Posts Tagged ‘York Heat Pumps’

Components of a Heat Pump: Some Information from Bridgewater

Friday, October 28th, 2011

Because of their simply designed function – pumping heat one way or the other – York heat pumps have relatively few components. However, these components do not work the way you might expect, if you are picturing, for example, a fan that blows heat in or out.

A York heat pump operates on the same principle as an air conditioner or refrigerator, which may seem complicated at first, but it’s not. The heat pump consists of five main functional components, which are outlined below:

  1. The coils absorb heat from the surrounding air and channel it in or out of the home. There are two different types of coils in a heat pump. Condenser coils are outside the home transferring heat to and from the outside air. Evaporator coils are the reverse, transferring heat to and from the air inside the home.
  2. The coils are filled with a refrigerant, which is the medium that carries heat into or out of the home. On a cold day, for example, when the heat pump is in heating mode, the refrigerant in the condenser coils will absorb heat from the outside air, the flow inward into the evaporator coils, warming the interior of the house.
  3. The compressor pressurizes the refrigerant so that it is able to readily absorb as much heat from the air as possible. This is how your heat pump is able to gather warm air from the chilly outdoors to keep your home warm.
  4. The reversing valve is the component that changes the flow of the refrigerant when switching from heating mode to cooling mode, or vice versa.
  5. Finally, the air handler is the fan component that distributed the heat throughout the house via your home’s ductwork.

While these are the five main components, there are several smaller parts involved within and alongside each of these, as well. You need not concern yourself with them, since you won’t have occasion to interact with them. A York professional will be able to identify and repair any of the components of a heat pump as needed.

In addition to these five primary components, most heat pumps also include a heater pack, which is a bunch of actual heating elements for use when the heat pump cannot operate on its own. For example, you would turn on the “Emergency Heat” setting of your heat pump after a power outage to warm the refrigerant before use. That setting is supported by the heater pack.

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Energy Star Rated Heat Pumps: A Tip from Bernardsville

Monday, October 24th, 2011

Everyone in Bernardsville is almost certainly familiar with Energy Star ratings. They are those little stars you see on a lot of common household appliances, consumer electronics and other products. Energy Star is a government program run by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy to identify and clearly label products that meet strict efficiency guidelines. Products that carry the Energy Star logo have been shown to be among the most highly efficient out there.

This labeling is important and arguably becoming more so every day. Homeowners want the peace of mind that comes with knowing that the appliances in their homes are running efficiently, helping the environment and saving them money.

But have you ever wondered how a product gets to wear that Energy Star logo? What are the guidelines it has to meet or exceed in order to be approved?

The short answer is that it varies across product lines, as you might expect. An air conditioner is very different from a personal computer. For heat pumps, though, there are some pretty simple and consistent specifications to meet.

Heat pump ratings are based on two numbers—one for cooling and one for heating. Cooling efficiency is rated on a scale called the seasonal energy efficiency ratio, or SEER. This number simply describes in a nutshell how efficiently a unit can cool the area it’s installed in. Most heat pumps these days have a SEER of at least 10, and the most efficient ones carry a SEER of around 18. To meet Energy Star requirements, a heat pump must carry a SEER of at least 14.

The second number involved in rating the efficiency of a heat pump is the heating season performance factor, or HSPF. This number describes the heating efficiency of a heat pump by dividing its estimated heating capacity by the amount of electricity it draws. Most new heat pumps have an HSPF of at least 8, which is what is required for Energy Star approval.

A third rating criterion for heat pumps is the energy efficiency ratio, or EER. This is like SEER, except that it is an instantaneous measurement rather than one over a whole heating season. This rating is less commonly considered by consumers, but it is part of the Energy Star criteria, so it’s worth mentioning. Energy Star requires heat pumps to have an EER of at least 11.

