If you want a way to keep your San Diego home comfortable year ’round and save on your utility bills, a heat pump might be the way to go.
A heat pump, as the name implies, pumps heat into or out of your home. Heat pumps perform the air conditioning function the same way an A/C does during warm weather. The big difference is that they can reverse the process in cold weather, releasing heat indoors while absorbing heat from the outside air. In southern California’s moderate climate, they provide enough heat to keep you comfortable in the winter.
Because a heat pump uses electricity to power the unit, it may not be cost-effective to use if you have natural gas available to your home. If you live in the outlying areas, however, a heat pump could save you a significant amount of money in comparison to using propane or an electric furnace as a primary heat source.
Where a furnace has to burn at least as much fuel energy as it releases in heat energy, the average heat pump releases 2-3 times as much heat energy as it consumes to pump the heat. That type of efficiency is literally impossible with a furnace or other heat-producing systems.
Heat pumps can draw their heat from either the outdoor air or the soil. Air-source systems don’t work as well in very cold areas, where the weather often stays below freezing, but they are ideally suited for San Diego weather. Since the soil several feet below the surface remains at a rather consistent temperature all year, ground-source systems can work better in colder climates than air-source systems. In California, both types are options.
To learn more about efficient heating and cooling options for your home in the San Diego area, contact us at ASI Hastings Heating and Air Conditioning. We’ll gladly answer your questions.
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