Do you really save money with a heat pump?

Everyone likes an opportunity to save on energy bills. So much so, homeowners often ask if they can save money by using a heat pump.

If you’re thinking about installing a heat pump in your home, you’ll want to be sure that the savings will make the investment worthwhile. It’s easier to cough up the money needed to buy and install a heat pump when you’re sure you’ll be seeing savings on your energy bills.

The good news is that you can actually save money when you install and use a heat pump in your home. In fact, you can expect to enjoy between 30 to 40 percent savings if you maintain your current energy usage habits. Heat pumps work by extracting heat from the ground or the air outside the house and transporting it indoors via the vents installed to provide warmth and comfort. Because heat pumps don’t produce heat by themselves, they require less power to run. Therefore,you will see significant savings in your energy consumption expenditure, compared to when you use conventional electric heaters.

However, it’s important to point out that when you change your usage habits, thiswill almost certainly affect your heating bills. For example, if you run the heater for longer than you normally would – or at a higher temperature – you’re bound to pay more in energy bills. Of course, you will enjoy a warmer and more comfortable home, but this will come at the risk of increasing your energy costs.

Heat pumps are an excellent source of energy efficient heat for the home. They also come with a unique ability that allows them to be used in reverse. For instance, in the hot summer months, a heat pump can extract warm air from the inside of your home, effectively providing a cooler atmosphere. If you don’t own an air conditioner, this feature will provide even more energy savings in the summer months.

For full disclosure: the part of the country in which you live will determine the efficiency and energy saving capabilities of a heat pump. Heat pumps are ideally suited to warm climates or regions where the weather is constantly mild. In places like these, a heat pump can prove very effective, both in warming your home and helping you save on energy bills, as there will be enough warm air outside that can be channelled into your home. On the other hand, if you live in an extremely cold climate, a heat pump will be to all intents and purpose useless, as there will be no outside heat to pump into the house.

To get the most out of your heat pump and enjoy all the money saving benefits they allow, be sure to buy one that’s most suitable for your home. A heat pump is not a ‘one size fits all’ device; therefore, using it as instructed and carrying out regular maintenance will help you get the most out of it.