Benefits of a Heat Pump Installation in Florida

If you’re in the market for a new HVAC system in Florida, a service technician might recommend that you install a heat pump.

Why are heat pumps a good choice for Florida homeowners? Because heat pumps can both cool and heat a home, they are typically a better choice for homeowners in milder climates like Florida.

In this blog, we’ll walk you through the following heat pump benefits:

• They Increase Home Comfort
• They Reduce Long-Term Energy Costs
• They Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

Want to install a heat pump today?

Call Climate Design today at (727) 295-1572. Since 1973, we’ve helped thousands of Florida homeowners make the switch to high-efficiency heat pump systems—and we can help you too. Our heat pump installations come with free estimates, easy financing options, and guaranteed 1-year labor warranties.

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They Increase Home Comfort

Installing a heat pump in Florida can increase a home’s comfort in two major ways:

• They both cool and heat a home
• They reduce indoor humidity

Heat Pumps Both Cool and Heat Homes

Even though the climate is mild, Florida residents also need some heat—especially if the cool dips in winter weather continue. Install a heat pump system to heat and cool your home with one singular system.

In the summer, a heat pump works like an air conditioner by removing and dumping heat and humidity from your indoor air outdoors.

In the winter, the heat pump works in reverse by taking the heat in the outdoor air and transferring that heat back inside.

Because heat pumps use heat lingering in the outdoor air during winter, professional HVAC technicians highly recommend installing heat pumps for mild climates like Florida.

Heat Pumps Reduce Humidity

According to Florida State University, Florida is the most humid state in the United States, with an average dew point of 60 to 70 daily. The increased moisture in the air from high humidity levels can cause mold growth, make your home feel stuffy and even hotter on warm days, and damage your possessions, wooden floors, and furniture.

Heat pumps are excellent at dehumidifying air and essentially act as an AC-and-dehumidifier combination, making them an ideal choice for Florida homeowners. The Department of Energy states that high-efficiency heat pumps dehumidify better than standard central AC systems and provide better cooling comfort in the summer months.

Air conditioners are designed to dehumidify a home only when both “COOL” and “AUTO” modes are turned on and can struggle to dehumidify homes on the hottest days.

However, heat pumps can cool and dehumidify homes in two different modes, “COOL” or “DRY.” “COOL” mode works best for the hottest days. “DRY” mode is best for warm, muggy days, which make up the majority of weather in Florida. “DRY” mode lets the heat pump maintain a consistent, comfortable temperature while continuing to dehumidify your home.

Next, we’ll look at how these two methods of increasing home comfort can also reduce your energy costs in the long term.

They Reduce Long-Term Energy Costs

Heat pumps are cost-efficient year-round. They consume less electricity than a high-capacity AC system, and they deliver up to 3x more heat energy than their consumed electricity because they transfer heat instead of producing heat.

The increased energy efficiency that a heat pump provides can be a vital asset as electric costs rise in Florida. For example, state regulators have approved FPL collecting an extra $810 million from customers in the next year.

Heat pumps lower long-term energy costs by:

Reducing System Wear and Tear

Mini-split (ductless) heat pumps and some standard heat pumps have inverter compressors, also known as variable-speed compressors.

Unlike central air conditioners with standard compressors, heat pumps with variable-speed compressors do not have to run at full blast to meet your cooling demands. For example, a standard compressor runs at either 100% or 0%. In contrast, variable-speed compressors can run at 10% or 70% of their total capacity to meet your cooling demands.

Since the heat pump can adjust its cooling or heating capacity to be closer to the outdoor temperature, it doesn’t need to stop and start as often, reducing energy waste and system wear and tear. A variable-speed heat pump running continuously at low capacity saves energy and extends its lifespan.

Mini-split heat pumps also have multi-speed fans, which can maximize your electrical savings. They minimize cool drafts and keep the indoor temperature comfortable and consistent throughout a home.

Another benefit of variable-speed compressors and multi-speed fans is that they’re less noisy to operate because they don’t run at full power continuously.

Letting You Increase Your Set Temperature

Heat pumps allow you to set your temperature relatively high while maintaining a comfortable and consistent home.

How?

In the summer, heat pumps dehumidify better than traditional ACs so they can be set at a higher temperature, and a home will still feel relatively cool. A higher temperature setting can help you save up to 3% on monthly energy costs for each degree of temperature increase in the summer.

In the winter, heat pumps are so energy efficient at heat transfer that they can be set at a higher temperature without increasing your energy bills.

It’s best to figure out a temperature you’re comfortable with when the heat pump is on “COOL” or “HEAT,” set the thermostat, and then forget about it. Heat pumps are easy to operate because you can keep them at a steady temperature while maintaining efficiency and comfort, especially with a variable-speed compressor. In comparison, a standard AC needs its set temperature increased throughout the day to help you save money.

Note: You do need to change the thermostat if you are gone for more than a day!

Lowering Your Upfront Costs

Heat pumps, with their attractive comfort and efficiency features, can also help lower your upfront installation costs.

If you were looking to install a dehumidifier, you could skip adding a $4,500 charge to your bill by installing a heat pump instead. You’ll also save on maintaining both an AC and dehumidifier in the future.

Not to mention that heat pumps often come with rebates or subsidies. For example, FPCU offers a $100 rebate for a heat pump installation.

They Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

Energy-efficient heat pumps are an environmentally-friendly option that can help slow climate change.

A study by Rewiring America found that 99% of the households in Pinellas county currently relying on resistance electric, natural gas, propane, and fuel oil heating systems would immediately save $415 a year on average if they switched to a heat pump. Just the combined usage of Pinellas County alone would reduce emissions by 2,039 CO2e tons a year by switching to a heat pump.

You can reduce your carbon footprint further by installing a high-efficiency geothermal heat pump with a desuperheater, a secondary heat exchange device. When the heat pump is in “COOL” mode, it will use its waste heat to warm your water. It can be 2-3x more efficient than a standard electric water heater. Installing a heat pump with a desuperheater lets you skip spending $2,000, on average, for a water heater installation and will waste less energy.

Contact Climate Design for Expert Heat Pump Installations in Florida.

Climate Design provides Florida homeowners with comprehensive service, support, and top-notch heat pump installations. We offer free estimates, the latest high-efficiency heat pump systems, and 1-year labor warranties. Call us for a consistently reliable and excellent experience for heat pump installations.

With hundreds of 5-star Google reviews and NATE-certified technicians who perform to the highest of industry standards, why not schedule with us today?

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