Refrigeration systems should be leak-checked at installation and during each service call. See minimizing energy losses in ducts and insulating ducts.
Technicians can increase the airflow by cleaning the evaporator coil or increasing the fan speed, but often some modification of the ductwork is needed. Efficiency and performance deteriorate if airflow is much less than 350 cfm per ton. There should be about 400 to 500 cubic feet per minute (cfm) airflow for each ton of the heat pump's air-conditioning capacity. Heat pumps can have problems with low airflow, leaky ducts, and incorrect refrigerant charge. You can strategically place a bush or a fence upwind of the coils to block the unit from high winds. Outdoor units should be protected from high winds, which can cause defrosting problems. The location of the outdoor unit may affect its efficiency.You can also reduce this noise by mounting the unit on a noise-absorbing base.
Where to find the filter area of aquaterm furnace windows#
Locate the outdoor unit away from windows and adjacent buildings, and select a heat pump with a lower outdoor sound rating (decibels). This will minimize the defrost cycles, thereby reducing supplementary and heat pump energy use. Select a heat pump with a demand-defrost control.These are some other factors to consider when choosing and installing air-source heat pumps: In colder climates, focus on getting the highest HSPF feasible. In warmer climates, SEER is more important than HSPF.
To choose an air-source electric heat pump, look for the ENERGY STAR® label. A new central heat pump replacing a vintage unit will use much less energy, substantially reducing air-conditioning and heating costs. However, the energy savings can return the higher initial investment several times during the heat pump's life. In general, the higher the HSPF and SEER, the higher the cost of the unit. Heating efficiency for air-source electric heat pumps is indicated by the heating season performance factor (HSPF), which is a measure over an average heating season of the total heat provided to the conditioned space, expressed in Btu, divided by the total electrical energy consumed by the heat pump system, expressed in watt-hours.Ĭooling efficiency is indicated by the seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER), which is a measure over an average cooling season of the total heat removed from the conditioned space, expressed in Btu, divided by the total electrical energy consumed by the heat pump, expressed in watt-hours. Copper tubing, grooved inside to increase surface area.Įvery residential heat pump sold in this country has an EnergyGuide label, which displays the heat pump's heating and cooling efficiency performance rating, comparing it to other available makes and models.Improved electric motor and two-speed compressor designs.