Category: Heat Pumps

Four Questions to Ask When You’re Deciding on a Dual-Fuel System

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

A dual-fuel system is a combination of a high-efficiency heat pump and a conventional furnace. During milder portions of the fall and winter, the heat pump provides maximum comfort and energy savings. When temperatures drop below freezing, the furnace takes over, efficiently keeping your home at the desired temperature.

This makes dual-fuel systems a great way to cut energy costs, especially here in the Charlotte area, where our winters can go from mild to severe in the blink of an eye. If you’re considering a dual-fuel system, be sure to ask these four important questions:

  1. How large should my system be? A qualified contractor can perform load calculations to determine the proper size system for your home. Sizing is based on several unique aspects of your home, including the square footage, insulation level and micro-climate.
  2. How do I determine system efficiency? Dual-fuel systems provide year-round comfort, which means you need to be aware of both heating and cooling efficiency. Your heat pump will carry a SEER and HSPF rating, with higher ratings indicating a more efficient use of electricity. Furnace efficiency is measured by AFUE, which indicates the percentage of burned fuel that actually makes it into your home as heat energy.
  3. Which fuels will provide maximum efficiency and savings? Fuel prices vary depending on where you live, but a gas-fired furnace is often more cost-effective than other methods. Consult with local utility companies and your HVAC technician to determine which options would be best for you.
  4. Can I add a new heat pump to my existing furnace? To replace your existing air conditioning system with a heat pump, your technician must first determine that your furnace and ductwork are compatible with the new system.

Contact Acosta Heating and Cooling for more information on upgrading your heating and cooling system. Our staff can help you determine if a dual-fuel system is right for you.

A Nine-Point Checklist to Keep Your Heat Pump in Prime Shape

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

Your heat pump is what keeps your home comfortable throughout the year in the Charlotte area. Keeping your heat pump in prime shape is a great idea if you want to make sure it lasts you a long time and remains reliable.

With that in mind, consider this nine-point checklist for routine heat pump maintenance:

  1. Inspect components such the filter, blower motor, ducts and heat coils for the accumulation of dirt and other particles. Dirty parts make your equipment work harder, which leads to wear, repairs and increased energy costs.
  2. Inspect your ducts for air leaks that lessen the efficiency of your heat pump.
  3. Measure airflow at the vents to help determine if there could be a problem somewhere within the HVAC system.
  4. Have a professional check your refrigerant levels. Remember, refrigerant is toxic if not handled properly, so don’t try this yourself.
  5. Check for any refrigerant or other fluid leaks.
  6. Have a professional thoroughly inspect the electrical system of your heat pump to make sure there are no split or damaged wires that could be potentially dangerous.
  7. Lubricate and inspect the motor as well as the belts, which often show wear and need to be replaced or repaired. If you don’t feel comfortable with these tasks, consult a trained technician.
  8. Confirm that when your air conditioning unit is on, your heat turns off and vice versa.
  9. Check your thermostat to make sure the heat pump runs at the proper time, and that the fan runs in automatic mode for best efficiency.

Contact Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical for more information on how you can keep your heat pump in prime shape, ensuring the safety and reliability of your heating and cooling equipment.

Going to a Heat-Pump System? Weigh the HSPF Ratings

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

Since the climate in Charlotte, North Carolina requires only moderate heating and cooling, a heat pump is an energy-efficient way to keep your home temperature the way you want it. However, not all heat pumps are created equal. You can figure out which heat-pump system is your best choice by weighing the HSPF ratings.

Why are HSPF ratings so important?

HSPF ratings tell you how efficient a heat pump is. A more efficient heat pump will result in less energy use and increased energy savings over the life of the system compared to a less efficient one.

What does HSPF stand for?

HSPF is short for Heating Seasonal Performance Factor.

What do HSPF ratings measure?

HSPF ratings measure the heating efficiency of a heat pump system by dividing the amount of heating required during a heating season with the amount of the total electrical energy used. Ratings are based on the following factors:

  • The efficiency of the heat pump system’s compressor
  • The efficiency of the electric-resistance elements of the heat pump system
  • The number of BTUs (British thermal units) of heat that the heat pump system moves for every watt-hour of electrical energy used

What is considered a good HSPF rating?

The higher the HSPF rating, the more efficient a heat pump is. Generally, you should look for heat pumps with a HSPF rating of between 8 and 10. Heat-pumps with a rating of at least 7.7 HSPF are awarded the Energy Star label by the U.S. EPA. However, for a heat pump to have the Energy Star label, it must also have a SEER rating of 12 or greater. SEER, short for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, measures the cooling efficiency of a heat pump.

How do I find the HSPF rating of a heat pump system?

All heat pump systems sold in the U.S. have an EnergyGuide Label. Check a product’s label to find its HSPF rating as well as its cooling efficiency performance rating.

Contact Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical for more information about heat pump systems and HSPF ratings. Ask us about our products and services and how we can help you with all of your heating and cooling needs.

Air-Source Heat Pumps: They’ll Change the Way You Look At Hot Air

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

Homeowners tend to have a love-hate relationship with hot air; we want more of it in the winter and less in the summer. A heat pump has the unique ability to use hot air to its advantage, no matter the season. It’s also a highly efficient heating and cooling system, ideal for milder climates like that of the Charlotte area.

Instead of creating conditioned air out of energy generated from fuel, heat pumps move air around. And that’s exactly why they are so efficient at heating and cooling a home.

In the summer heat pumps draw hot air out of the home and exhaust it outside. In the winter, these systems pull hot air from the outdoors and use it to heat the home. In fact, for every dollar that you spend for electricity to fuel a heat pump, you can get as much as $4 worth of heat in return. That’s a highly effective use of hot air.

However, gas furnaces, for example, can only use a percentage of the total cost of fuel they consume. A furnace rated 80 percent Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) can only use 80 percent of the total fuel consumed to produced conditioned air. The other 20 percent is lost through leaks or up the chimney, which is a waste of conditioned air and your energy dollars.

You might wonder how heat pumps pull heat out of winter air. While most people don’t feel any warmth in the air when temperatures drop, there is useful heat present in temperatures down to about 35 degrees. This makes the efficiency of heat pumps ideal for North Carolina’s mild winters.

A backup heating system is generally required to take care of heating on those colder days. A heat pump is manufactured with electric resistance coils that can take over heating on cold days, but it’s an inefficient system and not recommended for regular use. However, a backup furnace fueled by natural gas can efficiently take over heating duties when temperatures drop below 35 degrees.

Are you seeing hot air in a different light? To find out more about air-source heat pumps, contact the experts at Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical.