Comparing Boulder City Heat Pumps to Air Conditioners

Boulder City Heat Pump Repair and Installation

Heat pumps and air conditioners found in Boulder City homes and businesses work in very similar ways — except that your air conditioner does not have a reversing valve that can use the same machine to heat your house as well. Both use refrigerants to convert gas into liquid and back into gas to create a vapor compression cycle. This effectively transfers the heat from the inside to the outside.

Your Boulder City air conditioning repair contractor emphasizes that the bi-directional expansion value is a unique feature to heat pumps, allowing the unit to meter the flow of the liquid refrigerant both entering and exiting the house through the coils. Just like air conditioners, heat pumps run on electricity, but if the right unit for the Boulder City climate is installed properly, they can drastically reduce summer utility bills.

Comparing Heat Pumps to Furnaces

Heat pumps work best in climates where the temperature rarely drops below freezing for extended periods because ice will build up on the coils and cause it to go into defrost mode, which can send cold air into the house for two to ten minutes. There is an electric heater that kicks in during this cycle but cannot totally offset the ‘cold blow’ sensation. So if you have severe winters, a standard fuel-based or forced-air furnace is the logical choice. In mild climates, especially those where coal and other cheap fuel sources are not readily available, an electric powered heat pump can efficiently warm your home without having to rely on combustible fuel sources by simply transferring heat.

Dual Fuel Systems – Sometimes Called Hybrid Systems

Many residents are having their Boulder City heat pump contractor install a dual fuel system combines the best of both the heat pump and the traditional furnace/air conditioner combination. It can work in conjunction with your existing system, whether it is power by natural gas, propane or oil. The heat pump can efficiently operate on mild days, but the furnace is available to take over automatically when the temperature drops too low for the heat pump to operate.

Can Heat Pumps Reduce Energy Bills in Boulder City, NV?

Air-source heat pumps only cost between $1,500 to $4,00 and installation is usually quite easy. Boulder City heat pumps can cut 30 to 40 percent from your utility bill. The determining factor is to select the right heat pump system for your climate. Even with a dual fuel system, significant savings can be realized because the heat pump will be able to provide at least 70 percent of your winter heat.