How Long Should My Heat Pump Last?

If you’re like most homeowners, you’re always looking for ways to save money on your energy bills and household upkeep expenses. One great option is to install a new heat pump system. What is the average heat pump lifespan and is it worth the investment? In this blog post, Hans Heating and Air answers those questions and more, so keep reading to learn more about heat pumps to determine whether or not they’re a good fit for your home.

Heat Pump Installation: A Worthwhile Investment

Are you considering installing a heat pump for your home HVAC system? You’re making a great decision! Here are four reasons why installing a heat pump is a smart investment for Montgomery, AL homeowners.

A Two-for-One HVAC Solution

One of the best things about heat pumps is that they provide both heating and cooling for your home. A heat pump is an appliance that circulates warm or cool air throughout your home, depending on the season. In the winter, they work by drawing heat from the air outside and transferring it into your home. And in the summer, they do the reverse, working like air conditioning does by drawing heat from your home and releasing it back into the air outside. This means that you only need to invest in one unit to keep your home comfortable all year long.

Energy Efficient & Environmentally Friendly

Heating and cooling are responsible for around half of the average household’s energy consumption each year. Many homeowners seek solutions to lower those costs, and one of the best ways to do that is to have a heat pump installed. A heat pump is a highly efficient heating and cooling system that can slash your energy bills by as much as 50%, depending on what type of HVAC equipment you used previously.

In the battle for heating efficiency, heat pumps come out on top when pitted against furnaces. How do they do it? It all has to do with the way heat pumps move heat, rather than generate it. A furnace produces heat by burning fuel, which releases energy that is used to heat the air. Depending on the furnace, this process is only 80 to 98% efficient, meaning that the process always causes waste.

In contrast, a heat pump moves heat from one place to another. It doesn’t generate heat, so there is no wasted energy. Instead, it uses a small amount of electricity to move heat from the ground or air into your home. This makes heat pumps about 400% efficient, which means they can provide four times as much heating as a furnace with the same amount of energy. And because they don’t burn fuel to produce heat, they don’t consume fossil fuels and don’t generate direct emissions – this makes heat pumps the more environmentally friendly option.

Let’s Talk Heat Pump Lifespan

It’s true that heat pumps don’t typically last as long as conventional furnaces or air conditioners since they provide both heating and cooling and work twice as hard. However, there are a few reasons why this isn’t necessarily a drawback. First of all, when a heat pump fails, you only have to pay to replace one unit instead of two separate systems. Additionally, heat pumps are often more energy-efficient than traditional HVAC systems, so even though you may have to replace your heat pump more frequently, you’ll save money on your energy bills throughout the heat pump lifespan – this savings helps offset the cost of heat pump replacement.

While heat pump life expectancy may not average as long as other conventional HVAC units, with the average life expectancy being 10-15 years. However, that doesn’t mean your heat pump cannot exceed that estimate! 

Regular maintenance can help to increase the heat pump lifespan, saving homeowners money in the long run.  Some of the most important aspects of heat pump maintenance include regularly changing the air filter, ensuring that the outdoor unit is free of debris, and scheduling 2 annual tune-ups for the system. By taking these simple steps, homeowners can maximize their heat pump lifespan.

Schedule Heat Pump Maintenance Today

Heat pumps are a great value for your home and proper maintenance can help improve heat pump lifespan. If you need to schedule maintenance on your current system, call Hans Heating & Air today. We would be happy to help!