Homeowners in the Golden Triangle area of Texas enjoy beautiful weather for the better part of the year, and it happens to be ideal weather for heat pump systems, too. If you’re outfitting your home with a new heat pump, make sure your HVAC professional helps you select the best model for your needs and provides proper installation to ensure peak performance, comfort and energy savings.
Heat pump installation: getting started
Heat pump installation involves much more than selecting the best deal or simply swapping out your old heat pump with a new one of the same size. Your new heat pump must be sized according to your home’s heating and cooling load. In turn, your home’s ductwork may need to be modified to provide efficient and balanced air supply and return for the new system.
To maximize energy efficiency and home comfort, ask your HVAC professional to perform a G.R.E.E.N. energy evaluation prior to heat pump installation. Depending on the age and energy efficiency of your home, efficiency upgrades (sealing air leaks, boosting insulation, etc.) may reduce your heating and cooling load enough to allow you to get a smaller heat pump, which will lower your initial investment and save energy costs for the life of the system.
Heat pump installation: Advanced components
Heat pumps on the market today are up to 200 percent more efficient than heat pumps manufactured a few decades ago. When you factor in home-efficiency upgrades and correlating comfort systems, such as zoning systems and “smart” WiFi-enabled climate controls, the energy savings, greater comfort and convenience afforded savvy homeowners today is substantial. At the heart of all of these efficiency advances are the advanced components of new heat pumps:
- Improved heat exchange: The heat-exchanger coils (evaporator and condenser) and tubing have been redesigned to provide more efficient heating, cooling and dehumidification capabilities. The new manufacturing designs and materials provide more durable and longer-lasting coils than traditional heat pumps. Select heat pumps that have aluminum coils, which are more resistant to corrosion, rust and leaks than copper coils. The tubing has grooves for greater surface area. Even the installation position and coil shapes have been redrawn to provide maximum heat exchange and dehumidification. In fact, with improved heat exchange, new high-efficiency heat pumps can handle temperatures down into the teens and hot and humid conditions well over 100 degrees.
- Variable-speed air handlers: The air handlers for conventional heat pumps are single speed. They’re either off or on 100 percent with no middle ground. New variable-speed air handlers match real-time heating and cooling needs of a home with infinite adjustments in air velocity. Variable-speed air handlers operate at significantly slower speeds for longer periods of time. This moves more air through the filter for better indoor air quality, removes more moisture and provides whisper-quiet operation with maximum efficiency.
- Variable-speed compressors: Variable-speed compressors work wonderfully with redesigned coils and variable-speed air handlers. These advanced components pump precise amounts of refrigerant to optimize heat exchange and lower electricity consumption. Variable-speed compressors are quieter, more efficient and last longer than their conventional single-speed counterparts.
- Thermostatic expansion valve: The TXV, also referred to as a metering device, ensures peak performance from the evaporator coil, no matter how hot it is outside, by precisely regulating the amount of liquid refrigerant it receives from the condenser. As the liquid refrigerant enters the evaporator, it expands into gas form and absorbs heat from air circulation (in cooling mode). In conjunction with the variable-speed air handler, the TXV provides more efficient cooling (and heating) for the home.
Heat pump installation: Reduce your initial investment
Make sure you select a reputable factory-authorized contractor with the knowledge and personal interest to ensure that you properly prepare your home for the best heat pump installation to meet your needs. Your contractor will also cover the available manufacturer and utility rebates, along with incentives and tax credits to lower your initial investment.
For more information about selecting the right system and getting an expert installation, contact Thermacon Service Company. We provide outstanding customer support, repair and installation for a variety of home comfort needs, including cooling, heating, indoor air quality and energy evaluations. We serve homeowners throughout the Golden Triangle area.
