Manual digital thermostats use an electronic temperature sensor to register changes in the room temperature that then compare these changes with the settings selected by the user. If there is a difference between the room temperature and the set temperature, a command is sent to the heating or cooling system that action is needed. For this type of unit, you will still have to physically adjust the setting of your preferences whenever you would like to adjust the room temperature.
Programmable digital thermostats are an upgrade from the digital manual thermostats as they are far more convenient and can help save energy costs. Once you program the thermostat to fit your lifestyle and schedule, all you have to do is relax and let it do all the work. To stay comfortable and save energy year-round, you simply must program the temperatures into the memory of the unit, along with the times of day that you would like the changes to occur. For example, you can set a thermostat to a comfortable temperature for when you wake up in the morning, have it go into energy-conservation mode - while you are away at work, and then have a temperature set to go before you return home! You only need to program your thermostat once - until your season, schedule, or lifestyle changes.
Depending on the model, a thermostat can be programmed in one of three ways:
5 - 2 programming: Maintains a set schedule for five days (weekdays), then switches to an alternate schedule for the other two days (weekends).
5 - 1 - 1 programming: Maintains a five day schedule (weekdays), then switches to first individual day (Saturday), then second individual day (Sunday).
7 day programming: Allows the maximum flexibility for those with frequently-changing schedules by allowing you to program each day individually.
Special features to look for:
Automatic switchover - This allows the thermostat to control both heating and cooling without requiring that you manually switch between the heat and cool settings. Most digital programmable thermostats have this feature.
Manual override - Lets you manually modify your settings on a programmable thermostat. Your changes will remain in effect until the next programmed setting begins.
Vacation override - This function temporarily overrides any preprogrammed settings while you are away, saving money on unnecessary temperature maintenance. When you return, you can go back to your original settings without reprogramming from scratch!
Keypad lock - This prevents any changes to your system once you have programmed the settings.
Battery indicator - For the units that use a battery, this lets you know that the battery is low and needs to be replaced.
Filter change indicator - This indicator is triggered after a preset length of time to indicate that the system's internal filters need to be cleaned or replaced. Clean filters improve the efficiency of your furnace or air conditioner!
Auto season changeover - Changes settings as the seasons change.
Energy monitor - Maintains a record of how many hours your system has run for any period of time that you select.
Plus many other unique features to keep you comfortable!
If you are still unsure which thermostat will best suit your needs, feel free to contact our friendly customer service representatives at (800)734-0405 for more help! When you call, it is very helpful to have available the brand and model number of the thermostat that you are currently using. Most manufacturers print the model number of the thermostat on the inside of the wall casing, normally behind the easily-removed cover.
What is the difference between an air conditioner and a heat pump?
An air conditioner and a heat pump are very similar pieces of equipment; they even look the same from the outside, but there is a critical difference. A heat pump serves two functions: you can use it like an air conditioner to cool in the summer, and you can heat your house with it in the winter. It’s easiest to think of a heat pump as simply an air conditioner running in reverse. In the winter, it delivers warm inside and cold air outside; the opposite of an air conditioner.
How does a heat pump work in our area?
A properly installed and sized high efficiency air source heat pump in our climate will heat about 75% of the time in the winter months. When the outside air temperature drops below about 25 degrees F, the supplemental heat will engage to assist in maintaining the temperature in the home for about 25% of the time. During extremely cold temperatures, the supplemental heat will be the primary source of heat. The annual energy savings from an air source heat pump is mostly achieved because it is only uses about 25% of the power to heat your home when compared to an electric furnace. Overall savings is about 30-50% over a conventional electric forced air furnace.
A ground source heat pump is the most efficient way to heat your home. Typically a ground loop is buried in the ground or ground water is used to heat your home and pre heat your hot water. Because the ground or water temperatures stay at a constant temperature, the ground source heat pump can take heat from the ground to maintain the temperature in your home with little or no supplemental heat! Overall savings can reach over 70%!
How does a heat pump work?
If you have read How Air Conditioners Work, then you are familiar with the basic process that allows an air conditioner to concentrate cold in one set of coils (inside the house) and heat in another set (outside the house). The article explains the process in great detail.
Imagine that you took an air conditioner and flipped it around so that the hot coils were on the inside and the cold coils were on the outside. Then you would have a heater. It turns out that this heater works extremely well. Rather than burning a fuel, what it is doing is "moving heat."
