700). Many states also offer rebates. Stacked together, these benefits could help make heat pumps accessible to everyone rather than just the well-off, who have traditionally bought them.

In the UK, the government offers homeowners up to £6,000 ($7,150) to cover installing a heat pump. The urgency to install more heat pumps has increased in the wake of the Ukraine war, yet a third of the £6.6bn ($7.8bn) put forward by the government for efficiency upgrades remains unspent as of last month.

Some Australian states as well as the federal government offer incentives for heat pump hot water heaters, a related type of technology that warms up water instead of space.

What stands in the way of installing a heat pump in every home?

For one, not everyone lives in a freestanding home. Apartment dwellers have had few options. Gradient and a growing number of HVAC companies in the US are looking to change that, though, by offering window heat pumps.

The Gradient model is a sleek-looking unit that sits like a saddle over your window sill and requires no professional installation. It works in more temperate climates, though Romanin said a cold-climate model is on the way. But the company, along with Midea America, are set to do a pilot in New York public housing starting this year that will install window heat pumps that can operate in colder temperatures as part of a $70m HVAC upgrade program.

Installing a heat pump and electrifying other appliances also might require homeowners to update their electrical panels, which can add another $1,300 to $3,000 to any project. (In the US, the IRA does include a $600 tax credit for those upgrades when done in conjunction with other electrification upgrades.)

What comes next for the humble heat pump?

Chakraborty’s group is working on a multifunction heat pump that can be used for space and hot water heating.

Romanin said new forms of heat-pump refrigerant are also making their way to the market. HFCs, currently some of the most common refrigerants, are also extremely potent greenhouse gases. They became widespread because they replaced CFCs, refrigerants that damaged the ozone layer. HFCs are now on their way out, but Romanin said “if we don’t focus on what we’re replacing them with, we could repeat this same mistake”.

Gradient uses a relatively low-impact HFC called R32. But he said “this is a stepping stone refrigerant for us”, and that the company is seeking even better options.

[voltagewholesaler]

Hot Water Heat Pumps NSW

Voltage Wholesale is a leading supplier of energy-efficient hot water heat pumps in NSW, offering a wide range of options to suit your needs. With proper installation and maintenance, a hot water heat pump can provide you with hot water for many years while reducing your carbon footprint and saving you money on energy bills. If you’re considering a hot water heat pump for your home or business, consider choosing Voltage Wholesale for the most energy-efficient and cost-effective solution in NSW.            

[jupitersolar]

Solar water heater 100 ltr price in Bangalore

Solar water heater 100 ltr price in Bangalore

Solar water heater 100 ltr price in Bangalore, You should know about solar power first before going for any solar thermal system. Solar thermal system is based on the principle of converting sunlight into hot water (or steam) for use in heating homes and buildings. Solar water heating systems, commonly called solar hot water systems, convert the sun's rays into energy using a black-body absorber located inside a glass collector. When the temperature drops below, however, the efficiency decreases rapidly. Most solar thermal collectors have a maximum working temperature . To install a Solar water heater 100 ltr price in Bangalore, contact Jupiter Solar , www.jupitersolars.in .

What Is A Solar Water Heater?

What Is A Solar Water Heater?,a solar water heater is a device that converts solar energy into useful heat. These devices utilize the power of the sun to create a warm liquid that can then be applied to our homes and businesses. In effect, a solar water heater is similar to a conventional electric water heater; however, instead of electricity, sunlight does the work. Our bodies need water to survive and if we do not drink enough water, we become dehydrated. If we live in a desert area where there may not be much access to fresh drinking water, having access to heated water would be helpful.  Thus, a solar water heater could be a cost effective and environmentally friendly alternative.Buy solar water heater , contact Jupiter Solar , www.jupitersolars.in .

How Does Solar Power Work?

Solar powered water heaters make use of the sun's heat and convert it directly into usable hot water. There are several different types of solar water heaters depending on the desired output. The two basic designs are a direct (concentrating type) and indirect (reflecting type). Direct solar water heaters focus the sun's rays onto copper tubes , while indirect solar water heaters reflect the sunlight back towards the tubes. Both of these types of units produce hot water at high efficiencies, although the concentrating type has higher operating costs.

https://jupitersolars.in/faq.php

Cost And Efficiency Of Solar Water Heaters

To calculate how much you might save with a solar water heater, you'll need to determine the size and capacity of your current system along with an estimate of the total annual usage. Next, you'll need to figure out how much electricity you currently spend on your utility bill. Then simply divide those figures together. Your savings are determined by dividing the difference between your estimated monthly expenses and what you'd pay by the amount of energy your solar water heater produces. Let's assume you're saving $40 per month on your utility bills - that equals $480 annually. To calculate the approximate number of gallons of hot water produced by your existing system, multiply the volume of your tank by the average flow rate. Once again, let's say you have 5 gallons of storage capacity and your current flow rate is 10 gallons per day. That means you're producing 500 gallons of hot water each year. Divide that by 12 months to find your monthly consumption. Now subtract both the $240 annual savings and the $500 annual production from the $960 total cost of your present system. What's left over is how much money you stand to save by switching to a solar water heater.

