Heat Pumps: Absorption Vs Ductless

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Setting up a heating system can be a pretty complicated task. You want to make sure that you make a choice that will last you for years, but you also want to balance that with a low upfront cost, limited maintenance requirements, and good average efficiency. One of the best options for satisfying many, if not all, of those requirements is a heat pump.

How do heat pumps work?

Although they may sound a little strange, heat pumps are really just air conditioners that have the capability of working backwards. After using a heat pump to cool down your house in a sweltering summer, you can flip a switch and use it to make your home nice and toasty in the dead of winter. Some heat pumps use air ducts and ventilation systems to move their output throughout your home, while others dump their output into the room that they are in. Two unique types of heat pumps are absorption and ductless heat pumps.

What is an absorption heat pump?

While it may sound complicated, an absorption heat pump really just uses a source of energy that is not electricity. This means that you can use natural gas, propane, geothermal power, hot water, or some other form of alternative power to regulate the temperature in your home.

What is a ductless heat pump?

On the other hand, a ductless heat pump allows you to bypass the need for a ventilation system while simultaneously distributing hot and cold air to your entire home. It accomplishes this via a series of nodes that are attached to a central controller unit. All you need to do is install a node in each of the rooms that you want to heat/cool, and the central controller will send air to each of those nodes.

When is an absorption heat pump a great option?

Depending on where you live, electricity might not be too cheap or might just not be very reliable. You don't want to be stuck in a harsh winter with a heating system that might suddenly stop working due to a power outage, so an absorption unit can allow you to stock up on supplies and ensure that your home will stay the right temperature regardless of problems with your utilities.

When is a ductless heat pump a great option??

If you don't have a ventilation system or don't have one that works very well, then a ductless system can allow you to heat/cool your entire home without a significant investment. The nodes essentially replace vent openings that a traditional ventilation system would use, meaning that you can avoid the problems that come with installing and maintaining a series of air ducts running through your walls. Contact a business, such as Glendale Heating & Air Conditioning for more information. 


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