Things to Consider Before Buying Heat Pumps for your Home

More and more homeowners are looking to heat pumps as an alternative to traditional electric air conditioning. Fuel prices are skyrocketing and experts contend that this trend is nowhere near its eventual peak. With rising fuel prices, costs everywhere go up. The average homeowner is always on the lookout for ways to save money. Cutting the electric bill substantially is one such way, and putting in a heat pump could be an efficient way to do just that. Here are some of the things you'll need to consider before buying.

Size

A professional and experienced A/C company will be able to guide you in the direction of heat pumps that are correctly sized for your purposes. This is an important aspect of making sure you are happy with the service you get out of your purchase. Buying something too large for your home is going to result in constant power cycling, which is going to take a toll on the equipment. If it's too small, you're going to have a hard time getting the temperatures you want out of the appliance. Either situation can make the homeowner unhappy with their purchase and the technology in general when, really, it is only a matter of finding the right size.

Efficiency

You need to be aware of efficiency ratings and how they can affect performance before you decide on what to buy. Heat pumps are measured by SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating). If you live in an area of the country where you'll be constantly battling warmer air, you should look for an appliance with a higher SEER value. The pump's ability to heat a home is measured by another factor, which is called HSPF. If you live in a climate where your primary concern is staying warm during the winter months, you'll need a high HSPF rating.

Money

Up front, heat pumps are usually more expensive than traditional central heating and air. This isn't always the case (there are going to be pumps that are less expensive than the most expensive central A/C system), but generally speaking, it's true. The savings come in the monthly electric bill, which should be far cheaper in the long run. Still, look around and see what kind of deals you can strike to get your system installed inexpensively. It may also interest you to know that you can sometimes qualify for government discounts and rebates for making environmentally responsible choices such as this. Ask your installer if they are aware of such rebates and what you can do to apply for them.