A heat pump is an air conditioner that contains a valve that lets it switch between "air conditioner" and "heater." When the valve is switched one way, the heat pump acts like an air conditioner, and when it is switched the other way it reverses the flow of Freon and acts like a heater.
Heat pumps can be extremely efficient in their use of energy. But one problem with most heat pumps is that the coils in the outside air collect ice. The heat pump has to melt this ice periodically, so it switches itself back to air conditioner mode to heat up the coils. To avoid pumping cold air into the house in air conditioner mode, the heat pump also lights up burners or electric strip heaters to heat the cold air that the air conditioner is pumping out. Once the ice is melted, the heat pump switches back to heating mode and turns off the burners.
Will I save money by installing a high efficiency heat pump?
Heating Comparison Chart: Click on the chart to see heating costs comparison for a typical home in our service area.
What is a Dual Fuel Heat Pump?
A dual fuel heat pump is typically a forced air, electric air source heat pump coupled with another type of fuel source as the supplemental heat. Most of the time that fuel source is natural gas. After a ground source heat pump, the cheapest way to heat your home is with a high efficiency electric air source heat pump coupled with natural gas supplemental heat. Dual fuel heat pumps qualify for the Midstate Electric heat pump rebates.
Can I cover my outdoor Heat Pump?
Yes. If the cover is far enough above the top of the unit as to not impede the air flow discharging from it, and if it doesn't interfere with servicing of the unit, then it could help protect the unit from the elements like snow, ice, falling branches and leaves. However, it is not really necessary. Heat Pumps are designed for outdoor use.
How often should I change the air filter in my Heat Pump system?
Check it at least every month during peak use, and replace it when it looks dirty enough to impair the air flow through it. Some filters, such as media filters or electronic air cleaners, are washable; others are disposable and must be replaced. You should clean the filters on your Heat Pump depending on how dusty your house is. This can be done with a vacuum cleaner.
Can I repair my own Heat Pump?
In most cases, no. Heat Pumps are on a 230 volt circuit. Severe shock or electrocution is possible without a thorough understanding of electricity. Also, Cooling systems today are more complicated to service than ever with solid state circuit boards and sensors.
What is the average life-span of a Heat Pump?
It can vary, depending on how much the system is used and how regularly it is checked or serviced. Generally, the average life-span of units built in the 1970s and 1980s is about 15 years, but individual units may vary and last much longer depending on use and how well they are maintained. Newer units are expected to last even longer. Air source units usually have a shorter life since they have to work out in the elements.
How do I know when it is time to replace my Heat Pump?
When the system starts giving you more problems than seem cost-effective to fix.
If the unit is approaching 10 years in age and major components such as the compressor, reversing valve, accumulator or outdoor coil go wrong, it might make sense to replace instead of fixing. When faced with major repairs, we can help you make the right choice. Replacing a compressor is somewhat less expensive than replacing the entire unit, but new units may give you greater efficiency, lower operating costs and a brand new warranty on the whole unit, not just the part to be replaced.
What is the 3-phase electric supply issue for Heat Pumps?
Heat pumps are driven by fairly large electric motors. Such motors work best with a 3-phase electrical supply. Unfortunately, this supply is not common for most houses in Europe. Having said that, small heat pumps (say up to 8 kW output) work just as well on single phase. Multiple compressor systems are available.
A 3-phase unit will arguably last longer, or may be a little more reliable than a single phase unit, so we favour that type.
It may be worthwhile asking your electricity supplier the cost of installing a 3-phase supply.
Can I power a Heat Pump from a renewable energy source like a windmill, hydro or solar panels?
Yes, you can.
A hydro-powered heat pump is probably the most viable renewable power-source since it is fairly constant. Solar or wind inputs would be difficult, especially on a small scale. The outputs are variable and dependent on the weather so there can be problems matching the input power requirements. The very large number of photo-electric cells required to power a heat pump would probably make this option impractical.
Powering a heat pump from grid electricity derived from a renewable source (e.g. wind-farm or hydro) is a good option for the environment.
How are Heat Pumps better than other forms of heating?
