What is a heat pump?
A heat pump is a mechanical system that is able to transfer heat from one space to another. Your refrigerator is a heat pump. Your air conditioner is a heat pump. The most common types of heat pumps are air source (refrigerator, air conditioner), ground source (geothermal), and also water source (pond or lake geothermal systems).
When we talk about a cold climate heat pump, this device is not significantly different than your air conditioner, except that it can run in reverse. In the hot summer months, a heat pump or air conditioner will absorb heat from inside your home and discharges it outside. This effectively cools your home.
In the cold winter months, even though the temperature outside is low, there is still heat content in the air that can be harnessed. A cold climate heat pump is able to capture this heat content, however small, and provide heat to your home. As the temperature drops, so does the efficiency of the heat pump. However, modern cold climate heat pumps can still heat your home when the outside temperature drops to as low as -25C.
Hybrid heat pump systems
A hybrid heating system that utilizes a heat pump will work together with your existing furnace. The cold climate heat pump will heat your home very efficiently. Your existing furnace can be used on extra cold days, and will be a reliable backup in case you ever lose electrical power. By adding a heat pump to your existing furnace, we can create a hybrid system that optimizes energy efficiency AND provides you with backup heating.
If you have baseboard heaters, a heat pump can still be used in tandem with your existing heat source, and will significantly reduce your heating bill due to a heat pump’s high efficiency.
Payback Periods According to Efficiency Canada :
“The households that see the largest financial benefits are those using energy sources that are
already comparatively expensive, especially electric resistance or oil. These households could
earn back the added cost of buying a heat pump within 1–2 years, and see net savings after
that. Households using propane as a backup could earn back the added cost of the heat pump
within 2–6 years.”