Size And Capacity

You'll want to consider the size and capacity of the solar water heater you plan to install before making a decision. Many manufacturers offer models ranging from 100 litre to 200 solar water heaters. The larger the system, the greater the potential savings. Smaller systems can be installed outside while larger ones may requires a free standing structure . A good rule of thumb is to buy the largest solar heater unit possible. Keep in mind that the size of your home or business building will affect the size and weight of your solar water heater. Obviously, larger homes and buildings require bigger and heavier units.

Installation

Most solar water heaters are preassembled and ready to go once you've purchased them. However, they do require some installation work. After placing the solar heater unit in its final location, you'll need to add the hardware. Finally, fill the reservoir with water. Depending on where you live, the process may take a few hours before you start receiving hot water.

Maintenance

Solar water heaters don't require very high maintenance once they've been installed. You won't need to worry about replacing the elements until the solar water heating units are working or cleaning the panels since their performance will remain unchanged. However, you may want to clean the surface of the black-body absorbers every so often. Fortunately, they are easy to remove and replace. Also, remember to keep your unit clear of debris such as snow and leaves.

Water Heater

Water heating systems are used to warm water for bathing, cooking, washing purposes, etc. A solar water heater uses solar power to heat the water directly without using any fuel. In some cases, they use a storage tank where hot water is stored until required. These tanks are filled once a day and then heated by the sun. Heating water by boiling is considered efficient since many percentage of the energy goes . Solar water heaters, however, convert this thermal energy into electricity . Energy efficiency is thus increased. Other types of water heaters are gas-based, electric ones.

Storage Tank

The storage tank is the place where hot water is kept. When the temperature drops below a certain level, the pump sends water back to the boiler. Another type of storage tank is the closed loop system where water circulates continuously between the boiler and the tank.

Boiler

A boiler is a device that takes water at room temperature and heats it to high temperatures. Once the water reaches these high temperatures, it is sent to a tank where the excess heat is removed and converted to useful energy. Depending on the size of the boiler, it may need to have a fan inside to remove extra heat. The fan can either run constantly or only while the water is being pumped.

Pumping System

Pumping systems move water from one point to another. There are many different pumps, but some of the most common ones include centrifugal, screw, and piston pumps.

Electric Motor

Electric motors are the devices that turn the mechanical energy of steam or electrical energy into kinetic energy. An electric motor uses electric current to create rotating force. The rotor spins within the stator, converting it to rotary motion. The electric motor converts electrical energy into rotational energy which is then transferred to the shaft turning the impeller blades.

Impeller Blades

Impellers are the blades that are attached to the shaft. To improve efficiency, the blades spin faster by increasing RPM (revolutions per minute). The higher RPM increases the pressure of the water pushing it outward forcing it to flow around the outside of the impeller blades. This helps the water leave the impeller blades in a continuous stream and exit the unit.

Air Pump

Air pumps help move air across surfaces, keeping them clean and preventing mold and bacteria buildup. Air pumps are often used in air conditioning units to move cool air over coils and condensers.

[michellekim856]

Discover the Benefits of Energy-Efficient Pool Pumps

Investing in energy efficient pool pumps offers numerous benefits for pool owners. Energy efficient pumps are designed to operate at lower speeds, which puts less strain on the motor and other components. To Know more dive into our blog and find the perfect fit for your pool today.

[crawlspaceencapsulationdurham]

Is Your Durham Crawl Space Stealing Your Comfort (and Cash)? Here's How to Fight Back!

Living in Durham comes with its perks, but a damp, unhealthy crawl space shouldn't be one of them. If you're battling musty odors, mold growth, or even outrageous energy bills, your crawl space could be the culprit. But fear not, Durham homeowners! RCS Crawl Space Encapsulation is here to transform your troublesome crawl space into a dry, healthy, and energy-efficient haven.

Here's how we can help:

Say Goodbye to Moisture: We offer comprehensive crawl space waterproofing solutions to keep water out and prevent musty odors and harmful mold growth.

Seal Up the Savings: Our crawl space encapsulation services create a vapor barrier, reducing humidity and helping you slash your energy bills.

Insulate for Year-Round Comfort: We offer crawl space insulation to maintain comfortable temperatures in your home, no matter the season.

Breathe Easy with Mold Remediation: If you've discovered mold in your crawl space, our experts can safely and effectively remove it, ensuring a healthier environment for your home.

Peace of Mind with Drainage Solutions: We can install sump pumps and French drains to prevent water from accumulating in your crawl space, protecting your foundation and promoting overall crawl space health.

Don't Let Your Crawl Space Win!

A neglected crawl space can wreak havoc on your home's comfort, energy efficiency, and even structural integrity. At RCS Crawl Space Encapsulation, we offer a free quote to Durham homeowners looking to reclaim their crawl space and improve their home's health. Contact us today and breathe easy knowing your crawl space is in good hands!

[cyber67]

https://www.miamihp.com/online-store/3-0-ton-vertical-geothermal-heat-pump-eer-23-5/

[aquamechanic12]

Navigating the pool and spa equipment for sale market is an art, requiring a blend of informed decision-making and proactive maintenance. Whether you are enhancing your aquatic haven with new equipment or preserving the sanctity of your existing setup through essential repairs, the choices you make today will impact your enjoyment for years to come.