Heat pumps offer many more benefits than any other heating systems. They do not burn oxygen or create stuffiness like open fires. They are designed for year-round comfort, not just the four months of winter. They produce low density heat, unlike fires or electric heaters. They are unmatched for convenience and ease of use (remotely controlled). They do not pollute our atmosphere like combustion heating sources. They also filter the air in your home with their filtration systems.
Heat pumps are three units in one. They will heat, cool and de-humidify.
Do Heat Pumps need servicing?
Like a car, heat pumps should be serviced regularly for optimum performance. This involves cleaning the air filter and perhaps checking that the refrigeration charge is correct. It is also good to service the heat pump before each extreme season, i.e. before winter and summer.
Are Heat Pumps reliable?
Yes. Heat pumps are reliable. They use the same process as a home fridge or freezer and have the same level of dependability and life expectancy.
Are Heat Pumps noisy?
No. Heat Pumps are generally not noisy. The source of noise in a heat pump is usually the air being blown through the grill as it is forced out of the unit. Air noise is marginally higher than ambient background noise and is usually not distracting.
Can a Heat Pump also heat the domestic hot water?
It certainly can, but whilst heating to the high temperatures required, the efficiency reduces. However, even low efficiencies are far better than an electric immersion heater. Most of the latest heat pump units have the hot water function built in, so it is usual to use this facility.
As the insulation levels in buildings increases, the heat demand drops, but the hot water demand is, if anything, increasing. It is therefore becoming more important to optimise the hot water facility, i.e. the size and design of the hot water cylinder are very important.
Where should I install a heat pump?
In your utility room, basement or even out in the garage.
There is a big variation in Heat Pump efficiency claims. Who do I believe?
There are a great variety of heat pump applications and uses, resulting in a wide range of efficiencies. Just be mindful that there is sometimes a tendency to quote best-case figures. The average annual efficiency could be significantly less than first expected due to many reasons. Attention to design details is the key to achieving high energy efficiency.
How can a Heat Pump be cheaper to run with more moving parts?
A heat pump uses electricity to "transfer" heat, unlike electric heaters that "convert" electric energy to heating energy, which limits the amount of electricity they can use.
A heat pump can transfer three to four times more heat from the compression of gas than could be converted from the electricity it uses. A conversion type heater is only about 95-98% efficient whilst a heat pump is up to 370% efficient.
How much will it cost to buy & install a Heat Pump?
Because each home is unique, the installed cost of a Heat Pump is different for each home and will depend on the size and type of Heat Pump required.
Why is the of the Heat Pump I have been quoted for smaller than my existing boiler?
Boilers are usually larger than they need to be. This is partly because it makes sense for a plumber to play safe to avoid any complaints that the house is not warm enough. However, it is too expensive to install an oversized Heat Pump system, therefore the heat output is more accurately matched to heat demand. Furthermore, heat pumps are happy running continuously without a rest. Do not forget, you are saving energy with a smaller system. This is also true for boilers, but to a lesser extent.
Do Heat Pumps take up a lot of space?
No. Heat pumps are designed to be unobtrusive in their size, are neutrally-coloured to fit into your décor, and they run at a low noise levels so as not to be noticed.
Which factors will affect the size of the Heat Pump I need?
The amount of heating needed will depend on the heat your home loses through walls, windows, and roofs. To minimise this loss, good insulation is recommended.
Can a Heat Pump heat my whole house?
Yes it can. Newly built or well insulated buildings can be easily heated with a heat pump. Old, badly insulated buildings can however be a problem in cold weather, with heat pumps struggling to satisfy them. In these buildings, the temperature of the radiators or underfloor heating may have to exceed the efficient working temperature levels for the heat pump.
Fireplaces or boilers are often necessary to ensure adequate heating in the winter. Even in very well insulated houses, it is not uncommon to retain a fireplace or stove for extra comfort in cold weather.
What size of Heat Pump do I need for my home?
Every home is as individual as its owner. The key to selecting the right Heat Pump for your home is accurate estimation of the heat that will need to be transferred into your home in winter for heating and out of your home in summer for cooling. This needs to be carried out by experienced and qualified specialists. A Heat Pump will cover roughly 10 square meters of area per kW of output.
Is an air-source heat pump a viable option?
Air-source is much easier and cheaper to install compared to other types of heat pumps, but it does not promise very high energy efficiencies for year-round heating in cold climates. The main reason is that the efficiency drops when you need most heat. A back-up from a boiler at such times is usually required.
