Archive for the ‘Heat Pumps’ Category

Why Do Heat Pumps Need Maintenance Twice a Year?

Monday, August 8th, 2022

HVAC-ventIf you haven’t done so already, now is the time to schedule your air conditioning maintenance appointment. This is a preventative step that homeowners need to take to guarantee that their air conditioners are able to work as efficiently and effectively as possible for as long as possible–throughout the rest of this summer and the rest of the systems’ lifespan.

Professional maintenance helps you avoid up to 85% of the repair needs your system might otherwise have, helps retain 95% of its efficiency rating, and helps your system last the expected 10-15 years.

For a standard air conditioner, we recommend maintenance tune-ups once a year. But what if you have a heat pump? Well then, we suggest maintenance twice a year, as this is a year-round system. Read on to learn more, including why biannual heat pump maintenance is so important.

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What You Need to Know About Heat Pump Maintenance

Monday, March 7th, 2022

white-question-mark-on-blue-circleIf you’ve been following our blog for a bit, then you’ve probably seen us mention maintenance before. This is because air conditioning and heating maintenance are so vital to the health and efficiency of your home comfort systems. But it’s also important to know that not all HVAC systems are created equal, and therefore may have different maintenance needs.

For instance, if you have been using a heat pump to stay warm this winter and are using this same system to cool off this spring and summer, then you need to schedule maintenance again. While more traditional central air conditioners and central furnaces only need professional maintenance once a year, a heat pump needs this service twice a year. Read on to learn why!

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Spring Projects? How About a Mini Split Heat Pump Installation?

Monday, March 9th, 2020

ductless-blowerOkay, so it may be a little early to really start thinking about spring here in Southern Vermont. Things are warmer and sunnier, but we know that a backslide into more wintery weather is never really off the table this early on—and we’ve barely even cracked the seal on mud season yet! Even so, we’re sure that you’re ready to start thinking about spring and, for many of us,  doing so means thinking about the projects that we want to accomplish.

If you’re at this stage yourself, then installing a mini split heat pump, or ductless mini split, in Southern Vermont is definitely a project that should be on your radar. Ductless mini splits have become an absolute favorite HVAC system among homeowners throughout the country, and with good reason. We’re going to dive into the benefits of ductless mini splits in the following post, but just remember—any HVAC system is only as good as the installation and ongoing services it receives. (more…)

Replacing Your Heater? Consider a Heat Pump!

Monday, February 25th, 2019

couple-by-fireChances are that you are ready for winter to be over at this point. It doesn’t matter if you like skiing, snowshoeing, ice fishing, etc. Sometimes, enough is enough. And for many, this winter has been enough! The good news is that the worst of the winter weather is likely behind us. That doesn’t mean that there’s not still plenty of cold weather to come before mud season gets underway, though. You need to keep your heater in the rotation for the time being.

Now, that being said, you may want to start looking forward toward a heating replacement. And if you’re thinking about replacing your heater in Woodstock, VT, then you should definitely be thinking about using a heat pump in the future. Heat pumps have come a long way over the years, and they are more viable than ever in even very cold climates. If you’re not certain how a heat pump works, or if you can really trust one to handle the cold in this part of the country, then this blog’s for you! (more…)

The Pros and Cons of Going Ductless

Monday, February 11th, 2019

ductlessThe benefits of a ductless mini-split heat pump are pretty astounding. So why are furnaces and central air conditioners still more popular in our country?

One factor is because most homes already have duct systems in place. It makes more sense economically to just keep using ducted units.

However, making the leap to ductless comes with several benefits. For the right homeowner, ductless could be what they’ve needed all along. Going ductless in Southern Vermont, VT isn’t always the perfect solution either, of course, so we’ll help you weigh it out with some of the pros and cons.

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Why Should I Choose a Ductless Mini Split System?

Monday, December 3rd, 2018

ductless-blowerWinter really got off to a strong, early start this year, didn’t it? You’ve already busted out the shovel and the ice melt, and you’ve certainly been running your heater regularly for some time now. How is your heater doing, though? Are you already starting to worry that it may not really be up to the challenge of warming your home for the rest of the winter season? Are you thinking about replacing it in the spring for any reason?

Whatever the case may be, we strongly suggest that you consider using a ductless mini split heating system in Southern Vermont. These systems, simply put, offer a lot of unique benefits that other, more standard heaters cannot. Think we’re exaggerating? Then check out today’s post! We’ll cover the way in which ductless heating systems work, and how it is that they benefit homeowners in so many different ways. If you’re ready to heat your home differently, contact us to get started!

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Ice on My Heat Pump: Should I Be Concerned?

Monday, November 19th, 2018

iciclesMaybe. We apologize for not giving a solid answer right off the bat, but the fact is that giving a solid answer would require a lot more information. The reason? There are a few different potential causes of ice developing on a heat pump. It may not always be a major issue, but it certainly can be. The fact that it may be a problem with a relatively simple solution should not lull you into a false sense of security.

When it comes to your heater in Bellows Falls, VT, you always want to know that it is functioning properly. Even “minor” issues can lead to serious problems when you experience winters as cold as ours. Heat pump technology has come a long way over the years but, like any other technology, it has its limitations. You’re going to need repairs at some point. When that time comes, you can always count on our heating technicians to get your system back on track.

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Why Consider a Ductless Heat Pump?

Friday, March 20th, 2015

The range of our temperatures in Southern Vermont can be huge: we can see summer temperatures over 80 degrees and winter temperatures of -20. It may seem impossible to find one system to handle this range of temperatures, but there is one: a heat pump. Heat pump systems can deliver air through either ducted or ductless systems, and today we’re going to talk about how a ductless heat pump system can work in your Southern Vermont home.

