What Type of Heat Pumps Work with Older Homes?

Older homes were generally built with more generosity of space in mind including larger rooms, higher ceilings and more land around the house away from the preying eyes of neighbors. This is one of the reasons that older homes continue to be popular despite their other glaring disadvantages which include not being energy efficient and not having the convenience of modern day homes that offer eco-friendly heat pumps to consistently keep the home cool in the summer and warm in the wintertime.

If you are considering upgrading your older home to make it a more energy efficient model, there are several heat pumps that you may want to consider. The first question you need to ask yourself, however, is how much are you willing to spend to save money? Older homes were often built before the need for heating and air conditioning ducts were even established, so your older home may be duct free. And while there are ductless heat pumps available, they generally are not a great option for large homes since they tend to concentrate their magic in one area of the home. The ductless models are a better option for a small space such as an apartment or a home that is subdivided into smaller units.

If your older home is larger than four thousand square feet you may have to calculate the added cost of adding a duct system throughout your home to take advantage of a more economical heating system. Larger homes tend to work better with an absorption model pump that works by drawing on air much like the air model pump to keep your home both warm and cool, depending on the season, but unlike an air pump the absorption model also needs a secondary source of energy.

Your absorption model pump can draw its source of heat from electricity, propane or gas and still remain very energy efficient as it distributes the heat or cool air evenly throughout your home. If your goal in using heat pumps for your older home is to increase your comfort level while also minimizing your carbon footprint, you can't go wrong with an energy efficient model.

Learn how to read the energy rating guides that come with an absorption model pump so that you can select a model that will surprise you in how much lower your energy bills can go -- especially in the winter when older homes tend to function at their worst.

Heat pumps are rated with two different systems, depending on their functionality. If you are using a pump that only heats, look for a heating seasonal performance rating from 8 to 10 to get the most energy efficient model. If your pump will provide both heat and a/c, look for a seasonal energy efficient rating on your model that is from 14 to 18 to garner the most energy efficient model possible. With the proper pump in place to help, your older home can become as energy efficient as a new home.