Ground source, by contrast, maintains a constant heat output unaffected by the daily temperature changes above. Smaller air systems may give reasonable overall results if used alongside a boiler, but only if used when air temperatures are not too cold. Air source units usually have a shorter life since they have to work out in the elements.
What is the difference between an air source and a ground source (geothermal) heat pump?
An air source heat pump extracts heat from the outdoor air in heating mode, while a ground source unit extracts heat from the ground. The temperature deep in the ground is constant at about 10 oC so a ground source unit can operate more efficiently when air temperatures are below 10 oC, but will be less efficient at temperatures above 10 oC.
Do Heat Pumps really work?
Yes, they simply move energy from one place to another.
A fridge works on the same principle. For example, a bottle of white wine brought home straight from your local supermarket is at room temperature. If you put it in your fridge and wait a few hours, it will be cold enough to drink. If you touch the back of your fridge during that time, you will feel heat. The fridge has taken the low temperature energy out of the wine, compressed it up to a higher temperature and in effect has warmed the kitchen up slightly.
By using the same process, both Air Source and Ground Source Heat Pumps remove energy from a source and transfer it into your building. The sun naturally replenishes the energy removed from the air and ground.
Are Heat Pumps a new technology?
No, they share the same basic technology as refrigerators and air conditioners which were invented over 100 years ago.
How does a Heat Pump work?
Use an old-style bicycle pump for a while and it will get hot. That's because gas (air) is being compressed. Spray an aerosol can and the valve area will become cold. That's because the compressed gas in the aerosol can is expanding. Heat Pumps (like refrigerators) have a system of pipes containing gas (refrigerant) that is continuously expanding in one part of the system while compressing in another. When the gas is being compressed, it gets hot.
A Heat Pump's exterior unit compresses the gas, and then pumps it to the interior unit where the gas runs over a series of finned coils, giving off the heat. The gas is then returned to the outside unit, where it expands and runs through another set of finned coils, which become cold. The cold gas is then recompressed and so the cycle continues.
For summer cooling, the refrigerant flow is reversed, so the interior unit becomes cool, while the exterior hot. Heat Pumps shift more heat than the electrical energy consumed in compressing the refrigerant and running the fans, making them highly-efficient methods of heating - up to three to four times as much in the right conditions.
What is a Heat Pump
A Heat Pump is a home appliance similar to a fridge or freezer that heats and cools the atmosphere in your home. It heats, cools, dehumidifies and continuously filters the air of dust and other impurities. It can also circulate the air without heating or cooling to eliminate stuffiness as well. Typical Heat Pumps are composed of two parts - an indoor unit and an outdoor unit - and for this reason are often called a Split System. Like many of your home appliances, a Heat Pump is operated using a remote control.
What size of Heat Pump do I need for my home?
Every home is as individual as its owner. The key to selecting the right Heat Pump for your home is accurate estimation of the heat that will need to be transferred into your home in winter for heating and out of your home in summer for cooling. This needs to be carried out by experienced and qualified specialists. A Heat Pump will cover roughly 10 square meters of area per kW of output.
Is an air-source heat pump a viable option?
Air-source is much easier and cheaper to install compared to other types of heat pumps, but it does not promise very high energy efficiencies for year-round heating in cold climates. The main reason is that the efficiency drops when you need most heat. A back-up from a boiler at such times is usually required.
Ground source, by contrast, maintains a constant heat output unaffected by the daily temperature changes above. Smaller air systems may give reasonable overall results if used alongside a boiler, but only if used when air temperatures are not too cold. Air source units usually have a shorter life since they have to work out in the elements.
What is the difference between an air source and a ground source (geothermal) heat pump?
An air source heat pump extracts heat from the outdoor air in heating mode, while a ground source unit extracts heat from the ground. The temperature deep in the ground is constant at about 10 oC so a ground source unit can operate more efficiently when air temperatures are below 10 oC, but will be less efficient at temperatures above 10 oC.
Do Heat Pumps really work?
Yes, they simply move energy from one place to another.
