Can a Heat Pump Keep My Home Warm All Winter?

So, you’ve heard that heat pumps are efficient and very cost-effective. Maybe you’re considering heat pump installation for your home, but maybe you’re also not quite convinced. Can a heat pump really heat your home properly when our Allentown nights can hit below freezing on a regular basis? Find the answer to one of our most common heat pump questions by following along!

Interested in learning about the advantages of a heat pump system for your home or business? Contact Jack Lehr online today to get in touch with a heating expert near you!

A Quick & Simplistic Rundown of How a Heat Pump Works

We’ve dedicated posts to this topic in the past, but in case you’re new it will help you understand how well a heat pump can handle your heating needs if you know how they work. At its simplest, a heat pump does essentially what it says in the name. It pumps heat.

The system is designed to pull heat from its source (air-source for standard heat pumps, ground-source for geothermal systems), meaning during the summer a heat pump will draw heat out of your home, and during the winter it draws heat in from the outdoors. This is much of the reason why heat pumps are so efficient and cost-effective to operate—because they harness energy that’s already present, which lessens the amount the system needs to expend to do its job.

But There’s No Heat Outside! It’s Winter!

Well, you’re right about the second part. It is most certainly winter. However the fact is that there is actually always some amount of thermal energy present in the air. That means that even when it’s 20 degrees outdoors, there’s still plenty of heat for a pump to draw on.

Additionally even if a heat pump finds itself incapable of keeping up on its own, which is an honest possibility, then its backup systems will kick in. All modern heat pump systems are fitted with electrical systems that are essentially identical to an electric furnace (or in some cases a gas furnace). If it’s cold enough outside to impact the performance of the heat pump, the electric or gas components kick in to help the pump with some of the heavy lifting.

So in short, yes a heat pump can keep your home warm in the winter.

But This Will Impact the System’s Efficiency

It’s worth noting that while the system can keep up no matter what, the use of a heat pump auxiliary heating source will lower efficiency and will increase your energy costs a bit. However even in this case the heat pump is still notably more efficient than standalone furnace systems. The heat pump will continue to draw on ambient outdoor heat, which will lessen its fuel/energy needs, thus saving you money even on the worst Pennsylvania or New Jersey winters.

To guarantee your heat pump is operating at peak efficiency, you must ensure:

• Your heat pump was designed and installed properly in your home.
• Your home has adequate insulation to keep the heat in.
• You’ve had your home’s air ducts reviewed to make sure there are no leaks.

When you work with the team at Jack Lehr, you never have to worry. Your comfort is of the utmost importance. Our team will thoroughly assess your home before recommending that installation of a heat pump to ensure that you can expect the home comfort you desire.

Heat Pump Installation & Service in PA & NJ

Starting to think a heat pump system just sounds better and better? We think so, too! But if you’re still uncertain, the team at Jack Lehr is always happy to help you decide. By assessing your home heating and energy needs we can make the recommendations that will suit you best, be it a heat pump, geothermal unit, or even a furnace. Contact us online today to get your quote!