The best type of air source heat pump (ASHP) for your home depends on many factors, including your existing heating and cooling set up, the fuel you use for heating, and your goals for the system. This post breaks down some questions you will want to ask yourself as you plan for an ASHP, and how the answers will impact your ASHP choices. Always make sure to check with your contractor or heat pump installer to see if the selected ASHP model qualifies for federal, state, utility, and local incentive programs that will save you money upfront. In addition, check with your utility to see if they offer special electric rates that might lower the operational cost of the system.
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Whether or not your home has ductwork is a key factor to determine which ASHP is right for you. ASHPs come in two broad categories: ducted and ductless. Like a central air conditioner or forced air furnace, ducted ASHPs use ductwork to distribute conditioned air throughout the home. This makes them a good fit for homes that already have ductwork in place. A ducted heat pump can replace a central air conditioner to provide cooling during the summer months and heating during some or all of the winter season.
Ductless heat pumps are commonly called mini-splits and do not need ductwork to distribute conditioned air. Instead, ductless heat pumps directly condition the air of a room or area with an indoor head or cassette typically mounted high on a wall, ideal for homes that are heated by a boiler or electric baseboards and do not have existing ductwork.
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Most homes in Minnesota with an ASHP need a secondary source of heating to maintain a comfortable temperature on very cold days. Heat pumps&#; capacity to supply heat gradually diminishes as the temperature drops, so a secondary heating source maintains the thermostat setpoint when the temperature dips below a certain point. In some cases, your home&#;s existing heating system can be left in place to serve this purpose. Dual fuel systems feature an ASHP that covers all the cooling and part or most of the heating before switching to a natural gas or propane secondary system. Another option is an all-electric system, in which the ASHP covers all the cooling and nearly all the heating with electric resistance heating as a supplemental source in very cold weather.
Ducted ASHPs are typically installed with a forced air furnace (for a dual fuel system) or an air handler with electric resistance backup (for an all-electric system). Like a central air conditioner, a heat pump can be controlled by the same thermostat as the furnace or electric resistance heating. With a dual fuel system, the home&#;s heating source automatically switches from the ASHP to the secondary heating system at a set outdoor temperature, called the switchover temperature.&#;Switchover temperatures are typically set by a contractor based on the ASHP&#;s efficiency and size and the prices of electricity and gas. Some ASHPs are designed to integrate with any existing furnace. A quality contractor will quote you options that are feasible for your setup. With an all-electric ducted system, electric resistance booster heating automatically turns on to supplement the ASHP during the coldest days of the year when the ASHP alone cannot deliver sufficient heat.
Ductless systems typically operate independently of the home&#;s secondary heating source. Most indoor units have their own thermostat and are individually controlled rather than integrated with existing thermostats for a boiler or electric baseboards. Most homeowners with this type of system set the thermostat for their boiler or baseboards a few degrees cooler than the thermostat for the ASHP system when they want the ASHP to take on most of the heating load.
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