| Q. I've been thinking about buying a
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| | way. However, they can only extract heat
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| heat pump to replace my aging forced-air
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| | from outdoor air down to a point where
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| oil furnace. How do they work, and are
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| | they are no longer economical; and at
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| they really as efficient as advertised?A.
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| | some lower point, most don't work at all.
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| If you're shopping for a new home or
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| | Ground and water source heat pumps are
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| looking for ways to trim costs, heat
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| | more efficient, but several times more
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| pumps can provide both heating and
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| | expensive, and not suitable for all
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| cooling, and in some cases, hot water
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| | locations. "Bi-valent" heat pumps use a
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| heating.In areas where natural gas is not
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| | gas or oil-fired heater to pre-heat the
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| available, heat pumps are a popular
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| | outdoor coil, so that the heat-pump can
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| alternative, but using only a heat pump
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| | continue to operate more efficiently in
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| for all your heating needs wouldn't be
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| | colder weather."What's the bottom
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| economical, or even possible. Most heat
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| | line?"There are many factors to consider
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| pumps use electricity as a power source,
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| | before purchasing any heating or cooling
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| and most of them just don't cut the
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| | system. Carefully weigh the ancicipated
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| mustard in very cold weather.
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| | savings against the cost of the new
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| Suplementary heat such as gas, oil,
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| | installation. What kind of system do you
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| electric and wood are used when the
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| | already have, how old and how efficient
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| temperature falls below about 5C, or 42F.
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| | is it, and will it be compatible,
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| However, if you already have a heating
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| | economical and convenient to use with a
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| system and you're considering
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| | heat pump? What kind of energy sources
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| air-conditioning, a heat pump can be an
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| | are available in your area, and how
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| economical way to heat or cool the house
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| | reliable are they? Will you have to open
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| for most of the year.Summer cooling will
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| | finished walls and ceilings to install
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| add to your annual energy bill! Heat
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| | duct work?Do your homework
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| pumps warm the house in cooler weather
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| | first!Copyright Gil Strachan - All rights
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| and cool it in warm weather. They are
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| | reserved.Gil Strachan is a professional
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| powered by electricity. If you add a heat
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| | home inspector, representing Electrospec
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| pump or convert from another system, and
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| | Home Inspection Services in east-central
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| you didn't have air conditioning before,
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| | Ontario, Canada since 1994. Visit to
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| you're going to find your electricity
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| | learn more about home inspections."The
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| bills higher than before."How Do They
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| | Home Reference Book"
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| Work?" Most heat pumps are "air-to-air"
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| | You can probably find a home inspection
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| and use a fluid medium to absorb heat
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| | for a little less than what we ask, but
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| from the air at one location and transfer
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| | you probably won't find the Home
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| it to the air at another. Refridgerators
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| | Reference Book. A $60 value, this
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| and air conditioners are both examples of
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| | solutions-oriented reference tool comes
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| one-way heat pumps. But the cycle is
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| | free with every inspection we
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| reversible, and heat pumps can be used
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| | perform.It's the first tool you should
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| almost year-round to move heat either
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| | have around the house!
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