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