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Heat pumps are the wave of the future. In the right conditions, they can produce up to three times as much heating and cooling energy as they consume in electricity. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), by 2030, widespread heat pump deployment could reduce global CO2 emissions by half a gigatonne. Heat pumps offer reliable temperature control, ongoing humidity regulation, and quiet operation. With internal reversing valves that automatically switch their functioning from heating to cooling, they are a convenient, all-in-one solution for year-round climate control. But which heat pump type is best your home? Read on to find out.

Discover the Different Heat Pump Types 

Heat pumps regulate indoor temperatures by transferring heat. In the summer, they move indoor heat outside, and in winter, they move outside heat indoors. There are three primary heat pump types, and they differ in both how they source heat and how they distribute it.

Ducted Air-Source Heat Pumps

Ducted air-source heat pumps have indoor air handlers and outdoor condensers. As with air conditioners, heat pump condensers are mounted in back or side yards on concrete or composite pads. Heat pump condensers are typically smaller than central AC condensers and require at least 2 feet of clearance on all sides to allow for proper airflow. It is important to have sufficient outdoor space to set a ducted air-source heat pump up.

In winter, air-source heat pumps extract heat from the outdoor air. Even low-cost, entry-level air-source heat pumps can continue sourcing heat from the outdoor air when temperatures fall as low as -10 degrees Celsius. However, if temperatures dip much lower, the efficiency of entry-level heat pumps declines, and the system won’t be able to keep up. In frosty conditions, these systems could ice over and stop producing heat altogether. The key to avoiding this problem is finding a heat pump that’s right for your local climate.

With a ducted heat pump, you’ll need functional HVAC air ducts for air distribution. In most homes new and old, ductwork can be added to attics and crawlspaces.

Ductless Air-Source Heat Pumps

With a ductless mini-split heat pump, you can have a wall head in each of the primary rooms which divides your home into multiple comfort zones. A single outdoor unit can support up to five wall heads which allows for five separate zones. Each zone gets its own wall head with its own built in temperature sensor so everyone in your household can adjust temperatures in their immediate areas to their liking.

Ductless heat pumps:

• Eliminate the need to heat or cool empty rooms
• Provide customized climate-control

Best of all, even if you already have a central HVAC system, you can install a ductless mini-split to heat and cool spaces that aren’t adequately serviced, including:

• Garden rooms
• Finished basements
• Workshops
• Garages
• Attic bedrooms

Much like ducted air-source heat pumps, these appliances provide reliable, year-round climate control.

Dual-Fuel Heat Pumps

Dual-fuel heat pumps are also an excellent choice for cold-weather conditions. These systems pair air-source heat pumps with natural gas furnaces. When temperatures fall below freezing, dual-fuel heat pumps switch to furnace operation. In fact, throughout winter, they constantly toggle between the two equipment types as needed for optimum efficiency.

When the outside weather is at its coldest, some homeowners prefer the higher heating of natural gas furnaces to the steady and more radiant heat of heat pumps. Gas furnaces produce heat as high as 60 degrees Celsius while heat pumps produce heat at about 32.2 degrees Celsius. In our local Vancouver Island climate, dual-fuel systems are rarely used due to the mild temperatures in winter.

Consider Climate: Local Weather and Heat Pump Limitations

Winter temperatures in Victoria and Sidney, BC remain warm enough to accommodate both mid-level and entry-level air-source heat pumps. However, if an especially low cold front rolls in, you might want the extra assurance provided by a high-performance, cold climate heat pump. Cold climate heat pumps can continue performing at efficiency levels of 100% or higher even when temperatures dip well-below freezing.

What to Know About Heat Pump Sizing

Heat pump sizing is just as important as furnace and AC sizing. When you have a properly sized system it will ensure the system is operating at optimal efficiency and maintain longevity of your heat pump system.

If you purchase a heat pump that’s too large for its intended service area, it will cycle on and off too quickly which creates an inefficient use of electricity. When a system is over sized it does not have enough time to effectively remove moisture from the air in cooling mode. Undersized heat pumps run longer-than-normal heating and cooling cycles and are not able to maintain a consistent indoor temperature when there are extreme outdoor temperatures.

With properly sized equipment, your heat pump will run optimally keeping you comfortable for years to come!

Why the Heat Load Calculation is so Important

Heat Load Calculation to size heat pumps for homes is generally used. This calculation accounts for far more than building sizes. It also accounts for:

• Building layouts
• Insulation amounts
• Window/skylight sizes and locations
• Household Size
• Building materials
• Shade
• Etc.

Installation Costs: Which Heat Pump Types Is Most Expensive?

The costs of installing a heat pump vary from brand to brand and based upon the layouts and nuances of individual homes. Ducted air-source heat pumps can cost between $12,000 and $30,000 depending upon the complexity of installation and whether ducting needs to be installed. The average cost of a ductless heat pump is between $6,000 and $18,000 depending on size of home and how many comfort zones are desired. With a ductless heat pump, people living in homes without ducting can sidestep several thousand dollars in ductwork retrofitting expenses.

Heat Pump Maintenance

If used for year-round climate control, all heat pumps require professional annual maintenance twice for both indoor air handling units and outdoor condensers. They also require regular air filter changes. However, ductless mini-split heat pumps have air filters in each air handling unit. As such, if you have eight zones throughout your home, you’ll have eight filters to clean and replace.

We Can Help You Find the Right Heat Pump for Your Home!

The best way to find the right heat pump for your home is to consult with an expert like Coastal Heat Pumps. We stock an expansive selection of high-quality and feature-rich heat pumps. We also install them to manufacturer specifications and provide ongoing maintenance and repairs. Contact Coastal Heat Pumps today to book an in-home estimate!