Heat Pump Systems: A Guide for Home Owners

There are so many different ways to heat a house. From fireplaces to furnaces, homeowners have a range of different choices. But, which is the best one for your house? You have probably heard of a heating pump, but could you tell it apart from a boiler or a furnace?

In this blog, you will learn about heat pump systems, how they work, the kind of systems available, and the best system that will work in your house.

Air-source heating systems

This heat pump system absorbs warmth from the outside air, transferring it in the house. When the heat is moved indoors, the system causes the inside areas to feel a little warmer.

To cool the house, the heating pump draws the heat from the house, sending it to the outdoors. By getting rid of the heat, your house feels colder.

Geothermal heat pumps

Geothermal heat pumps utilize underground heating as an energy source. These systems make use of a ground loop for tapping into the natural ground heat and moving it up to the heat pump of the house, where it is moved indoors for warming up the area.

Such pumps can also pull heat from a close by water source having consistent temperatures, such as a pond or a lake. The heat is transferred into the house.

Are heat pumps right for your house?

Not every house is right for a heat pump system. In some conditions, the system may not provide the required efficiency, and some other kind of heating system may be more realistic.

Climate:

Air-source heating systems only run effectively when the outside weather conditions are above freezing. It is not a good idea to choose a heat pump when temperatures drop below thirty two degrees.

In areas where the temperatures start to reach freezing points, air-source makes excellent primary heating systems. However, you must install a backup system like a gas furnace, which can be used at times when temperatures reach freezing. A HVAC expert can install controls that shut down the heating pump automatically if temperatures drop or reach below freezing point.

Ductwork

If you plan on switching to geothermal pump from a conservative forced air cooling and heating system, you can reuse the existing ductwork of your house. In case you do not have any ductwork installed inside the house, the additional expense of getting ductwork installed may make conventional heat pump systems an expensive choice.

A mini-split ductless heat pump system pumps heat inside the house without any ductwork. Separate indoor units fixed on ceilings or walls connect to the outdoor condenser. House owners benefit hugely from the savings geothermal pumps offer and their characteristic zoned comfort control.

With the right knowledge about heat pump system, you are better equipped for making the right buying decision for a new cooling and heating system for your house. Also, make sure you hire a trustworthy contractor to perform the installation for you, for best results.

How to troubleshoot a gas furnace?

A gas furnace is a piece of equipment that takes in cold air, uses an air filter to clean it, heats it with the help of a gas burner and distributes the warm air through the ductwork. The heated air helps to increase room temperature during the cold winter days. Furnaces come with different efficiencies. However, once in a while these appliances may not work quite right and you may have to troubleshoot them. 

Let's look at the most common problems you may have to face with a conventional furnace.

Gas Furnace does not produce any heat:

Possible causes:

1. Thermostat not working
2. Propane or natural gas control valve is closed
3. Circuit breaker or fuse that is controlling the gas furnace is tripped or blown

Best possible repairs:

1. Check if the thermostat has the right temperature setting
2. Try to move the dial setting down or up a few degrees
3. Clean contacts in a non-digital thermostat
4. If the circuit breaker has tripped, reset it
5. Relight the standing pilot light

Blower is always running:  

   

Possible causes:

1. Thermostat has been fixed to run fan continuously
2. Defective control switch for fan limit

Best possible repairs:

1. Change the fan setting on the thermostat
2. Replace or reset furnace fan control switch

Gas furnace produces less heat

Possible causes:

1. The air filter is dirty
2. The gas burner is dirty or requires adjustment
3. Air flow is blocked to the combustion air chamber

Best possible repairs:

1. Clean or replace the dirty air filter
2. Call a professional service provider to get the burners adjusted.
3. Make sure the furnace has enough combustion air.

Noisy operation of gas furnace

Possible causes:

1. A "squealing" sound caused by slipping motor or shaft bearings or blower belt that requires oiling
2. Slight "rumble" when the burner is off may be caused due to wrongly adjusted pilot light.
3. Slight "rumble" sound when the burner is on is caused by dirty gas burners.

Best possible repairs:

1. Use a light weight oil to lubricate the blower motor lubrication ports located at the end of the shaft
2. Check for correct belt tension. If it’s loose, make sure you tighten the belt.
3. Adjust pilot light
4. Replace frayed belt
5. Call a technician to get the burners cleaned or adjusted.

Pilot light is out

Possible causes:

1. Dirty orifice, a strong draft, or dirt inside the gas tube can lead to a pilot light going out.
2. A faulty thermocouple may also shut off the supply of gas.

Best possible repairs:

1. Ensure that your thermostat is on "Heat" mode.
2. Find the pilot.
3. In case you have a pilot that has a red Reset button, turn "Off," the gas valve to "Pilot."
4. In case you have a pilot that has no red button, turn the dial from "Off" to "Pilot."
5. Depress the knob or hold the button and light the pilot using a lighter.
6. After the furnace burners ignite, regulate the thermostat to the preferred setting.

Sometimes your gas furnace may act out and may require repair. You can follow the tips mentioned above or call a technician to fix the problem. If the issue seems complicated, it is best to seek professional help.