Heat Pumps
Supplemental Heat
A heat pump is a device that extracts heat from the air in one place and transfers it to the air of another place. In the context of heating and air conditioning, a heat pump is an electric powered all-in-one heating and cooling device that operates using the same basic technology as an air conditioner.
Imagine your air conditioner, but reversible.
That's essentially how a heat pump works. In the summer, it's better than your current AC, quietly keeping your home cool and comfortable. As the weather cools down, the coil in the heat pump reverses its process. It extracts warmth from the outdoor air. Even when it's cold outside, there's still heat energy in the air. The outdoor unit's coils contain a cold refrigerant, colder than the outside air, which allows it to absorb this heat. You'll likely find that a modern, multi-speed heat pump is much quieter than your old air conditioner. In the deepest parts of winter, it would work a bit harder and you might notice the sound a little more, but no matter the season, it's designed to be a more efficient solution for your home comfort.
While common in the southern United States, heat pumps are not generally been considered viable for 100% home heating in Wisconsin. When outside air temperatures fall below freezing, there is insufficient heat to transfer to the indoor air of a home.
However, heat pumps are becoming more popular in southern Wisconsin for supplemental heat.
As the cost of these fuels has soared, many homeowners have found that adding a heat pump can be a cost effective solution to reduce fuel use when temperatures are cold, but above freezing.
In addition, these homeowners realize cost savings on their summertime cooling bills because heat pumps operate more efficiently in their cooling mode than conventional air conditioners.
As with all technologies, there are generally some trade-offs. Preventative maintenance costs are higher than for conventional furnaces and air conditioners. The outside units are large and must be mounted with space underneath.