[newspatron]

Beat the Heat with Solar Air Conditioners: Your Cool & Green Guide

Ready to embrace a cooler, greener future? Share your thoughts and experiences with solar air conditioners below! 💬

🌞 Solar Air Conditioners: Your Chill Guide to a Greener (and Cheaper!) Tomorrow ❄️ Is the scorching heat making you sweat like a popsicle on a summer day? 🥵 Are your electricity bills giving you nightmares hotter than a desert afternoon? 😫 Fear not, my friend! We’re about to dive into the cool world of solar air conditioners, your ticket to a more comfortable, eco-friendly, and wallet-friendly…

[poojagblog-blog]

The global Heat Pump Market is expected to grow from an estimated USD 90.1 billion in 2024 to USD 157.8 billion by 2029, at a CAGR of 11.8% during the forecast period according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets™.

[thoughtportal]

Heat pumps are good for your wallet—and the world.

They’re the cheapest and most efficient way to handle both heating and cooling for your home, no matter where you live. They’re also better for the environment. In fact, most experts agree they’re one of the best ways for homeowners to reduce their carbon footprint and reap the benefits of a greener future without sacrificing comfort. In other words, they’re a win-win.

“We’ve come to see climate solutions like paper straws as being something worse than what we’re used to. But there are some places where everyone benefits, and I think heat pumps are a good example of that,” said Alexander Gard-Murray, PhD, a political economist at Brown University and co-author of 3H Hybrid Heat Homes: An Incentive Program to Electrify Space Heating and Reduce Energy Bills in American Homes. “They’re quieter. They offer more control. And at the same time, they’re going to reduce our energy demand and our greenhouse gas emissions. So it’s not just savings. It’s a quality-of-life improvement.”

But it can still feel daunting to pick the heat pump that's right for you, or even to know where to start looking. We can help.

What is a heat pump, anyway?

“A heat pump is probably the biggest thing that consumers can do to help fight the climate crisis,” said Amy Boyd, director of policy for the Acadia Center, a regional research and advocacy organization focusing on clean-energy policy in the Northeast. Heat pumps also happen to rank among the quietest and most comfortable options available for home heating and cooling.

Heat pumps are essentially two-way air conditioners. In the summertime, they work like any other AC unit, removing heat from the air inside and pushing cooled air back into the room. In the cooler months, they do the opposite, drawing heat energy from the air outside and moving it into your home to warm things up. The process is especially efficient, using half as much energy on average than other electric home-heating sources. Or, as David Yuill of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln told us, “You could put in a watt of electricity and get four watts of heat out of it. It’s like magic.”

Unlike magic, however, there’s actually a very simple explanation for this result: Heat pumps have only to move heat, instead of generating it by combusting a fuel source. Even the most efficient gas-powered furnace or boiler never converts 100% of its fuel into heat; it’s always going to lose something in the conversion process. A good electric-resistance heater gives you 100% efficiency, but it still has to burn watts to produce that heat, whereas a heat pump just moves the heat. A heat pump can save you, on average, nearly $1,000 (6,200 kWh) a year compared with oil heat, or about $500 (3,000 kWh) compared with electrical heating, according to the US Department of Energy.

In states where the energy grid is increasingly reliant on renewables, electric heat pumps also emit less carbon than other heating and cooling options, all while providing two to five times more heating energy than the energy you put into it, on average. As a result, a heat pump is an environmentally friendly HVAC system that’s good for your wallet, as well. Most heat pumps also use inverter technology, which lets the compressor run at more nuanced and variable speeds, so you’re using only the exact amount of energy necessary to maintain comfort.

Who this is for

Almost any homeowner could potentially benefit from a heat pump. Consider the case of Mike Ritter, who moved into a 100-year-old two-family home in Boston’s Dorchester neighborhood with his family in 2016. Ritter knew the boiler was running on fumes even before he bought the house, and he knew they’d have to replace it soon enough. After getting a few quotes from contractors, he was left with two options: He could spend $6,000 to install a new fossil-fuel-based gas tank in the basement, or he could get a heat pump. Although the overall cost of the heat pump looked to be about five times higher on paper, the heat pump also came with a $6,000 rebate and a seven-year, zero-interest loan to cover the rest of the cost, thanks to Massachusetts’s statewide incentive program to encourage heat pump conversion.

Once he did the math—comparing the soaring costs of natural gas with those of electricity, as well as factoring in the environmental impact, alongside the monthly payments—the choice was clear.

“Honestly, we were shocked that we could do it,” said Ritter, a freelance photographer, after four years of heat pump ownership. “We don’t make doctor or lawyer money, and we wouldn’t have expected to be the kind of people with central heating and cooling in their house. But there’s a million ways you can spread out the costs and get rebates and get energy credits. It’s not much more than what you’re already spending on energy right now.”

Despite all the benefits, there are nearly twice as many Americans buying one-way ACs or other inefficient systems than there are buying heat pumps each year, according to Alexander Gard-Murray’s research. After all, when your old system fails, it’s logical to simply replace what was there before, as the Ritters might have. We hope this guide can help you plan and budget for a true upgrade. Otherwise, you’ll be stuck with another inefficient, carbon-intensive HVAC for the next decade. And that’s not good for anyone.

Why you should trust us

I’ve been writing for Wirecutter since 2017, covering portable air conditioners and window air conditioners, room fans, space heaters, and other topics (including some unrelated to heating or cooling). I’ve also done some climate-related reporting for outlets such as Upworthy and The Weather Channel, and I covered the 2015 Paris Climate Conference as part of a journalism partnership with the United Nations. In 2019, I was commissioned by Cornell University to create a full-length play about community responses to climate change.