A fridge works on the same principle. For example, a bottle of white wine brought home straight from your local supermarket is at room temperature. If you put it in your fridge and wait a few hours, it will be cold enough to drink. If you touch the back of your fridge during that time, you will feel heat. The fridge has taken the low temperature energy out of the wine, compressed it up to a higher temperature and in effect has warmed the kitchen up slightly.
By using the same process, both Air Source and Ground Source Heat Pumps remove energy from a source and transfer it into your building. The sun naturally replenishes the energy removed from the air and ground.
Are Heat Pumps a new technology?
No, they share the same basic technology as refrigerators and air conditioners which were invented over 100 years ago.
How does a Heat Pump work?
Use an old-style bicycle pump for a while and it will get hot. That's because gas (air) is being compressed. Spray an aerosol can and the valve area will become cold. That's because the compressed gas in the aerosol can is expanding. Heat Pumps (like refrigerators) have a system of pipes containing gas (refrigerant) that is continuously expanding in one part of the system while compressing in another. When the gas is being compressed, it gets hot.
A Heat Pump's exterior unit compresses the gas, and then pumps it to the interior unit where the gas runs over a series of finned coils, giving off the heat. The gas is then returned to the outside unit, where it expands and runs through another set of finned coils, which become cold. The cold gas is then recompressed and so the cycle continues.
For summer cooling, the refrigerant flow is reversed, so the interior unit becomes cool, while the exterior hot. Heat Pumps shift more heat than the electrical energy consumed in compressing the refrigerant and running the fans, making them highly-efficient methods of heating - up to three to four times as much in the right conditions.
What is a Heat Pump?
A Heat Pump is a home appliance similar to a fridge or freezer that heats and cools the atmosphere in your home. It heats, cools, dehumidifies and continuously filters the air of dust and other impurities. It can also circulate the air without heating or cooling to eliminate stuffiness as well. Typical Heat Pumps are composed of two parts - an indoor unit and an outdoor unit - and for this reason are often called a Split System. Like many of your home appliances, a Heat Pump is operated using a remote control.
What is the difference between an air conditioner and a heat pump?
An air conditioner and a heat pump are very similar pieces of equipment; they even look the same from the outside, but there is a critical difference. A heat pump serves two functions: you can use it like an air conditioner to cool in the summer, and you can heat your house with it in the winter. It’s easiest to think of a heat pump as simply an air conditioner running in reverse. In the winter, it delivers warm inside and cold air outside; the opposite of an air conditioner.
HVAC /R (Heating Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration), where would we be without it?
Long distance transportation of all almost all foods would be almost impossible, commercial office buildings would not be able to be constructed in their present form as they would be unable to accommodate the millions of people who work in them daily. We would not even be able to get a cold drink from our favourite vending machine. Heating, Refrigeration and air-conditioning systems not only control the temperature and humidity of our air, but the total air quality in residential, commercial, industrial, and other buildings, coolers, refrigerated trucks, and freezers. Refrigeration systems also make it possible to store and transport food, medicine, and other perishable items. These systems are all around us. Think about what you did yesterday or what you might do today that involves refrigeration, heating or cooling and air-conditioning systems.
How do I know if I can use an add-on heat pump with my furnace? An add-on heat pump can be installed in both new and existing homes, whether the furnace operates on natural gas, oil, propane or electricity. In most cases, the ductwork will be the same.
Is it true that a heat pump runs longer than a furnace? Yes. That is because a heat pump heats your entire home more evenly, unlike a gas furnace that delivers hot bursts of air, leaving "pockets" of cool air.
Is a heat pump as efficient for cooling as a central air conditioner? Yes. A heat pump and a central air conditioner with equal SEER ratings cool with the same efficiency.
What maintenance would I have to perform on an add-on heat pump? It is as easy to maintain as a central air conditioner. Change filters regularly and keep the outdoor unit free of grass, leaves, shrubbery and other debris. Have it checked annually by a qualified service technician to ensure efficient operation.
Since the heat pump seems similar to an air conditioner and yet runs year-round, will it wear out sooner? No. Heat Pumps are engineered to run year-round, and recent technological advances have greatly improved reliability. The typical life expectancy for an add-on heat pump is 15 years or more, and many models offer a 10-year warranty on the compressor.
Does a heat pump require a new duct system? Rarely. The ductwork required by a heat pump is the same used by most central air conditioning systems.
Q: How does an air-conditioner work?
