When your heat pump gives you trouble, leave it to our Complete Comfort Control Heating & AC Repair team. Call us today for your free estimate in Shinnecock Hills!
You probably don’t think much about your home’s heating or cooling system until something goes wrong. When that happens, you should be quick to call an HVAC professional. They’ll likely ask whether you have a furnace-air conditioner or heat pump setup and what’s wrong, but how do you know if you have a heat pump problem and not something else?
First, you should know that you’re not alone in this confusion. Complete Comfort Control Heating & AC Repair’s HVAC experts see a surprising number of homeowners who don’t know what systems heat and cool their properties. Here’s how to tell if you have a heat pump and, if so, when to schedule your next heat pump repair services in Shinnecock Hills, NY.
What Makes a Heat Pump Different From Other HVAC Systems?
How does a heat pump differ from other HVAC systems? A traditional heating system, like a furnace, generates heat to warm up your home, but a heat pump just moves it. This heat transfer process is what makes your heat pump system so impressively energy efficient.
Heat pumps use a specialized liquid called refrigerant to move air to and from the outdoor and indoor units. These innovative systems also have a reversible operation. Your pump can cool your home in the summer and then change direction and warm it in the winter!
What Are the Different Kinds of Heat Pumps for Homes in Shinnecock Hills, New York?
So, how do you know if you have a heat pump instead of a furnace or air conditioner in your Shinnecock Hills home? If you’re looking at the actual unit, most heat pumps appear wide and boxy like a refrigerator, but models do differ. For example:
- Air-source heat pump: The indoor and outdoor units of an air-source heat pump connect via a 3-inch hole. The outdoor unit looks like a metallic box that’s 5 feet tall. It has a grille on the front of it.
- Geothermal heat pump: The refrigerant lines run a few feet underground for a geothermal unit, so you won’t see them. The unit’s vertical wells likely have a cylinder-shaped covering or a hatch that stands 1 to 2 feet tall.
- Water-source heat pump: Often, heat pumps that take heat from water sources require a small rectangular compressor unit inside your home’s utility closet or equipment room.
- Hybrid heat pump: Hybrid systems use an air-source heat pump plus an auxiliary heat source like a furnace. A hybrid heat pump would resemble a metal cabinet and be in your property’s basement or attic.
A Few Tricks To Help You Determine Whether Your Shinnecock Hills Home Has a Heat Pump
In addition to simply looking for a heat pump in your home, you can also try these tricks to determine whether you have a heat pump for your Shinnecock Hills home.
Use Your Thermostat
How do you know if you have a heat pump? Use your thermostat settings to answer this question.
First, raise the temperature on your thermostat by a few degrees, and then go outside to check your outdoor unit. Is it producing heat and actively running? If so, you probably have a heat pump.
Look for a Heat Pump Label
Most HVAC systems have an EnergyGuide rating on a bright yellow label (stuck on your system’s indoor air handler). When you locate the yellow label, look for the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio Heating Seasonal Performance Factor.
If you see both SEER and HSPF ratings on the label, you likely have a heat pump. Heat pumps are the only HVAC types that have a heating and cooling mode, which means they’re the only HVAC system featuring both designations.
Whether You Have a Heat Pump or a Traditional HVAC System, Trust Complete Comfort Control Heating & AC Repair for Top-Tier Service
How do you know if you have a heat pump? When you need professional furnace and heat pump insights, we can help. Heat pumps are highly efficient systems for cooling and heating, making them an increasingly popular option for homes in Shinnecock Hills, New York.
While you won’t be calling Complete Comfort Control Heating & AC Repair as often as for a traditional HVAC system, heat pumps still need maintenance. So, whether you need to service your outdoor unit in winter or address a minor filter clog, don’t wait to call us! We serve Shinnecock Hills, New York, and beyond.