Heat Pump Frequently Asked Questions

A residential heat pump is a two-component system that combines the use of electricity with advanced refrigeration technology to keep your home at the ideal temperature throughout the year. The components consist of a condenser unit typically located outside the home, and an indoor air handler that delivers the heated or cooled air inside the home.

Step 1. Air is brought in and passes through the evaporator and turns in the air into a cool gas

Step 2. The cool gas passes through the compressor, heating the gas under high pressure

Step 3. The hot vapor caused by the high pressure enters the heat exchanger, which creates heat for water and heating system

Step 4. Condensed vapor returns to liquid, in the expansion valve, reducing the temperature

Perhaps the most important heat pump benefit is its efficiency. Because it operates via electrical power instead of heat generation, a heat pump is remarkably energy-efficient. Some heat pumps can achieve very high SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) ratings, exceeding the minimum Energy Star requirement of 13 SEER. This means a new heat pump installation can dramatically reduce your home heating and cooling bills.

Another advantage of heat pump ownership is its longevity. With proper maintenance, you can expect 10 to 15 years of reliable service before needing a heat pump replacement. This is not to say that some systems can last much longer or unfortunately shorter, which is often a result of poor installation.

Timely preventive maintenance can keep the system in peak operating condition and reduce the likelihood of a major heat pump repair. Most manufacturers recommend annual service conducted by a professional HVAC technician. As with a traditional heating/cooling system, heat pump owners can contribute to their system’s performance and longevity by executing general maintenance tasks such as changing furnace filters and keeping air returns open.

While the investment of a heat pump is significant, homeowners can recoup the additional expense via lower energy bills, almost always a good return on investment. A heat pump can pay for itself in a matter of years in the right conditions. Utility companies and manufacturers often offer incentives in the form of discounts or rebates that can make your initial purchase more affordable.

The factors that impact the length of time it takes to install a heat pump include the complexity of the system, whether your ductwork requires upgrading and the challenges involved with connecting refrigerant and electrical lines. A standard heat pump replacement will take one of the Zimmerman crews 1 ½ days due to the amount of work and attention to detail that is put into the systems that we install. While some a single zone ductless system may take only one day or a whole duct system can take a week.