Air Conditioning Season is Here Pittsburgh

 

What is a Heat Pump and How Can It Save Me Money?

 

Heat pumps are one of those products that people have heard of but aren't really sure what they are. A Heat pump works just like an air conditioner in summer cooling mode, however, in winter heating mode, the refrigerant flow is reversed and heat is extracted from the outside air to heat your home efficiently down to a temperature of 32 degrees.

 

Heat pumps can replace a furnace and Air Conditioning condenser in warmer climates, but the climate in Pittsburgh still requires a gas or electric furnace backup heating system when temperatures drop below 32 degrees.

 

Heat pumps are usually used to pull heat out of the air (air-source) or ground (geothermal) to heat a home or office building, or they can be switched into reverse to cool a building. Heat pumps can also work extremely efficiently, because they simply transfer heat rather than burn fuel, saving you money.

 

The most common type of heat pump is the air-source heat pump, which transfers heat between your house and the outside air. If you heat with electricity, a heat pump can trim the amount of electricity you use for heating your home or business by as much as 30%-40%. If you have a gas backup furnace for temperatures below 32 degrees, a heat pump will save you money on your gas bill as well.

 

High-efficiency heat pumps also dehumidify better than standard central air conditioners, resulting in less energy usage and more cooling comfort in summer months. However, the efficiency of most air-source heat pumps as a heat source drops dramatically at low temperatures, generally making them unsuitable for cold climates without a gas or electric furnace backup.

 

South Hills Electric Heating and Cooling now offers a free Heat pump upgrade with the purchase of a complete High-Efficiency Furnace and Air Conditioning package. Our technicians have decades of HVAC experience with installations of heating and cooling systems right here in the Pittsburgh area. We custom install all our Heating and Air conditioning systems.