Like Mike Ritter, I’m also a homeowner in Boston, and I’ve been looking for an affordable and sustainable way to keep my family warm in the winter. Although the current electric radiator system in my home works well enough for now, I wanted to know if there was a better option, especially since that system is getting pretty old. I had heard of heat pumps—I knew that the next-door neighbors had one—but I had no idea what they cost, how they worked, or even how to go about getting one. So this guide began when I started reaching out to contractors, policymakers, homeowners, and engineers to find the most efficient HVAC system that would work in my home, as well as to figure out what it would do to my wallet in the long run.

How to pick the right heat pump for your home

Heat pumps in general are an objectively great idea. But the decision gets a little muddier when you try to narrow it down to which specific heat pump you should get. There are reasons most people aren’t just going out to Home Depot and bringing home whatever random heat pump they find on the shelves. You can even order one with free shipping on Amazon, but we wouldn’t recommend doing that, either.

Unless you’re already an experienced home renovator, you’ll need to find a contractor to help you through your heat pump journey—and the way that works for your situation will depend on a number of factors, including the kind of home you live in, as well as your local climate and incentive programs. That’s why instead of recommending the best heat pump for most people, we’ve come up with some basic criteria to help you navigate the process of upgrading the HVAC system in your home.

For the purposes of this guide, we’re focusing exclusively on air-source heat pumps (sometimes referred to as “air-to-air” heat pumps). As their name suggests, these models exchange the heat between the air around you and the air outside. Air-to-air heat pumps are the most common option for American households and are the most easily adapted into various living situations. However, you can also find other kinds of heat pumps, which pull heat from different sources. A geothermal heat pump, for example, draws heat from the ground, which requires you to excavate your yard and drill a well.

What size heat pump do you need?

The size you need depends on the size and layout of your home, your energy needs, your insulation, and more.

Air conditioning capacity is typically measured in British thermal units, or Btu. When you’re buying a window AC or a portable unit, you usually need to choose one based on the size of the room you plan to use it in. But selecting a heat pump system is a little more complicated than that. It’s still based, in part, on square footage—experts we interviewed agreed with the general calculation of about 1 ton of air conditioning (equivalent to 12,000 Btu) for every 500 square feet in your home. In addition, there is a set of standards maintained by the Air Conditioning Contractors of America trade association called Manual J (PDF), which calculates the impact of other factors such as insulation, air filtration, windows, and local climate to give you a more accurate load size for a specific home. A good contractor should be able to help you with this.

You also have a few monetary reasons to size your system correctly. Most statewide programs base their incentives on the efficiency of the system—after all, a more efficient system uses less electricity, which helps cut back more on fossil-fuel consumption. In Massachusetts, for example, you can get up to $10,000 back by installing heat pumps in your entire home, but only if the system achieves a certain performance standard (PDF) as set by the Air-Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration Institute (AHRI), a trade association for HVAC and refrigeration professionals. In other words, an inefficient home with an under- or oversized system could actually disqualify you from a rebate, as well as add to your monthly energy bills.

Will a heat pump even work in your home?

A heat pump almost certainly will work in your home, because heat pumps are especially modular. “They’re able to be adapted to basically every situation,” said Dan Zamagni, the director of operations at Boston Standard Plumbing, Heating, and Cooling, the company that worked on the Ritters’ house. “Whether it’s a really old home, or we’re limited by the construction we can do in people’s homes without being too disruptive—there’s always a way to make it work.”

Zamagni went on to explain that a heat pump condenser—the part that goes outside your home—can be mounted on a wall, the roof, the ground, or even on a bracketed stand or leveling pad. Ductless systems also provide you with plenty of versatility for interior mounting (assuming you don’t already have a duct system or room to add one). Things might get a bit complicated if you live in, say, a tightly packed row house in a historic district that restricts what you can put on the facade, but even then, a savvy contractor could probably figure something out.

What are the best brands of heat pumps?

When you’re buying something as expensive and long-lasting as a heat pump, you should make sure you’re getting something from a manufacturer that has a good reputation and can provide you with quality customer support for years to come. Daikin, LG HVAC, and Mitsubishi / Trane all offer warranties up to 12 years, for example, while Carrier and Rheem cover you for up to 10 years.

That being said, the heat pump you ultimately pick will likely have more to do with finding a good contractor than going with your personal preference. More often than not, your contractor or installer will be the one sourcing the parts. There may be some models that have better efficiency or distribution in certain geographic regions. And you should be confident that the contractor is familiar with this expensive equipment that they’re permanently installing in your home.

All of the manufacturers we mentioned above also have some sort of preferred dealer program—contractors that are specifically trained in their products and can provide manufacturer-approved service. Many preferred dealers also have priority access to parts and equipment. Dan Zamagni of Boston Standard, which is recognized as a Mitsubishi and Trane preferred installer, said, “We try to stick with a few brands for repetition with the installers and them knowing the equipment. Same with the sales desk, so they can all speak to this and are well trained on the products.”

Generally speaking, it’s better to find a good preferred contractor first and then take advantage of their expertise with the brands they’re familiar with. That service often comes with better warranties, too. It doesn’t do much good to fall in love with a specific heat pump only to find that no one in your area knows how to service or install it.

How do you find the most efficient heat pump?

Looking at a heat pump’s ratings can help, but don’t focus exclusively on that. Almost any heat pump offers such major advantages over traditional equipment that it’s usually not necessary to seek out the absolute highest metrics within the heat pump category.