A: Most people think that air conditioners lower the temperature in their homes simply by pumping cool air in. What’s really happening is the warm air from your house is being removed and cycled back in as cooler air. This cycle continues until your thermostat reaches the desired temperature. An air conditioner uses the evaporation of a refrigerant, like Freon, to provide cooling.
This is how the evaporation cycle in an air conditioner works: The compressor compresses cool Freon gas, causing it to become hot, high pressure Freon gas. The hot gas runs through a set of coils so it can dissipate its heat, and it condenses into a liquid. The Freon liquid runs through an expansion valve, and in the process it is evaporated to become cold, low-pressure Freon gas. The cold gas runs through a set of coils that allow the gas to absorb heat and then cool down the air inside the home. Mixed in with the Freon is a small amount of lightweight oil. This oil lubricates the compressor.
Q: How does a heat pump work?
A: If you have read “How does an air-conditioner work?”, then you are familiar with the basic process that allows an air conditioner to concentrate cold in one set of coils (inside the house) and heat in another set (outside the house).
Imagine that you took an air conditioner and flipped it around so that the hot coils were on the inside and the cold coils were on the outside. Then you would have a heater. It turns out that this heater works extremely well. Rather than burning a fuel, what it is doing is “moving heat.”
A heat pump is an air conditioner that contains a valve that lets it switch between “air conditioner” and “heater.” When the valve is switched one way, the heat pump acts like an air conditioner, and when it is switched the other way it reverses the flow of Freon and acts like a heater.
Heat pumps can be extremely efficient in their use of energy. But one problem with most heat pumps is that the coils in the outside air collect ice. The heat pump has to melt this ice periodically, so it switches itself back to air conditioning mode to heat up the coils. To avoid pumping cold air into the house in air conditioning mode, the heat pump also lights up burners or electric strip heaters to heat the cold air that the air conditioner is pumping out. Once the ice is melted, the heat pump switches back to heating mode and turns off the burners.
Q: Should I close the registers in rooms that are not used often?
A: No. Closing registers and shutting off rooms hinders the system’s designed airflow and greatly reduces its efficiency. If properly installed, each system is designed to cool a certain number of square feet. Contrary to popular belief, closing off registers and shutting doors does not save much energy. It causes the air conditioning system to cycle more often and work harder to cool less space.
Q: How important is adding a humidifier to my home’s heating system?
A: In the winter, air is drier. This dry air can damage the woodwork and furniture you have in your home, as well as zap the moisture from your skin. Dry air even makes you feel cooler because your body senses heat as a combination of temperature and humidity. Adding humidity to offset this drying process will improve your comfort as well as preserve the woodwork in your home. As an added benefit, you may actually be able to lower your thermostat a couple of degrees. You will not only feel warmer, but will actually lower your home heating bill.
Q: What size heating and air conditioning system do I need?
A: An oversized HVAC system will turn on, satisfy the thermostat and shut off before it can adequately remove sufficient moisture from the air. This problem is more physically noticeable during the cooling season because you feel cold (not cool) and the excessive moisture in the air causes you to feel damp and sticky. Failure to remove sufficient moisture from the air can also lead to property damage such as mold and mildew in the summer months and dry-rot in the winter months. What’s more, the stress of short-cycling (too many starts and stops) also greatly decreases the life of the system while greatly increasing your monthly energy bills.
On the other hand, a system that is too small cannot heat or cool adequately, especially in extreme weather conditions. The air conditioner will run constantly in the summer and the furnace will do the same in the winter. Once again, this problem will lead to decreased life span and increased energy usage.
A correctly sized heating and cooling system isn’t based on square footage alone. It’s based on structure. Many factors go into determining the size of the HVAC system including: the design of the house; materials used in the exterior walls; type and sizes of windows; insulation above, below and in the walls; basement and attic conditions; house orientation; and so on.
Q: What is the regular maintenance needed for my heating and cooling units?
A: We recommend that your heating and cooling system be tested and inspected twice a year: Once in the spring and once in the fall. This will ensure your heating and air system is operating safely and efficiently. We also recommend that you change your air filters regularly, depending on the type of filter you have. If you use the standard throw-away 1” filter, you should change it every 6-8 weeks. Don’t let the filter get clogged as this can cut down on efficiency and/or cause damage to the unit.
