We’re almost to the end of summer, and for people who use normal air conditioning systems that means that it’s time to turn them off for another year. Ductless systems, however, work a bit differently. Ductless mini splits are able to act as both heating and air conditioning systems, which means that you’ll likely keep using your ductless system on a regular basis all the way through winter. This also means that you’ll have to treat your system differently than more traditional climate control systems, starting with maintenance. Read on to find out whether ductless systems need maintenance more often than other systems.
Shavitz Heating and Air Conditioning Blog: Archive for the ‘Heat Pumps’ Category
Do Ductless Systems Need Maintenance Twice as Often as Other Systems?
Monday, September 21st, 2015Why You Should Consider Installing a Ductless Heating System
Monday, September 7th, 2015Heating season is just about here, and it’s time to start thinking about your plans for keeping your home warm throughout the fall and winter. While central heating is always an option, you should consider the advantages of a ductless heating system. Let’s take a look at what a ductless heating system is, and the advantages that it can offer you.
Why Ductless Air Conditioning Is More Energy Efficient Than Central AC
Monday, August 31st, 2015Central air conditioning systems are a great way to keep your home cool. They’re certainly a better option than just opening a window or turning on a fan. However, they have their share of weaknesses. One of those weaknesses is that they are unable to modulate their output. An air conditioner has two settings: on or off. It cannot change how much cool air it direct to each room, which means it cannot compensate for differences in insulation across the house. Fortunately, there’s an answer to this weakness and others in the form of ductless air conditioning. Read on to find out why ductless air conditioning is more energy efficient than central air conditioning.
How Geothermal Cooling Systems Work
Monday, August 17th, 2015Geothermal heat pumps are often cited as some of the most energy-efficient climate control systems on the market. Though we have recommended them in many cases on this blog, we haven’t really gotten into how they work in a while. In order to understand just how energy efficient geothermal systems are, it helps to understand how they actually work. With that in mind, let’s take a look at how geothermal systems operate.
3 Ways Heat Pump Installation Can Benefit You
Monday, April 6th, 2015As we move out of the winter season and into spring, people are starting to think less about their heating systems and more about their air conditioners. While it is totally understandable to become more focused on staying cool as the days get warmer, there is a way to address both heating and cooling concerns at once: installing a heat pump in your home. Let’s have a look at 3 of the ways that installing a heat pump can benefit you.
Heating and Cooling Modes
All heat pumps are capable of working in both heating and cooling modes. This is due to the way they operate, which involves evaporating and condensing refrigerant to move heat from one place to another. In heating mode, the heat pump will absorb thermal energy from the outside air and bring it inside to heat the home. In cooling mode, the heat pump reverses the flow of refrigerant to absorb heat from inside and release it outside. By installing a heat pump, you are saving thousands of dollars that would otherwise be spent on separate heating and cooling systems.
Energy Savings
Because a heat pump simply moves preexisting heat from one space to another, it has no need to burn any sort of fuel. This makes it one of the most energy-efficient heating systems on the market. A heat pump will pay for itself in savings within a few years of installation, after which any money saved on your heating bill goes directly into your pocket. If you’re looking for a way to lower your home’s operating costs, a heat pump is a great option.
Going “Green”
Any combustion-based system, especially one that uses natural gas, is going to create a number of byproducts that are then vented into the atmosphere during operation. These include the deadly gas carbon monoxide. A heat pump does not produce any of these gases, making it safe both for you and the environment.
If you would like to know more about heat pumps, call Shavitz Heating and Air Conditioning. We provide heat pump services throughout Chicago, IL.
Will a Heat Pump Keep Me Warm Enough in a Skokie Winter?
Saturday, January 11th, 2014Skokie winters are nothing to sneeze at (if you’ll pardon the pun). Things get mighty cold around here in January, which can create concerns for homeowners who rely on heat pumps instead of gas furnaces or boilers to warm their homes. In Skokie IL, a heat pump installation can be fairly costly, which is offset by its increased efficiency from month to month. Cold air can impact that efficiency, and influence he heat pump’s ability to do its job. “Will a heat pump keep me warm enough in a Skokie winter?” you ask. The answer is usually “no,” though there are ways to correct the issue.
Just so you’re aware: Shavitz Heating and Air Conditioning services heat pumps in Skokie, IL.
Heat pumps rely on the same technology used to run air conditioners: cycling refrigerant gas through a series of valves and coils that first warm the surrounding air and then cool it. With a heat pump system, one set of valves and coils is located inside the house and another set is located outside the house. In the summer, the indoor set produced cool air, with hot air produced outside (where it can safely be vented into the great outdoors). In the winter, that process is reversed, with the indoor set producing warm air and the outdoor set producing cool air.
So what’s the issue? The issue is that that warm air often isn’t enough when temperatures dip to the freezing level, which they often do here in Skokie. The heat pumps efficiency – one of the big reasons to get one – drops way down and it often struggles to heat the home properly in the wintertime.
The good news is that hybrid heating units exist, which add a small auxiliary heater onto the heat pump to help it out during those cold days. That preserves the unit’s efficiency – saving you money in monthly bills – without forcing you to skimp on much-needed warmth. If you’re asking “will a heat pump keep me warm enough in a Skokie winter?” then Shavitz Heating and Air Conditioning has an answer for you. We handle heat pump installations in Skokie on a regular basis and can provide hybrid heating systems as an alternative to help keep your home warm and toasty like it should be. Call us today to set up an appointment!
How Long Does Heat Pump Installation Take?
Tuesday, November 26th, 2013Here in Lincolnwood IL, a heat pump installation is a common procedure. Heat pumps serve dual functions as both heaters and air conditioners, though in the Midwest they often rely on a smaller gas furnace to help heat your home on the coldest days. Either way, they cost less to run than traditional HVAC systems, which can make them very enticing to frugal homeowners. How long does heat pump installation take? That depends on the specifics, though a few general tips can help you make an estimate.
Some heat pump systems are designed to be connected to an existed centralized system, with an air handler to move conditioned air from the pumps throughout your house. In those cases, installation will be much simpler and faster than, say, installing a series of heat pumps as a ductless mini-split system, which would entail multiple heat pumps installed around your home.
Regardless of the elaborateness of the system, the basics for installing a heat pump are the same. You and the technician would select the best placed to install the unit: somewhere that shares an outside wall and which doesn’t have any potential obstacles nearby (such as bushes outside or a thermostat inside). A foundation is set up outside, one which can support your heat pump in the exact location required. Holes are drilled in the walls to run refrigerant lines and similar connectors between the inside part of the unit and the outside. The inside part of the unit is set up and installed, then the lines are insulated and run through the openings in the wall. The outside unit is then mounted and secured to its foundation, and the lines are connected and tested to make sure they are properly fitted and sealed. The installer will slowly equalize the pressure, then ensure that the refrigerant gas is fully charged before activating the unit.
Ideally, that process should take a day or less, though obviously it will be longer if the technician is installing multiple units as part of a ductless mini-split system. For more on how long heat pump installation takes in your circumstances, the experts at Shavitz Heating and Air Conditioning can help. We offer heating services in Lincolnwood, so rest assured we can provide an estimate on the time it will take before we start installation. Pick up the phone and give us a call today!