Most heat pumps have two different efficiency ratings. The seasonal energy efficiency ratio, or SEER, measures the system’s cooling capacity as it compares with the energy required to run the system. By contrast, the heating seasonal performance factor, or HSPF, measures the relationship between the system’s heating capacity and its energy consumption. The US Department of Energy recommends seeking out a higher HSPF in colder climates or a higher SEER in warmer climates.

Heat pumps that qualify for Energy Star status need to have a SEER rating of at least 15 and an HSPF of at least 8.5. It’s not uncommon to find higher-end heat pumps with a SEER of 21 or an HSPF of 10 or 11.

As with heat pump sizing, the ultimate energy efficiency of your entire home will depend on a number of factors in addition to the heat pump itself, such as weatherization and air filtration, the climate in which you live, and how often you plan on using your system.

Can a heat pump work with existing HVAC ducts?

Yep, if you already have a central air system in your home, you can use your existing duct system to move the air from your heat pump. And you don’t actually need ducts: Air-source heat pumps are also available in the form of ductless mini-splits. Most manufacturers offer both options, and a good contractor can advise you on setting up different zones within your home to maximize comfort and make the best use of what your home already has installed.

Heat pumps are versatile when it comes to retrofits into existing ducting, and they can also work within a hybrid system that has both ducted and ductless units, feeding off a single compressor positioned outside the house. When the Ritter family was upgrading their Boston home with heat pumps, for example, they used the existing air handlers to create a new ducted air system on the second floor, and then they added two ductless mini-splits to cover the office and the master bedroom upstairs, all of which tied back to the same source. “It’s a bit of a unique system,” Mike Ritter told us, “but in our case, it just ended up working best.”

In general, try to get a few different ideas from contractors about how to adapt your existing HVAC system. Doing so might save you some money, or it might not be worth the effort or expense. One encouraging factor we found in our research is that your existing system, whatever type it is, shouldn’t prevent you from getting a heat pump to supplement, offset, or replace what’s already there. You can adapt a heat pump to pretty much any home layout, as long as you (and, really, your contractor) know what you’re doing.

Are there heat pumps that do only cooling?

Yes, but we don’t recommend such models. Sure, if you live somewhere that has a warmer climate year-round, it might sound redundant to add a new heating system to your home. But such a system is “essentially the same piece of equipment with a few extra parts, and you can make the swap with almost no extra work,” said Nate Adams, a home-performance consultant, in an interview with The New York Times. Those extra parts cost only a few hundred dollars more, and that markup is likely to be covered by a rebate anyway. There’s also the fact that heat pumps get exponentially more efficient as the home’s temperature approaches that comfort zone in the mid-60s. So on those rare days when it does drop into the 50s, the system barely has to use any energy to warm your home back up. You’re basically getting the heat for free at that point.

If you already have an oil- or gas-powered heat source that you don’t want to replace, you have a few ways to set up a hybrid-heat or dual-heat system that uses those fossil fuels as a backup or supplement to the heat pump. This kind of system can save you some money during a particularly frigid winter—and believe it or not, it can actually be a better choice for reducing carbon emissions. We have a separate section with more details below.

How to find an installer (and how to pay for it)

The contractor you hire to install your heat pump could be more important to your overall experience (and cost) than the heat pump itself. “As everyone’s trying to price-shop around, you can find yourself with a real low-level contractor,” said Dan Zamagni of Boston Standard. “Probably the third-biggest purchase people make in their homes is heating and cooling systems, and you wouldn’t treat a car or a home purchase in the same way. People try to nickel-and-dime that, but you do get what you pay for.” In other words, if you’re paying tens of thousands of dollars for someone to make your home more comfortable, more affordable, and better for the planet, you should make sure they do it right.

Unfortunately, not everyone has an easy time finding the help they need. So we’ve put together some guidance to keep you on the path.

Know what you’re looking for at the start

The fact that you’re reading this guide already gives you a good head start. For this guide, we spoke to several contractors, all of whom told us the same thing: Only about half of their heat pump customers come to them knowing ahead of time that they’re specifically looking to install a heat pump.

“Just knowing that heat pumps are an option is helpful,” 3H Hybrid Heat Homes co-author Alexander Gard-Murray told us. “I think the most important thing consumers can do is just to actively try to get a contractor who’s up on heat pumps, who can give them a good picture of what’s available with the current models, and the current climate zones.”

That being said, we don’t recommend making all of your decisions before you find a contractor. You might have your heart set on a specific heat pump model only to find that parts and service for it are hard to come by in your area (which is especially the case in a world that’s already facing other supply-chain issues). A good contractor will know what’s available, how its performance would compare with that of more traditional HVAC options, and what’s best for the climate you live in.

Ask around for recommendations

One of the best ways to find a contractor is to find someone else who worked with a contractor they liked. If you see a friend or a neighbor with heat pumps at their home, ask them about their experience. Check your local community social media forums on Facebook or Neighbors, as well. People may even recommend that you try a different contractor, or they may offer some advice on unexpected issues that surprised them, and all of that is helpful, too.

“Find someone you know who had a heat pump installed and ask them about it,” Gard-Murray said. “Basically anyone who installs a heat pump gets really excited about it, and you start hearing more and more. It’s like an avalanche of excitement about heat pumps. I think consumer experience is the biggest thing selling them.”

