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When you need to replace your air conditioning system, many St. Louis homeowners want to know which is better, a heat pump or a traditional AC system. Replacing your air conditioning system requires some thought because you don’t replace it often. You want to make sure you choose the best system for your home comfort, now and years down the road. In this post, you’ll learn more about how heat pump systems and traditional air conditioning systems compare, including their advantages and disadvantages.
How Heat Pumps and Air Conditioning Systems Work
Before you choose a new system, you need to know how heat pump and air conditioning systems work. Many people believe air conditioners cool the home because they generate cold air, similar to how gas furnaces warm homes using combustion to generate heat. However, that’s not how the air conditioning process works. Instead, it works follows these steps.
1.Circulation
First, circulation occurs. The warm air from the home moves through the air handler, which is the interior part of the cooling system. Then, the warm air moves over the evaporator coil.
2. Cooling
The next step involves the refrigerant inside the coils, a working fluid that’s part of the refrigerant cycle. During this process, the refrigerant draws unwanted heat from the indoor air; moves it to the outdoor condensing unit, where the compressor pressurizes it; and pumps it to the home’s living areas. After that process is completed, the refrigerant continues its journey to the condenser coil, which removes the heat to the outside.
The refrigerant doesn’t actually produce cold air. As you can see, the air conditioner isn’t generating heat but merely moving it. And heat pumps do the same thing.
Often, homeowners immediately dismiss the idea of heat pump installation versus air conditioning installation because they mistakenly believe heat pumps only produce heat. However, heat pumps cool the air, too, using a process similar to air conditioning.
Heat pumps have reversing valves. In the summer, when you want to cool your home, the reversing valve changes the refrigerant flow and transfers heat outside of your house through condenser coils.
Types of Heat Pumps
If you decide to install a heat pump, it’s critical that you understand the differences between air source and geothermal heat pumps. Most homeowners in St. Louis use air source heat pumps, which transfer heat from inside to outside.
Geothermal systems move heat from the home via the ground or into a water source, like a pond. Geothermal systems require a ground loop that’s constructed from fluid-filled, connected piping. This piping carries the heat away from the home and into the ground source.
Because geothermal systems require excavation, they work better as part of new construction projects. They also require a significant amount of yard space. Those two factors make geothermal heat pumps cost prohibitive for many homeowners. Air source heat pumps cost significantly less to install.
Efficiency
If you want a home heating option that does it all, skip air conditioner installation, and choose a heat pump. You have one central system that controls heating and cooling, which is different from traditional HVAC equipment, which includes a furnace and an air conditioner.
Both heat pumps and air conditioners measure efficiency using the seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER). The SEER rating is important because it relates directly to the system’s energy efficiency. SEER ratings range from 13 to 21; the higher the rating, the more efficient the unit. High-efficiency cooling systems use less energy, which means you pay less to cool your home.
A problem that many homeowners run into when installing a traditional air conditioning system is its performance during extreme summer heat. An ENERY-STAR-rated air conditioner with a high SEER still struggles to cool the home well when outdoor temperatures soar into the triple digits. The reason this happens relates to the 20-degree rule.
Air conditioning systems can’t adequately cool a home when there’s more than a 20-degree difference between the outdoor air and the indoor air. During heat waves, when temperatures hit the 100-degree mark, an air conditioner won’t efficiently cool the home below 80 degrees. You can set the temperature to 73 degrees, but the AC will likely run nonstop trying to achieve that temperature but never actually hitting it. All you get for your AC’s efforts is a skyrocketing energy bill.
Heat pumps don’t experience the same obstacles when outdoor temperatures go extreme. They deliver the same efficient cooling, whether it’s 75 degrees or 105 degrees outside.
Life Expectancy
How long a system lasts matters to many homeowners, as it should. Purchasing a new cooling system isn’t inexpensive, but i’s a serious financial investment and requires consideration. While many factors affect system longevity, such as maintenance and usage habits, air conditioners tend to last longer, on average, than air source heat pumps. The reasons come down to function. Air conditioners only have one job and can get a break six months out of the year. Heat pumps must heat and cool the home, so they run all year. A well-maintained air conditioner can last 10–15 years whereas an air source heat pump lasts 10–12.
However, geothermal heat pumps blow both air conditioners and air source heat pumps out of the water. These systems last upward of 50 years, but again, the staggering upfront cost and land requirements make them unattainable for many homeowners.
Price
Price makes a difference for many when installing a new cooling system. The upfront cost of an air conditioner is substantially lower than that of a heat pump. The purchase price of an air conditioner falls between $2,820 and $6,900. A new heat pump costs $4,200–$8,500. However, you have to consider the dual functionality of a heat pump and its overall efficiency. Geothermal systems can cost as much as $30,000, sometimes more.
When choosing a new cooling system, you want to think about all the contributing costs, including maintenance, energy usage, and repairs. HVAC experts can help you understand more about what to expect from a new system to help you make a confident purchase and feel good about your investment.
Reliable and Knowledgeable Heat Pump and AC Installation
If you need a new cooling system, the team at Agers Heating & Air Conditioning has the knowledge and skills to help you decide what system works best for your home’s comfort and budget. Since 2004, we’ve helped over 4,000 customers in the St. Louis area with their heating and cooling needs.
Our exceptional, highly trained, NATE-certified HVAC technicians go above and beyond to provide you with products and services that exceed expectations. From gas furnace installation and heat pump equipment servicing to indoor air quality solutions, you can trust our professional recommendations, repair, installation, and maintenance services. We proudly install Lennox products as a certified Lennox dealer. However, we install and repair all makes and models of heating and cooling equipment.
Are you ready to learn more about the differences between heat pumps and air conditioners? Let us help you decide the best choice for your home. Call us today, or fill out our online form.
