When you need to cool your Lumberton TX home or business, it can be difficult to decide if you should install a heat pump or air conditioner. Thermacon Service Company, Inc. is a local heating and cooling company that can help you decide. We know that the heat and humidity of Texas can get uncomfortable and we want to help you make the best possible choice for cooling equipment.
How a Heat Pump Works as an Air Conditioner
You may not be aware that heat pumps do more than just provide heat. During the warmest months of the year, heat pumps reverse the normal heating process and provide cool air to your home. Heat and humidity is pulled from the air and cooled with refrigerant from the heat pump. In warm climates like Lumberton TX, a heat pump is less expensive to operate than a traditional air conditioner. When you own a heat pump, it is not necessary to have a separate furnace and air conditioning system. The heat pump provides both heat and cool air to your home or business. However, you probably wouldn’t get too much use out of the heating component.
Benefits of a Traditional Air Conditioner
Since we need air conditioning much more than heating in this part of the country, you may want to select a traditional cooling unit over a heat pump. It is important to pay attention to energy efficiency when you make this decision. Standard air conditioning units are slightly more energy efficient than heat pumps when used for a prolonged amount of time.
Choosing the Right Heat Pump or Air Conditioner
When choosing a heat pump, you want to select a unit that has a Heat Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF) above 7.7. This is the minimum acceptable energy efficiency rating enforced by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The HSPF refers to the heating and cooling output of the unit measured against its total energy consumption.
If you opt to have an air conditioner installed, it should have a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) above 13. Our company has several air conditioners available that have SEER ratings in the 20s. The SEER of an air conditioner is calculated using the same method as the HSPF.
As a Carrier factory authorized dealer, Thermacon Service Company, Inc. stocks some of the most energy efficient heating and cooling equipment in the industry. An installation technician can help you evaluate whether a heat pump or an air conditioner would work best for your situation. Keep in mind that only the top five percent of HVAC companies across the nation are chosen to represent Carrier as a factory authorized dealer.