Look for preferred dealers

Many heat pump manufacturers, including Carrier, Daikin, LG HVAC, and Mitsubishi / Trane, all have some kind of preferred partnership program for independent contractors. To qualify, those contractors have to meet a certain level of standards in working with the equipment and thus meet the manufacturer’s ideal expectations. If a contractor has earned this seal of approval from one or more manufacturers, that’s a good sign.

Contractors’ membership in such programs is not just a testimony to their knowledge and skill, as these contractors also tend to offer better warranties on parts and labor (and have the relationships to make sure they can get the parts they need). Although most standard Trane ductless heat pumps come with a 10-year warranty (PDF), for example, a heat pump installed by a certified Trane Comfort Specialist usually has a 12-year warranty for the equipment, plus additional coverage for parts and labor directly through your contractor.

Get multiple quotes in writing

A good sign of a reliable contractor is their willingness to prepare for you a written document detailing the potential project and costs, with no commitment or payment from you. A representative might come by your home for a site visit and give you an eyeball estimate of the project costs, but if they won’t commit it to paper—before you start negotiating—that’s a huge red flag.

Before Mike Ritter settled with Boston Standard for his heat pump renovation, the two parties went through six rounds of project proposals over the course of three months before finding one that worked. Boston Standard presented a few different ideas—ducted versus ductless systems, different zoning options, and such—as well as the costs associated with each. Those documents even included information on warranties, as well as the potential rebates that Ritter could expect once the project was done. It was that sort of attention to detail that convinced him to take the leap, despite the higher up-front cost. “We didn’t know much about heat pumps beforehand,” Ritter told us. “We were planning on just replacing the boiler, but as we talked with Boston Standard, we started to realize it might actually work to put in a heat pump and get air conditioning out of the equation, as well.”

Check the contractor’s attention to detail

Heat pump systems are impressively modular, and there should be a way to make them work in almost any home situation. But this is also your home we’re talking about, and you’re the one who will have to live with whatever changes the contractor makes to it. A good contractor should be on the lookout for any potential problems or hiccups from the very first site visit. And that means you should be getting answers to lots of questions. Are they paying attention to the amperage on the circuit breaker, for example? Are they giving you a preliminary idea of how and where they might install the units? Are their project proposal quotes accurate and detailed?

“A lot of contractors can find themselves sort of slapping these systems in without really taking the right measurements and things that should be taken into account,” Zamagni of Boston Standard told us. He specifically mentioned things such as the software the contractor uses to size your system, and whether they’re factoring in elements like windows and weatherization. There are also acoustic considerations: Although heat pumps are typically quieter than other HVAC systems, the outdoor units still have fans and compressors and other mechanical parts that could cause problems in an alleyway or next to a bedroom window. These are the sort of questions you should ask—but you should also look for a contractor who looks for things you didn’t think to look for.

Talk about the long-term investment

Choose a contractor who provides more than just labor. “Consumers should be asking contractors—and doing the math themselves—to understand the long-term savings, and not just the up-front costs,” said Alexander Gard-Murray.

A good contractor will understand the significance of this long-term investment and should be able to walk you through it, as well. Ideally, they also should be able to help you figure out how to pay for it, whether that’s by offering financing options or helping you secure one of the many, many heat pump rebates available. In Massachusetts, for example, the Mass Save program offers seven-year, zero-interest loans of up to $25,000 for any renovation that achieves a certain efficiency level. That’s the kind of thing your contractor should tell you about.

Consider the full package

When you’re looking at the total cost of your proposed project, think about what you’re actually getting out of the deal. It’s not just the heat pump itself. It’s also the customer service, it’s also the warranty, and it’s also the expertise and guidance on how to make your home as energy efficient as possible. Some contractors even offer additional services, such as handling all of that complex and confusing rebate paperwork. That’s a major reason Mike Ritter went with Boston Standard for his heat pump renovation: The company handled all of the paperwork as part of the proposal, saving him the hassle and headache of trying to navigate those byzantine forms.

“We collect everything from the customer, we process the rebates for them, we submit everything,” explained Zamagni of Boston Standard. “It takes the burden away from the homeowner, who may be overwhelmed with the process overall. It helps with our whole package, so it’s basically a turnkey system for them.”

While working on this guide, I did hear a few anecdotes about people who weren’t able to get the rebates they were expecting or planning on because of some miscommunication or confusion with the contractor, or some mishandled paperwork. How often this actually happens isn’t clear, but it’s still a good reminder that some things are worth being more selective on when you hire, especially when you’re already spending tens of thousands of dollars on an HVAC system that’s supposed to last you 15 years or more.

Don’t rush into anything

“A lot of these [HVAC replacement] decisions are made under duress, like when a system fails in the middle of winter,” said Robert Cooper, president and CEO of Embue, a company that specializes in sustainable options for multi-family buildings. “You’re going to replace it with the quickest thing that you can get somebody in there. You’re not going to shop around.”

Although we can’t prevent those kinds of emergencies from happening, we can encourage you to start thinking about your future heat pump ahead of time so you’re not ending up in a situation that forces you into a 15-year commitment to an inefficient fossil-fuel heater. It’s completely normal to take a few months to negotiate over project quotes, and then again to schedule your installation based on the availability of equipment and labor. If a potential installer tries to pressure you into acting fast, especially if you’re not in a heating or cooling emergency, that’s another red flag.

