Heat Pump Services in McMinnville
There are two main types of heat pumps: air-source and geothermal. Air-source heat pumps pull heat from the outside air and transport it into your home to warm it during the winter months. Ground-source, or geothermal heat pumps, extract heat from the soil. While geothermal heat pumps offer greater energy efficiency, they also require more invasive installation and incur a higher upfront cost. Most homeowners choose air-source heat pumps because they are easy to install and cost-effective.
There are many signs that point to the need for heat pump replacement:
- Over 15 years old
- High energy bills
- Frequent breakdowns
- Uneven temperature
- Poor indoor humidity
- Outdated refrigerant
When you select a new heat pump for your home, consider these factors. The first factor is whether it uses ducting. If you already have ductwork, connecting a new ducted heat pump is relatively simple. However, if your home lacks ductwork, installing it afterward can be expensive. Instead, choosing a ductless mini-split heat pump is a more cost-effective option in this scenario.
Another factor to consider is the unit’s operating efficiency. All appliances feature a SEER2 rating that describes their cooling efficiency and an HSPF rating that describes their heating efficiency. The higher the rating, the more efficient the system becomes. However, units with the highest efficiency ratings also carry the highest prices. You must find a balance between an affordable upfront cost that fits your budget and long-term energy savings.
Heat pumps come in different sizes based on the amount of room you need to heat or cool. Our technicians evaluate homes and recommend units according to their heating or cooling capacity, measured in British Thermal Units (BTUs). The higher the BTU rating, the greater the unit’s capacity. To find the ideal BTU output for your home, consider factors like its size, insulation condition, number of windows and doors, and number of people living there. Let our technicians evaluate your home to help us suggest the best-sized system for your year-round comfort needs.
Some newer heat pumps feature integrated technologies that increase your comfort and overall functionality. A very useful element is the variable-speed compressor. This setup enables your unit to operate at different capacities based on the temperature change you need.
For example, if you want to decrease your interior temperature by two degrees, a variable-speed compressor operates at only 50% of its capacity to achieve this change. This operation leads to less energy usage. In contrast, single-speed compressors operate only at 100% capacity, using more power to achieve the same result.