As temperatures rise across the country — and especially here in California — it’s important to have safe, efficient cooling systems in your home. In Los Angeles, temperatures skyrocketed to above 111 degrees in 2020, and even cooler cities like San Francisco have reached 100 degrees in recent years.
We all know that high heat has adverse health effects. To keep our families safe and healthy, most of us flip on the air conditioner when temperatures start to rise. However, air conditioners increase energy demand. Just two summers ago, demand for electricity during the California heat waves caused a rolling blackout, and intense heat presents a threat this summer, too.
So what is a better alternative to air conditioning? Heat pumps!
Although their name suggests that they focus on keeping you warm, heat pumps are a smart, energy efficient way to cool your home. In fact, one heat pump can replace both your heating and your air conditioning units, significantly reducing air pollution.
What are the benefits?
Heat pumps offer a variety of benefits — including rebates and financial incentives — that make the switch worth it. Not only are they more energy-efficient (aka better for the environment), but they also require less maintenance and have lower running costs than traditional heating and cooling systems.
One of the biggest values of heat pumps is that they are a two-for-one, doubling as both heaters and air conditioners, which allows homeowners to replace both units when they upgrade. That means you can replace two appliances with one ultra-efficient unit and use it for year-round climate control. Modern electric heat pumps can be up to four times more efficient at warming your home than even the most efficient gas furnaces, and studies have found that heat pumps improve indoor air quality in your home.
Best of all? The life-span of a heating pump is more than double the average life-span of a traditional HVAC system. A single heat pump can last for more than 50 years!
How does it work?
Instead of burning fuel, heat pumps transfer heat by circulating refrigerant via an electric pump and compressor through a cycle of evaporation and condensation. It’s proven effective in other home appliances as well: this system is used in refrigerators, freezers, water heating, and space conditioning.
Space conditioning heat pumps provide both heating and cooling options: in the summer, the system extracts heat from inside your home and releases it outside. In the winter, heat is extracted from the outside and released inside.
During hot months, a heat pump works just like a traditional air conditioner. By controlling the pressure of the refrigerant, an air conditioner can extract heat from your home, even on incredibly hot summer days.
Homeowners can choose from one of four heat pump technologies (ducted, split, ductless mini-split, and through-the-wall) that works best for their home, making it customizable based on ceiling fans and other systems in the home.
I’m ready to switch! What’s next?
The bottom line is that heat pumps are a win across the board. If you’re ready to take the next step and replace your HVAC system, find a contractor so you can take advantage of all the rebates and incentives in your area!