Aside from living with the equipment for 15 years, you may also be entering a long-term relationship with your contractor. If anything goes wrong, you’ll continue seeing them as long as you’re covered under warranty.

Important factors for some installations

It bears repeating that heat pumps in general are not only greener and more efficient than other home heating and cooling systems but also more modular and adaptable. Up until this point, we’ve tried to focus on advice that’s broadly applicable to anyone looking to buy a heat pump. But there is some other helpful information we’ve gathered in our research that could be either absolutely crucial or completely irrelevant to you depending on your situation.

Why weatherization matters

Even if you buy the most cutting-edge heat pump system available, it won’t do much if your home is drafty. Homes that aren’t sufficiently insulated can leak up to 20% of their energy, per Energy Star, further adding to the homeowner’s annual heating and cooling costs regardless of what kind of HVAC system they have. Leaky homes tend to be older and more reliant on fossil fuels, too; in fact, just one-third of US homes are responsible for nearly 75% of all residential carbon emissions, according to the US Energy Information Administration. These emissions also tend to have a disproportionate impact on low-income communities and people of color.

Many statewide incentive programs do not merely encourage but require updated weatherization before you qualify for a heat pump rebate or a loan. Some of these states also provide free weatherization consultation services. If you live in a drafty home, this is something to look into even before you start reaching out to contractors about installing a heat pump.

What a difference an inverter makes

Most heat pumps use inverter technology. Whereas traditional air conditioners have only two speeds—completely on or completely off—inverters allow a system to run continuously at variable speeds, using only as much energy as it needs to maintain a comfortable temperature. Ultimately it uses less energy, makes less noise, and feels more comfortable pretty much all the time. The top picks in our guides to portable air conditioners and window air conditioners are all inverter units, and we highly recommend that you choose a heat pump with an inverter condenser, too.

Inverter technology also works well in conjunction with the variable efficiency of heat pump technology. You don’t have to worry about turning the system down or off when you leave the house for a while, as the system will regulate itself so well that it’ll work to maintain the temperature while barely using any energy. Turning the system on and off would actually use more electricity than just letting it run.

How heat pumps handle extreme cold weather

Heat pumps have historically been more common in Southern states, and they’ve also had a bit of a bad reputation as being less efficient or failing entirely in colder weather. A 2017 study from the Minnesota-based clean energy nonprofit Center for Energy and Environment comparing older heat pumps with more recently designed ones showed that older heat pump systems were significantly less efficient in temperatures below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. But it also found that heat pumps designed and installed after 2015 kept functioning normally down to -13 degrees Fahrenheit—and in more moderate conditions, they were two to three times more efficient than standard electric heating systems. “The colder it is outside, the harder it is for that machine to take heat from that air and move it inside,” explained Harvey Michaels, a lecturer in system dynamics and information technology at MIT Sloan. “It’s like pushing uphill.” Essentially, it’s harder for the heat pump to move the heat when it has to find that heat first—but again, that happens only in extreme conditions. If you’re worried about below-zero temperatures, your home almost definitely has a robust heating system installed already, and you might be a good candidate for a hybrid-heat or dual-heat system.

Hybrid-heat or dual-heat systems

There are a few situations where installing a new heat pump and keeping your gas- or oil-fueled burner as a backup might actually be cheaper and less carbon intensive than strictly relying on the heat pump. This kind of installation is called a dual-heat or hybrid-heat system, and it works best in places that regularly deal with temperatures below freezing. Since heat pumps can be less efficient in extremely cold weather, the idea is to offset the difference by using fossil fuels to help get the room up to a temperature where the heat pump can perform best, typically somewhere between 20 and 35 degrees Fahrenheit. Think of it as being similar to how a hybrid car works.

Harvey Michaels of MIT Sloan, who has served as an advisor on state and federal climate-policy commissions, expanded on the potential of hybrid heat pumps in a 2021 article. Once the temperature starts to drop below freezing, as he explains in that article, natural gas could be a cheaper option than a heat pump, depending on local energy pricing. And even if you do turn the gas on for those coldest days, you’re still reducing your home’s carbon emissions by at least 50%, so it’s still a win for the environment.

This might sound counterintuitive on the surface: How can you reduce carbon emissions by using carbon-based energy sources? But the math bears that conclusion out. If your heat pump is operating at only 100% efficiency because of the cold weather (as opposed to the 300% to 500% at which it normally operates), you’re using three times as much of the electricity to heat your home back up to the optimal performance conditions. In a state like Massachusetts, where 75% of the energy grid comes from natural gas, that ends up using a lot more fossil fuels than if you were to just turn on the gas burner in the basement and let it get the house back up to the baseline temperature.

“Obviously we want to reduce the emissions of fossil fuels as much as possible,” said Alexander Gard-Murray, whose work on the 3H Hybrid Heat Homes report examined the way such systems can work to speed up heat pump adaptation and overall decarbonization. “If you’re thinking, ‘I’ve got a gas furnace that’s newly installed, I’m not gonna rip that out,’ but you want to get a new cooling system, they can work in tandem. And that’s something else to ask your heat pump contractor about.”

Hybrid heat systems aren’t meant to be a permanent solution but rather a transitional tool to help ease the stress on both the electrical grid and peoples’ wallets, while the utility companies make the shift toward a more renewable grid overall.

How to start your heat pump search

Start looking before your current system fails.

