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PRODUCTS
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Air Conditioner
Furnace
Heat Pump
Water Heaters
Indoor Air Quality
F Y I
FAQ, Tips, Etc.
While heat pump is almost identical to air conditioner use of heat pumps in winter brings forward some factors that we never consider for air conditioners.
Heat Pump Pro’s
♦ Efficiency.
A heat pump produces 3 kW of heat per every 1 kW of electricity spent. Compared to a regular electric heaters, where you get only 1 for 1, this is 300% efficiency.
♦ Year-round use.
Heat pumps can be used in Toronto almost year-round. Air conditioners are only used for a few short weeks of summer.
♦ Use of cheap electricity
With “smart” hydro meters night time and weekends electricity rate will be only 3.2 c per kilowatt. At this price and at 300% efficiency, electricity is becoming the energy of choice for heating.
♦ Take advantage of global warming. As winters in Toronto are getting milder, heat pumps are becoming more and more profitable to use.
♦ Better comfort in the house.
Heat produced by heat pumps is less intense than heat from the furnace. It makes the heating cycle longer and heat distribution more even.
♦ Safe to use. Since heat pumps use electricity, not fuel no reason to worry about carbon monoxide poisoning or fuel (gas, propane, oil) escape inside of the house.
A heat pump produces 3 kW of heat per every 1 kW of electricity spent. Compared to a regular electric heaters, where you get only 1 for 1, this is 300% efficiency.
♦ Year-round use.
Heat pumps can be used in Toronto almost year-round. Air conditioners are only used for a few short weeks of summer.
♦ Use of cheap electricity
With “smart” hydro meters night time and weekends electricity rate will be only 3.2 c per kilowatt. At this price and at 300% efficiency, electricity is becoming the energy of choice for heating.
♦ Take advantage of global warming. As winters in Toronto are getting milder, heat pumps are becoming more and more profitable to use.
♦ Better comfort in the house.
Heat produced by heat pumps is less intense than heat from the furnace. It makes the heating cycle longer and heat distribution more even.
♦ Safe to use. Since heat pumps use electricity, not fuel no reason to worry about carbon monoxide poisoning or fuel (gas, propane, oil) escape inside of the house.
Heat Pump Con’s
♦ Price.
Heat pumps are more expensive than air conditioners. In that respect ductless heat pumps are ahead of the central air units. In the ductless world the price difference is approximately $200 and all the premium comes with the hardware. Installation of a ductless a heat pump is no different from installation of a ductless air conditioner, because all the additional functionality built into the hardware and comes from the Factory. At this small premium, ductless heat pumps are already easy choice against ductless air conditioners.
Heat pumps are more expensive than air conditioners. In that respect ductless heat pumps are ahead of the central air units. In the ductless world the price difference is approximately $200 and all the premium comes with the hardware. Installation of a ductless a heat pump is no different from installation of a ductless air conditioner, because all the additional functionality built into the hardware and comes from the Factory. At this small premium, ductless heat pumps are already easy choice against ductless air conditioners.
Things are not so simple with central air units. Heat pumps carry sizable premium compared to air conditioners, and installation requires more time and more skilled labour. As a result, central air heat pumps cost approximately $1,000 more than a similar air conditioning unit.
♦ Need In Supplemental Heat.
Heat pumps need supplemental heat at low temperatures. There are two main reasons for that.
1. Cold outdoor temperature lowers the heating capacity of the heat pump. At the same time as temperature drops the house needs more heat. At some point supplementary heat has to be turned on to meet the heat demand from the house.
As it gets too cold, approximately below -15ºC, heat pump has to be turned off altogether to prevent it from damage.
2. In central air systems most of the time a heat pump is undersized from the very beginning. Since the same system is used for both heating and cooling, the heat pump is limited by the smaller of the two needs - the cooling one. As outdoor temperature goes down, the heat pump even running non-stop cannot provide enough heat.
Today’s ductless heat pumps have varying capacity compressors and intelligent computers inside. It makes them much more adaptable to the needs of the house. They are much less affected by outside freezing temperatures. Today's Mitsubishi heat pumps can run up to -30°C.
Supplemental heat is not as a big a deal as it sounds. A couple of electric strips can be easily accommodated by the ductwork at a cost of a few hundred dollars. On the other hand, it may spare you buying a new furnace at $3,000.
Alternatively, you may already have an old low efficiency furnace. If it is still in a good shape, you can leave it for supplemental heat.
Those are some of the factors that may help you to choose between an air conditioner and a heat pump.
♦ Need In Supplemental Heat.
Heat pumps need supplemental heat at low temperatures. There are two main reasons for that.
1. Cold outdoor temperature lowers the heating capacity of the heat pump. At the same time as temperature drops the house needs more heat. At some point supplementary heat has to be turned on to meet the heat demand from the house.
As it gets too cold, approximately below -15ºC, heat pump has to be turned off altogether to prevent it from damage.
2. In central air systems most of the time a heat pump is undersized from the very beginning. Since the same system is used for both heating and cooling, the heat pump is limited by the smaller of the two needs - the cooling one. As outdoor temperature goes down, the heat pump even running non-stop cannot provide enough heat.
Today’s ductless heat pumps have varying capacity compressors and intelligent computers inside. It makes them much more adaptable to the needs of the house. They are much less affected by outside freezing temperatures. Today's Mitsubishi heat pumps can run up to -30°C.
Supplemental heat is not as a big a deal as it sounds. A couple of electric strips can be easily accommodated by the ductwork at a cost of a few hundred dollars. On the other hand, it may spare you buying a new furnace at $3,000.
Alternatively, you may already have an old low efficiency furnace. If it is still in a good shape, you can leave it for supplemental heat.
Those are some of the factors that may help you to choose between an air conditioner and a heat pump.
Heat Pump Pros and Cons
