Maintaining a comfortable atmosphere in your Tampa, Florida, home can get expensive, especially if you’re constantly running the air conditioning system when it’s warm outside. Since the temperatures in the area don’t dip too drastically, a heat pump is the perfect addition to your home. Learn more about why a heat pump is a preferable system for your household.
What Is a Heat Pump?
A heat pump is a unit that uses electricity to move heat from a cool space to a warm space and vice versa. It operates in a similar fashion to your refrigerator, moving heat from one place to another rather than generating heat.
Heat pumps are beneficial for both heating and cooling needs, making them great options in homes located in more moderate climates. This type of unit doesn’t work well in an area that has freezing temperatures for much of the winter. But since the Tampa climate stays fairly moderate, a heat pump is a good choice for your home.
In most cases, a heat pump also works as your central air conditioning system in the summer months. When you have one in your home, it will transfer the heat from inside your home to the outside, creating a more comfortable environment. High-efficiency heat pumps can also remove the humidity from the indoor air. During the winter season when the temperatures dip, the heat pump’s reversing valve can absorb heat from outside and move it into your home.
Improved Efficiency
One of the key benefits of adding a heat pump to your home is improved efficiency. Since heat pumps don’t generate heat, they don’t use nearly as much power as a central air conditioner or furnace. As a result, you can enjoy a more comfortable indoor temperature without paying a fortune in monthly energy bills.
You don’t have to get rid of your furnace or central air conditioner when you install a heat pump. Instead, you can use it as a supplementary source of heating and cooling. As a result, this also lessens the pressure on your central system, which can extend its lifespan and reduce the need for repairs.
Better Air Quality
Another benefit of using a heat pump is improved air quality. Many units contain air filtration systems that restrict allergens and contaminants from entering your home. Poor indoor air quality is a growing problem across the nation, causing allergic reactions and health symptoms such as congestion, sore throats, headaches, and eye irritation. In those with existing breathing conditions, poor indoor air quality can become even more problematic. By using a heat pump, you can enjoy better air quality and reduce unpleasant health symptoms in your home.
Targeted Heating and Cooling
If your home has hot and cold spots even when the HVAC system is operating, a mini-split heat pump can provide more targeted heating and cooling to specified "zones" in your home. When you feel chilly in a certain room of your home, simply engage that area’s heat pump for instant and even heating. It will also work in reverse, removing the heat from the space as soon as you turn on the unit. As a result, you won’t experience drastic temperature fluctuations in the various zones of the house.
Types of Heat Pumps Available
When you start shopping around for heat pumps, you may notice that several different types are available. The most common type of heat pump used in a residential setting is an air-source heat pump, which transfers the heat in the indoor air to the outdoor air or vice versa. Another option is a geothermal heat pump, which uses the heat from the earth to warm up the air in your home.
Geothermal heat pumps are further categorized as ground-source and water-source, depending on whether the heat is coming from a nearby water source or the ground. New and innovative features are available in some heat pumps, as well, such as multispeed compressors, scroll compressors, and components that can function as your water heater.
If you have questions about heat pumps or would like to find out if this type of unit would be a good fit in your home, contact our team at Nuccio Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. at 813-961-7895.
