Blog
Heat Pumps – A Popular Home heating Option
Ductless heat pumps are an increasingly popular heating choice; in just the last several years, more than 30,000 Maine homes and businesses have had them installed.
Ductless heat pumps consist of an outdoor unit connected to indoor air handlers by refrigerant lines, which carry heat between the two units. They provide heat by extracting heat from outside air and delivering it indoors as needed. Because they are moving heat, rather than generating it through combustion or resistance, heat pumps can achieve efficiencies well above 100%. Long used for cooling in warm climates, heat pumps are now able to provide efficient heating in cold climates even at outdoor temperatures as low as -15 °F.
Heat pumps are often used as a supplemental heating system, but a growing number of homes and businesses in Maine are designed to heat and cool entirely with heat pumps. If you’re looking for a whole-building solution, be sure to let your installer know, because the amount of heat a system provides depends on the building, the heat pump, the number of indoor units and the outdoor temperature
A couple in Presque Isle, Maine, where winter temperatures can average in the single digits, found that a ductless heat pump cut their overall heating costs by 75 percent. They’re delighted with the financial savings, and like knowing that their home now generates fewer greenhouse gas emissions.
If you’re considering buying a ductless heat pump, Efficiency Maine offers help with every step of the process—from information on installation considerations and frequently asked questions, to financing options, rebates, and a database of contractors qualified to install your heat pump. Click here to get started.