Ask your friends, neighbors, and/or local social media groups for recommendations.

Research local rebates and other incentive programs.

Make sure your home is airtight and weatherized.

Talk with several contractors, and get their quotes in writing.

This article was edited by Harry Sawyers.

Sources

Mike Ritter, homeowner, phone interview, January 9, 2022

Leo Pesegoginski, project manager, Boston Standard Plumbing, Heating, and Cooling, in-person interview, February 11, 2022

Dan Zamagni, director of operations, Boston Standard Plumbing, Heating, and Cooling, phone interview, September 14, 2021

Alexander Gard-Murray, post-doctoral fellow in the Climate Solutions Lab and the Rhodes Center for International Economics and Finance at the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs at Brown University, in-person interview, September 10, 2021

Stephen Pantano, Matt Malinowski, Alexander Gard-Murray, and Nate Adams, 3H Hybrid Heat Homes: An Incentive Program to Electrify Space Heating and Reduce Energy Bills in American Homes, CLASP, May 26, 2021

Gary Woodruff, sales manager, HD Air, phone interview, July 27, 2021

Sabrina Shankman, Massachusetts should be converting 100,000 homes a year to electric heat. The actual number: 461, The Boston Globe, August 21, 2021

Brad Plumer, Are ‘Heat Pumps’ the Answer to Heat Waves? Some Cities Think So., The New York Times, June 30, 2021

Harvey Michaels, Let’s Run Towards Hybrid Heat Pumps — to benefit Climate, Energy Savings, Health and Equity, LinkedIn, June 29, 2021

David Yuill, associate professor in mechanical and materials engineering at University of Nebraska–Lincoln, phone interview, July 28, 2021

Harvey Michaels, lecturer in system dynamics and information technology and research director of energy management practice and innovation, MIT Sloan School of Management, Zoom interview, September 2, 2021

Amy Boyd, director of policy, Acadia Center, Zoom interview, January 21, 2022

Robert Cooper, president and CEO, Embue, in-person interview, September 9, 2021

Cynthia Stone Creem and Lori A. Ehrlich, A better future for heating your home, The Boston Globe, November 23, 2021

Jon Gorey, Everything you need to know about adding heat pumps to your home, The Boston Globe, November 7, 2021

[strener]

Choosing the Right Swimming Pool Heat Pump for Your Home

Swimming pool heat pumps are essential for maintaining the perfect temperature in your pool, ensuring that you can enjoy a refreshing swim at any time. However, choosing the right heat pump for your home can be a daunting task. With a wide variety of options available in the market, it's important to consider several factors before making a decision.

Understanding Your Pool's Needs Before diving into the world of swimming pool heat pumps, it's crucial to assess the specific needs of your pool. Factors such as the size of your pool, the climate of your region, and your budget will play a significant role in determining the most suitable heat pump for your home.

Size Matters The size of your pool is a crucial factor to consider when selecting a heat pump. Larger pools will require more powerful heat pumps to efficiently regulate the temperature. Conversely, smaller pools can make do with smaller, more energy-efficient heat pumps. It's essential to calculate the surface area and volume of your pool to determine the appropriate size of the heat pump.

Energy Efficiency In today's environmentally conscious world, energy efficiency is a key consideration for many homeowners. Opting for an energy-efficient heat pump not only reduces your carbon footprint but also saves you money on energy bills in the long run. Look for heat pumps with high Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) and Coefficient of Performance (COP) ratings for maximum efficiency.

Climate Considerations The climate of your region plays a significant role in determining the performance of your swimming pool heat pump. If you live in a colder climate, you'll need a heat pump with a higher heating capacity to effectively warm your pool water. Conversely, in warmer climates, a more moderate heating capacity may suffice.

Budget-Friendly Options While it's tempting to opt for the most advanced and feature-rich heat pump on the market, it's important to consider your budget. Fortunately, there are various options available to suit different budget constraints. From entry-level heat pumps to high-end, state-of-the-art models, there's a wide range of options to explore.

Choosing the Right Brand When it comes to swimming pool heat pumps, the brand you choose matters. Look for reputable brands with a proven track record of quality and reliability. Research customer reviews and ratings to gain insight into the performance and durability of different heat pump models.

Conclusion Selecting the right swimming pool heat pump for your home is a decision that requires careful consideration of various factors. By understanding your pool's needs, considering size, energy efficiency, climate, and budget, and choosing a reputable brand, you can make an informed decision that will keep your pool at the perfect temperature for years to come.

In conclusion, when it comes to investing in a swimming pool heat pump, Strener is the name you can trust. With a wide range of energy-efficient and reliable heat pumps, Strener ensures that you can enjoy the perfect swimming experience in your own backyard. Choose Strener for the ideal swimming pool heat pump solution for your home.

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£400 off energy bills and warmer homes benefit to over 8,000 Households

Social housing tenants could save as much as £400 a year on their energy bills, as part of upgrades to their homes backed by millions of pounds of government funding. Up to 8,800 social homes will benefit from free upgrades to make them more energy efficient and cheaper to run. Over £75 million will be allocated to councils and housing associations to install insulation, heat pumps and double…

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The Ultimate Guide to Home Upgrades: Projects to Transform Your Space

Unlock energy savings with our Heat Pumps & Solar Panels Grant. Combine it with a Home Energy Assessment for a sustainable and efficient home.

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