Many homeowners may consider installing a heat pump to heat and cool their homes effectively. Still, this potential installation often leads to many other questions, like: How much electricity does a heat pump use? Knowing the answers to such questions can make or break your decision to invest in this significant home improvement project.
If heat pumps use a lot of electricity, this could be a determining factor for homeowners as they decide which heating and cooling system is best for their needs.
Continue reading to learn about the typical electricity costs of heat pumps, consider numerous factors that affect the electricity bill, and receive plenty of other necessary information when determining whether to install a heat pump to heat and cool your home.
When it’s time to decide where to get heat pump installation, let Hodgkins’ trusted heating maintenance service help you choose the appropriate size heat pump, provide efficient installation, and perform any necessary repairs on your current system. In the meantime, keep reading to dive into how heat pumps work, their energy consumption, and more.
How Do Heat Pumps Work?
Before installing a heat pump, some homeowners like to know exactly how it works to heat and cool homes. Simply put, a heat pump takes heat from one area and redistributes that heat or cool air indoors or outdoors. The heat pump takes this air directly from outdoor air or underground.
Although it’s called a heat pump, it can heat and cool your home using electricity instead of gas like central heating and cooling. This versatility alone makes heat pumps popular among homeowners looking for convenience and comfort.
During the hotter months, the heat pump pulls in the warmer air from outside. It then cools that air by running it through the compressor and refrigerant component. The result is cool air flowing into the home.
During the colder months, you can typically switch a reverse valve. When you reverse the system, your heat pump completes the opposite action. When heating a home, it extracts cool air from outside. The pump pushes this air through a pressurized compressor and evaporator that heat the air from outside to inside, resulting in a cozy home.
With this in mind, heat pumps use much less electricity to cool homes. Heating your home with a heat pump costs more than cooling because it requires more energy. To be exact, cooling mode can cost about $6.17 per day, whereas heating mode costs around $10.80 per day.
Factors Affecting the Electrical Bill
In addition to the difference in heating and cooling, plenty of factors contribute to how much electricity heat pumps consume, including the size of your heat pump, the type of pump you own, your comfort needs, and the ambient outdoor temperatures at a particular time of year.
Heat Pump Size
In general, the larger your heating pump, the higher the electricity costs you can expect to incur. If you have a large unit, you will use more electricity because you need to supply more energy to cool or heat the home.
The sizes increase by one ton and range from one to five tons. A one-ton heat pump is the perfect size for small homes and apartments. Most residential spaces work well with two- or three-ton units, whereas four- and five-ton units are suitable for very large homes and commercial properties. For the right size, speak with JC Heating & Cooling.
Source Differentiation
One significant factor is where your heat pump takes air from. Typically, there are two kinds of heat pumps: air-source and ground-source models.
Air-Source Heat Pumps
The first heat pump is an air-source model. This heat pump directly takes outdoor air, heats or cools it, and then pushes it throughout the home.
Since outside temperatures fluctuate so much, they’re not likely to provide the exact same electrical consumption level each month. During a hotter week, you’ll spend more cooling off your home than you would with a regular AC unit.
Ground-Source Heat Pumps
The second type is the ground-source heat pump, which is more energy efficient because the ground’s temperature remains relatively constant, unlike atmospheric temperatures. It takes less energy to heat or cool the air if it remains at a level temperature.
With ground-source heat pumps, geothermal heat comes from underground water tables. This water circulates through pipes, which either absorb heat in the winter or disperse it in the summer.
Personal Temperature Preferences
While it may seem insignificant, your preferences and the external temperature play a large role in determining your monthly electrical costs.
For example, if it’s a very hot day and you need a very cool environment, you’ll use more electricity. Keeping the home comfortable at a reasonable temperature is a good way to save on electricity and remain energy efficient.
Average Cost To Run Per Year
The cost to run a heat pump per year for heating the home is around $434. To cool the home, it costs around $262 per year. Running central AC around four months out of the year can cost up to $680.
During the coldest months, it can cost upwards of $1800 to heat the home with gas and central heating. With this in mind, it’s clear heat pumps can translate into a significant decrease in energy consumption no matter the season.
Trust Local Heating and Cooling Technicians
One way to ensure your heat pump is working at maximum efficiency is to schedule regular maintenance and prompt repairs when necessary.
While heat pumps are quite hardy, things like refrigerant leaks and reverse valve issues can occur. To avoid higher bills, get expert-level heating repair from the knowledgeable team at JC Heating & Cooling.
Instead of wondering how much electricity a heat pump uses, get to the bottom of all your heating and cooling questions today. Call (708) 350-6765 to speak with an expert technician at JC Heating & Cooling in Hodgkins, IL, and schedule your heat pump repair or installation today!
