Denton Heat Pumps

Heat Pumps Denton

Heat pumps in Denton work on the simple principle of transferring heat from one area to another. They do the work of both air conditioner and furnace. In the winter, the heat pump extracts heat from outside air and transfers it inside the house where it is distributed by a ductwork system to heat the home.

During the hot, Texas summer, the process is reversed. Heat is removed from air inside the house, making it cooler, and transported outside. As such, a heat pump can do both heating and cooling in a single unit. Call Frost Brothers Heating and air to find out why everyone is upgrading to these impressive HVAC units.

What is a Heat Pump?

An air-conditioner and a heat pump have the same mechanical components, but they differ in how they are used. A heat pump is essentially an air conditioner that can be run in reverse. This gives a heat pump the capability of providing heat during the winter, which is something an air-conditioner cannot do.

A typical furnace burns a fuel of some type such as electricity, natural gas, or oil, to produce heat. A heat pump uses its energy to transfer heat from the outside to the inside. This makes the heat pump one of the more efficient ways to heat a home.

The cooling efficiency of a heat pump is measured by the SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) ratio. Any SEER rating over 14 is considered high efficiency. There are heat pumps on the market today that have SEER ratings up to 19. Generally, the higher the rating, the more the cost.

Heat Pump HSPF

HSPF (Heating Seasonal Performance Factor) measures the heating effectiveness of a heat pump. It measures the heat output compared to the energy it consumes. The minimum HSPF is 7.7 and the most efficient heat pumps have a rating of 10.

The fuel efficiency of a furnace is measured by the AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency). It is a measure of the amount of heat actually produced compared to the amount of fuel that is supplied to the furnace. Thus, an AFUE of 80% means that 80% is converted to heat while the remaining 20% is lost.

Energy Star is a program developed by the US Environmental Protection Agency that has a goal of reducing energy consumption. Products that have the Energy Star label are more energy efficient than the minimum guidelines.

When you install a new energy-efficient heating and air system for your existing home, you might be eligible for a federal tax credit. The credit is 30% of the cost up to $1,500. The expiration of the current tax credit program is December, 31, 2010.

In certain areas, some utility companies offer rebates for the installation of more energy-efficient systems and products. The terms and amounts vary and you have to inquire with your local utility to find out if any are available.