A comprehensive guide explaining how air source heat pumps work, their benefits, types available, and steps to choose the right system for a home.
This document serves as a buying guide for air source heat pumps (ASHPs), designed to help consumers understand how these systems work, identify their major benefits, and select the appropriate type for their specific needs. It addresses common myths regarding performance in cold climates and operating costs compared to traditional heating fuels like oil, propane, or gas.
The guide is structured into two main sections: Part 1 covers the basics of air source heat pumps, including a comparison with ground-source systems, an explanation of variable capacity technology, and an analysis of efficiency and cost savings. Part 2 provides practical advice on how to proceed with purchasing, offering a step-by-step process for planning, finding quality installers, shopping around, insisting on load calculations, and asking critical questions during the selection process.
Yes, modern cold-climate models produce plenty of heat down to outdoor temperatures of -15 degrees Fahrenheit.
Air source heat pumps use an outdoor unit to extract heat from the air, while ground source heat pumps use underground pipes to extract heat from the earth.