Should I Install a Heat Pump?

By Dave Trosdahl on August 4th, 2009

Because of their energy savings, heat pumps are quickly gaining in popularity. Most homeowners are unaware of how a heat pump works and how it could add value to their home’s heating and cooling system by saving energy and money. This article, written in easy to understand terms, explains how a heat pump can find heat in the winter even in a northern climate like Minnesota.

Although our skin tells us differently, when it’s cold outside there is still heat which can be brought indoors. And, when it’s hot outside there is still cool air which can be used to cool your home. Here’s how heat pumps work in our four very distinct seasons in Minneapolis, St Paul, MN:

September through December in Minnesota, temperatures start to fall. A heat pump will start to find warm air outside and bring it indoors. A heat pump works like a window air conditioner which has been put in your window backwards! Your furnace will barely run except when it gets really cold, at night for example.

Winter is usually well under way starting sometime in December and in Minnesota, it doesn’t let up much until March. Even so, there are many days where the temperature climbs above +20 degrees. On warm winter days, your furnace will most likely not even run, your heat pump will takeover. Think of the money you will save!!!