Some homeowners who want a heat pump installed in their homes may have heard both good and bad things about them. We’d like to dispel any misconceptions you may have heard about heat pumps. When it comes to an HVAC system, you can’t go wrong with a heat pump in Orange County.
Homeowners who live in very cold climates are the only ones who need to worry about a heat pump’s efficiency. Let’s go over why a heat pump is a great choice for any SoCal homeowner.
What Is a Heat Pump?
In a nutshell, a heat pump is essentially an air conditioner that has the added ability to heat as well. They use the same technology. Let’s explain.
Heat pumps extract heat from the surrounding air. That’s why they’re called “air-source heat pumps.” It’s also why they’re called heat “pumps” because they tap into the ambient heat that’s readily available in SoCal’s climate and “pump” or redistribute it. “Heat redistributor” just isn’t as catchy as a name is it?
They also “pump” warm air out of your home and redistribute it outside. Refrigerant is used to help deliver this heat to your home via a complex process. But the result is the generation of cold air to cool down your home.
The main difference between a heat pump and a central AC is that a heat pump has a switch that allows it to change to heating mode.
Why They’re Ideal for California
The only real criticism of heat pumps is that they can struggle with efficiency in cold climates. We’re talking about geographic areas that see winter temperatures that hover in the single digits for many weeks or months out of the year. That’s not something we have to worry about here in Southern California!
That a heat pump is essentially an air conditioner with the added ability to provide heat makes it perfect for SoCal. When it comes to cooling power, the reverse is not true—heat pumps work just as efficiently at cooling as a central air conditioner does. You don’t have to worry about decreased efficiency when it comes to its ability to cool down your home.
Another reason why they’re ideal for warm climates is that they can provide heat during the few weeks of the year that heating is needed. You don’t have to ever worry about installing a costly furnace that might only see a few days or weeks of use.
Mini Splits Are Heat Pumps
Another great thing about heat pumps is that they’re available as ductless systems, commonly known as mini splits. This solves the problem of how to install an HVAC system in a home with no ductwork.
Instead, individual air handlers are installed in the rooms of a home along with a single compressor unit. This provides unparalleled comfort levels and the ability to customize which rooms receive cooling or heating, and which ones don’t.
Saddleback Plumbing Heating & Air has served Orange County since 1981. Schedule heat pump services with our technicians today.