By: Brian Schutt
If you’re a homeowner and you’re anything like me, you have no clue what a heat pump is. You might think something called a heat pump solely pumps heat. If you think that, you’d be wrong. Homesense Heating & Cooling Operations Manager, Jesse Cross, explains:
“A Heat Pump looks exactly like an outdoor A/C condenser. The difference is that both the heating and cooling take place inside the Heat Pump. This is different than a split system where the cooling takes place in the outside condenser and the heating takes place in the indoor furnace. The most efficient system is a heat pump with an indoor gas furnace, but this is also the most expensive. In Indiana, most homes have a split system (A/C and indoor Gas Furnace).
The issue with some homes is that the electrical power is insufficient. A Heat Pump is all-electric and does not require gas. Many smaller homes’ electrical panels are only 100AMP and need to be upgraded to 200AMP to safely accommodate a Heat Pump.”
A Heat Pump looks exactly like an outdoor A/C condenser. The difference is that both the heating and cooling take place inside the Heat Pump. This is different than a split system where the cooling takes place in the outside condenser and the heating takes place in the indoor furnace. The most efficient system is a heat pump with an indoor gas furnace, but this is also the most expensive. In Indiana, most homes have a split system (A/C and indoor Gas Furnace).
The issue with some homes is that the electrical power is insufficient. A Heat Pump is all electric and does not require gas. Many smaller homes electrical panels are only 100AMP and need to be upgraded to 200AMP to safely accommodate a Heat Pump.”
So, as you undertake what promises to be a balmy Indiana summer, you may have to make the decision – air conditioning condenser or heat pump? So hopefully now you won’t be thinking, “why on earth would these people be asking me if I want a heat pump in July?”