The Components

A heat pumps system has an outdoor unit that contains the compressor, condenser and heat pump technology, and indoor blowers that deliver the air. Each indoor blower contains a fan, a set of coils and an air filter. The blowers are about 3 feet long and can mount flush against walls or hang from ceilings. Each blower connects to the outdoor unit via a conduit drilled into an exterior wall. The conduit contains a refrigerant line, a power cord and a condensate drain pipe. A single outdoor unit can support up to 4 indoor blowers.

The Benefits of a Ductless System

One of the first benefits a ductless heat pump system offers is that it will both heat and cool your home, and it isn’t necessary to have any kind of ductwork. A second great benefit is that heat pumps do not use any kind of fossil fuel; they only use a small amount of electricity – imagine heating your Vermont home without a single oil or gas bill all winter long! This makes heat pumps very energy efficient. A third benefit is the longevity: heat pumps last an average of 20-25 years versus traditional heating systems, which last 15-20 years. Lastly, the heating and cooling heat pumps provide is very comfortable. Why? Heat pumps blow gently on a low-volume, continuous basis, so the heating and cooling feels more gentle.

Heat pumps should only be installed by experts, so if you think a heat pump may be a good choice for you Southern Vermont home, contact HB Energy Solutions today!

What Are My Ductless Heating Options?

Thursday, February 5th, 2015

Ductless systems have become a great option for many homeowners, whether seeking whole-home heating and cooling or heating and cooling for a new expansion or retrofit. We have some pretty big temperature swings in our part of New England, with summer temps reaching the low 90s and winter temps that run below zero. As such, we’ve chosen two ductless manufacturers whose products can handle our New England whether while also being durable and offering the comfort you need and want from your ductless heating in New Hampshire: Mitsubishi and Fujitsu. We’ll go into more detail about these products below, but know that the experts at HB Energy Solutions are here to help you with all your heating needs.

Mitsubishi Ductless Systems

Mitsubishi Electric Cooling & Heating has been manufacturing heating and cooling products for over 30 years. As one of the leaders in ductless systems, the Mitsubishi brand offers a number of benefits that are specific to their brand:

  • INVERTER-driven compressor system – this compressor starts with a great deal of power to heat or cool quickly, then adjusts its speed as needed, so it operates at variable speeds. This can be a tremendous energy saver for many households
  • i-see Sensor 3D technology – this sensor detects where people are in a room and directs the heating or cooling toward them
  • Can effectively heat to temperatures of -13F and above

Fujitsu Ductless Systems

Fujitsu General has been in the heating and cooling industry for over 35 years. There are many designs to choose from with a Fujitsu system, including wall mounted, Universal floor/ceiling, floor mounted, slim duct, compact cassette, cassette and multi-systems. Some features of the Fujitsu systems are:

  • INVERTER technology
  • Effective operation up to -15F and above
  • Base freeze prevention – certain models are equipped with a base heater that prevents the condensate from freezing

Which Is Best for You?

Each system offers great benefits of heat pumps, including great energy efficiency and long lifespan.

To determine which ductless heating system will work best for your New Hampshire home, call HB Energy Solutions today and schedule an appointment with one of our experts.

Are Ductless Heat Pumps Preferable to Centralized Heat Pumps?

Friday, May 23rd, 2014

Ductless heat pumps may seem like recent innovations, but they existed in the commercial HVAC world long before making the leap over to homes. Instead of using a single indoor unit that sends conditioned air through a ventilation system, a ductless heat pump instead works through multiple indoor blower units mounted on walls that send the air directly into rooms.

If you are interested in ductless heat pump installation in New Hampshire for your home, make sure you consult with professionals to decide if this is the best choice.

Call HB Energy Solutions, where we have delivered quality heating and cooling services to New Hampshire for more than two decades.

A list of the advantages of ductless heat pumps make them sound automatically superior to any centralized heat pump:

  • No indoor air quality issues due to ducts – Because ducts can collect dust and other contamination, they will eventually affect indoor air quality and require cleaning. Ductless systems remove this hassle.
  • More freedom with construction and remodeling – If you are planning to build a new home or extensively remodel your current one, then a ductless system gives you more options because fitting ducts into planning is no longer necessary.
  • Zone control – Because ductless heat pumps work through separate blowers, you only need to heat or cool down rooms that require it, which leads to significant energy savings.

However, a ductless system is not always preferable to a standard centralized one. In some cases, you may be better off staying with a familiar ducted system. Here are some considerations that may sway you away from ductless heat pumps.

  • Your home already has ducts – Unless remodeling is on the horizon, a ductless system is usually redundant for a house that has a ventilation system.
  • A heat pump in general isn’t the best choice – Ductless systems are all heat pumps, and in some cases—such as when a home is difficult to heat—it is better to stay with the combination of an air conditioner and furnace/boiler for cooling and heating than to switch to a heat pump.
  • It isn’t cost-effective – Ductless heat pumps are more expensive to install because of the blower units than hooking up a heat pump to current ductwork. If the other positives of a ductless mini split heat pump aren’t enough to overcome this, than you may be better with a centralized system.

If you still find yourself torn between going for a ductless or a central heat pump, you can always call professional installers. They will take into account your home’s construction and your budget plans to advise you which route is the best for you.

HB Energy Solutions will help you with heat pump installation in New Hampshire, whether you end up going with a ductless system or a more traditional ducted one. Whatever heat pump you end up with, we will install it for you right the first time.