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