What Are the Links Between the AC and Heat Pump?

When the time comes to replace your cooling system, you'll have the option of choosing between an air conditioner and a heat pump. Knowing more about these two systems will help you make a more informed decision. Let's explore the similarities and differences between an AC and heat pump.

How Are They Similar?

Both an AC and heat pump cool your home by removing heat from it and pumping it to a location outside your house. They use compressed refrigerant to absorb indoor heat and move it outside. It's difficult for the average homeowner to tell the difference between the outdoor unit of a heat pump and an AC system.

When running in cooling mode, there's no significant difference between an AC and heat pump with regard to the method of operation, energy costs, and efficiency.

What Are the Differences?

The primary difference between these systems is an air conditioner can't provide heating, whereas a heat pump can cool and heat your home. Heat pumps have a reversing valve in their outdoor unit that reverses their process of operation.

In the colder months, geothermal heat pumps extract heat from a water source or below the ground, whereas air-source heat pumps absorb heat from the air outside. The heat is transferred inside your home and released into your home's air.

A furnace is usually paired with an air conditioner to provide heating. Together, they make a heating and cooling system. The efficiency of air-source heat pumps is affected when outdoor temperatures fall below freezing. The units use more energy to maintain warm indoor temperatures. As a result, you may need a furnace to act as a backup heating system because it's more efficient than an air-source heat pump during extreme temperatures.

When choosing between an AC and heat pump, what's appropriate for you may not be suitable for someone else due to several important factors. For that reason, it's essential to have an HVAC expert evaluate the heating and cooling needs of your house to determine your ideal choice. If you're in the Broken Arrow area, contact the experienced pros at Air Assurance to handle all your heating and cooling needs.

What Is the Most Reliable AC Rating?

When you need to get a new air-conditioning system, it’s important to find the right one based on the AC rating. Which AC-rating systems should you use to choose a new central air conditioner? Keep the following in mind to make sure you end up with a dependable AC unit for your home.

Online Ratings

You can find many online sites that offer online ratings of AC systems, but you should be careful about which ones you use. Look for sites that are known for providing consumers with reliable AC ratings of different systems, such as Consumer Reports. These sites can help you find the highest-rated AC systems to choose from among different brands. You can use these sites to compare AC systems in order to find one that best fits your home’s cooling needs.

Energy-Efficiency Ratings

Online ratings aren’t the only rating systems to pay attention to when you need to choose a new AC unit. You should also check the SEER ratings to make sure you get an AC system that provides better energy efficiency. The seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) rating lets you know how efficient an AC system is. When you’re going over your options, you’ll notice that AC systems have a SEER rating of 13 or higher. Keep in mind that 13 is the minimum SEER rating required for AC systems. Choosing a system with a higher SEER rating provides you with even better energy efficiency.

Professional Ratings

HVAC professionals are familiar with the top-rated AC systems. Having HVAC experts assist you with choosing a new AC system can help ensure that you get the best AC unit for your home.

If you need a new air conditioner for your Broken Arrow home, please contact Air Assurance. We can help you choose a system with the right AC rating so you’ll have reliable cooling throughout the summer months.