Ah, New Orleans! We get about ten perfect days every year - five in the fall, five in the spring. Days when the sun is gentle and the humidity is low. Days when your hair is perfect and your HVAC unit never even has to be turned on.The rest of the time, we're either basting in our own perspiration or the damp air has crept deep into our bones to chill us from the inside out.Needless to say, in a city like New Orleans, the right heating and cooling system means the difference between comfort and misery. But the cost of comfort can be exorbitant if you haven't invested in a cost- and energy-efficient HVAC unit.Why are heat pumps a more efficient heating choice for New Orleans?When it comes to heating, a heat pump is the most efficient product for homeowners living in the south. That's because heat pumps draw existing heat from the air and pull it into your home rather than manufacturing heat as furnaces do. Since temperatures seldom drop below 40°F in New Orleans, there's always plenty of heat left floating around in the air. The heat pump capitalizes on that fact.How do heat pumps reduce energy costs?The Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF) is the ratio of the BTUH heat output to watt-hours of electricity used over an average heating season. Trane's XV20i Variable Speed Heat Pump, for example, has an HSPF of 10. That means, for every watt of energy used, 10 BTUHs of heat are pumped into your home.That's quite a return, and in southern Louisiana's hot and humid climate, the energy savings offered by a heat pump can be significant. For homes heated and cooled using electricity, it can be much as 40 percent off your monthly heating and cooling costs.How does the installation and maintenance cost of a heat pump compare to a furnace?Furnaces require an extensive ventilation system, which can increase the installation cost in a home not already equipped with one. That means installing a heat pump system is generally lower than installing a furnace. And because a heat pump can heat and cool, homeowners who go this route only have to budget for the installation and maintenance of one unit.But will a heat pump provide energy efficient cooling in the summer?Yes! Trane's TruComfort systems heat and cool, and the variable speed compressor, outdoor fan, and indoor fan are capable of varying operating speed and BTU as the temperature outside changes. By slowing down or speeding up incrementally, the units are capable precision comfort that helps to lower the cost of comfort.The XV20i variable speed heat pump has a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) of 20.00, making it one of the most energy efficient (and therefore cost efficienct) heating and cooling options available. All year.I'm ready for a heat pump! Now what?Talk to the experts at Pullen Air Conditioning about the best heat pump for your home. Our highly knowledgeable, service-oriented team will be happy to provide information about all of your options. No matter what you decide, Pullen Air Conditioning is committed to delivering 100% satisfaction, top-notch work, professionalism and courtesy. Call today.
