Why Heat Pumps Are Perfect for Waco Homes
The winters months are here, and while Waco and the surrounding areas aren't exactly known for their harsh winters, local residents know that at least for parts of the winter, the temperatures can be very uncomfortable, especially when they're combined with our high levels of humidity. Keeping your home comfortable during these period is extremely important, but so is making sure that you're not overpaying your heat because of an ineffective HVAC system.
Heating and cooling account for around 50% of your total energy expenditures, so cutting back on the energy you use to heat and cool your home can drastically lower your energy costs. Installing a heat pump in your home can help you save as much as 30-40% of that energy, according to the Department of Energy. Plus, heat pumps can be used not only to heat your home in the winter, but also to cool your home in the summer, and they're an ideal choice for Waco homes, where they can tremendously improve efficiency.
The Waco heating and cooling contractors at Polanksy Heating & Air can help you decide if you would benefit from installing a heat pump, and we can help you with every aspect of the job.
How do Heat Pumps Work?
Instead of creating heat or cooled air like traditional HVAC systems, heat pumps in Waco extract them from the outdoors. This is the same way that your refrigerator works: it removes heat from the inside of the refrigerator and moves it the coils on the outside, which is why you can feel warm air coming from the bottom of your refrigerator.
Heat pumps use that same principle to extract heat or cooled air from either the air or the ground and move it in to your Waco home:
- Ground-source (or geothermal) heat pumps extract warmth from the ground, which remains at around 55°F regardless of the outside temperatures. Flexible pipes are buried at around six feet beneath the ground.These pipes are filed with a liquid that absorbs hear from the ground, then transfers it back into your home. Ground-source heat pumps are best for homes in colder climates.
- Air source heat pumps are ideal for warmer climates, according to the Department of Energy. These will be able to provide you cool air very efficiently during the summer months, and they'll work efficiently as heaters during the winter as long as temperatures are not below freezing.
If I Buy a Heat Pump, Will I Still Need to Use an Air Conditioner?
No! During the summer months, your heat pump will be able to provide you with all of the cool air you need for your home, and they can do it for around half the cost of a traditional air conditioner.