Heat Pump Prices: How To Get The Best Deals
So you are looking at heat pump prices...First things first: What is a heat pump? A heat pump is simply a device for moving ('pumping') heat from one location to another, either to heat or cool an area. Some heat pumps use the air, others the ground, as their source for heat. Heat pump prices depend on the following: -The size of the unit -Optional units attached to it (such as for heating hot water) -The type: air- or ground- source -Whether it will be used for heating, cooling, or both (most can do both)
One thing to note: you cannot save money, or get lower heat pump prices, by trying to do the installation yourself. You MUST use a trained professional. NO EXCECPTIONS! In your search for the best heat pump prices, always buy from a reputable seller - and don't take someone's second-hand unit, you don't really know what condition it is in. Heat pump prices will also be affected by manufacturer, seller, or installer warranties offered. Don't be tempted to buy a unit without one. Heat pump prices that don't include a warranty can be deceptive.
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Heat Pump Energy Efficiency
Heat pumps are potentially the most efficient type of electric heat. When heat pumps properly installed, heat pumps can deliver 1 1/2 to 3 times more heat energy to a home than the electric energy they consume. Unfortunately, the energy savings produced by the heat pump's design are often lost to poor installation and neglected maintenance.
All heat pumps include two different heating systems: compressor heating and auxiliary heating. During moderately cool weather, your heat pump engages it's first stage to heat your home. In this most-efficient mode, it works like an air conditioner in reverse, using a compressor to circulate refrigerant through the outdoor coil and gathering heat from the outdoor air. The refrigerant then carries heat to the indoor coil and releases it into the home. This first stage works well down to about 35 degrees. Below this temperature, heat pumps don't work as effectively, and the second stage of heat is activated. This less-effective stage utilizes electric resistance coils to produce heat, but it is the only option during severe weather.
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Heat Pump Maintenance
A well-maintained heat pump could save 10% to 25% on your energy costs. When installed and tested by a qualified technician, heat pumps can deliver many years of dependable service and comfort. Below are some steps you can follow to ensure that your heat pump gives you optimum performance. Note: When you're cleaning your heat pump, remember to switch it off first and shut off the power to your outdoor unit. Note: if you aren't confident in your ability to perform these tasks safely and correctly, don't do it. Hire a contractor instead.
Do-It-Yourself Maintenance Tips For Your Heat Pump. Here are a few basic steps to ensure the long-term efficient operation of your heat pump: The thermostat should be set and left alone; don't change it too frequently. If you have a programmable thermostat for your heat pump, it will let you regulate the temperature more efficiently. Air filters should be cleaned or replaced every one to three months. If the indoor coils are accessible, check and clean them.
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More pump protections needed: critics
Critics say more has to be done to keep gas stations from running inaccurate pumps that deliver less gas than advertised on the meter. And a crackdown on inaccurate pumps promised by the Federal Industry Minister Jim Prentice earlier this year hasn't materialized, said Mel Fruitman of the Consumers Association of Canada.
On a pump at a Tempo on Lougheed Highway in Coquitlam, CTV News found one pump that gave out less gas than it advertised on two tests conducted by CTV News. In one of three tests by CTV News, the pump gave more gas than it said on the meter. The manager admitted that the pump sometimes gave out more or less gas than it said on the meter. He promised to fix the problem. But that pump bore a sticker that indicated that Measurement Canada testers hadn't visited since 2002. The country is in the middle of an election, and the promised legislation hasn't materialized. Prentice defended his efforts to CTV News. "The regulatory changes that will change the system are things I've spoken about and I'm committed to," he said. "Those regulations have been drafted, and they require legislative changes.