Only when a unit meets or exceeds all three of these specifications is it eligible for Energy Star approval. Keep in mind that the requirements vary for split systems versus single package systems, and that they may change over time. Consult with a York professional during the purchase process to be sure the unit you want is Energy Star approved.

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What’s the Difference Between a Furnace and a Heat Pump? A Question from Plainsboro

Friday, October 21st, 2011

A lot of homeowners start looking for a new heating system in Plainsboro and don’t think about what type of system they want or how efficient it needs to be. So, before you even look at a new unit for your home, consider the two major types of forced air heating on the market – furnaces and heat pumps.

What Furnaces Provide

York Furnaces operate with either combustible fuel like gas or oil, or electricity. With that energy source, they heat a coil and blow air over the coil to produce warm air. An air handler than transfers that air into the ductwork, and throughout your home to where it is needed. If you have a gas hookup and your home is relatively small and in a very cold region, a gas furnace is by far your best option – both for capacity and the overall efficiency that new gas furnaces offer.

What about Heat Pumps?

But, York heat pumps are a fantastic alternative that are quickly growing in popularity for a number of reasons. First, they allow you to produce both heating and cooling. Because a heat pump works by removing the warm air from one environment and replacing it with cool air, you can use it in both directions – either to blow the warm air or the cool air inside.

Heat pumps work wonderfully throughout the summer, but in the winter they are sometimes not enough. Because the air outside needs to be above freezing to produce enough heat to warm your home, cold winters need supplemental heat. High quality heat pumps have electric coils for added heat, but if it gets too cold, you may need a small gas furnace to supplement the source.

The real benefit here is that you don’t need to use any combustible fuel and your heat pump is generally much more efficient with electricity than a furnace is with any fuel source. The real question comes down to how cold it is in the winter and how much energy you plan on consuming to heat your home.

So, Which Is Best?

There is no “best” for every home, so it’s a good idea to have your home inspected and measured to determine which of the two options will serve you better. If you happen to need a lot of heat in the summer to cover a large area and your gas bills are not too high, a good York furnace will work. However, if you want to cut out the gas in your home and keep your home comfortable year round with as little energy consumption as possible a York heat pump or packaged system will work great for you. If you need help making a decision, contact your local New Jersey York Dealer.

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Is a Heat Pump Right for Your Home?

Monday, October 3rd, 2011

Deciding which type of York home comfort system to go with can be a difficult process to navigate. There are a ton of factors to take into account including how much you will be using the system, what type of fuel you mainly rely on and what the specific climate is like where you live.

York heat pumps are a great home comfort solution for many people but they aren’t always the appropriate choice. However, there are many benefits to going with a York heat pump system, so this is certainly an option you should keep in mind as you evaluate your options.

Heat pumps work by extracting heat from the air in one place and then transferring that heat to another space. For instance, in the winter, heat pumps take heat from the outside air and pump it into your house. In the summer, on the other hand, your York heat pump will be able to take heat from your indoor air and pump it back outside, thereby keeping your home cool and comfortable.

Heat pumps are also extremely energy efficient because they don’t actually have to generate the heat they pump. Unlike furnaces, which take in fuel and convert it into heat, heat pumps simply harness the heat that’s already there, making them by far the more energy efficient option.

Another benefit to heat pumps is that they maintain a more constant temperature than many other types of heating systems do. Rather than pumping in a big blast of hot air and then waiting until the temperature indoors falls below a preset level before doing it again, heat pumps provide a relatively constant stream of warm air.

The initial amount of heat is smaller than what you might be used to from a furnace, but the cumulative effect means that you’ll be able to enjoy a much more consistently comfortable indoor environment.

It is important to evaluate the climate in your area before you decide to purchase a York heat pump, though. These systems are extremely effective at heating and cooling your home as long as temperatures stay above the mid-thirties. Below that, you may need to install some type of supplemental heating in order to keep your home warm enough on those really cold days.

If you are interested in getting a York Heat Pump for your New Jersey home, contact your local dealer.

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