There are three options for you to choose from when purchasing a heat pump: Geothermal, which uses the heat from a few feet below ground or water; Electrical Air Source, which utilizes the air from the outside, heats it and then pumps it into your home; and Dual Fuel, which utilizes both gas and electricity to heat your home.
Geothermal heat pumps are considered to be some of the most efficient units. This is because they use the natural heat of the earth which is located a few-feet below the surface of the earth. At this level, the ground temperatures are pretty steady and depending on where you are located range between forty five degrees and seventy-five degrees Fahrenheit. The geothermal heat pump takes advantage of this heat by exchanging heat with the earth through a ground heat exchanger. These systems are also able to cool your home and even provide you with hot water if they are equipped to do so. These systems last longer, are quieter and require little maintenance. They are more efficient because they use the ground heat.
There are also dual-source heat pumps that combine both the geothermal heat sources as well as utilize electricity. These have higher efficiency ratings than your air source electrical heat pump units, but are not as efficient as the standard geothermal system. The main advantage of the dual units is that they are cheaper to install and work almost as well as the standard unit. However, on your standard unit it is estimated that the lifespan for the inside components is 25 years while the ground loops may last for fifty years.
There are two other types of heat pumps you can choose from as well, although they are not going to be as efficient as the geothermal unit. These units are still going to work well and save you money in the long run though. Another type of dual-fuel unit is one that uses both electric and gas. These units are good for those locations that experience the occasional drop below freezing and require a more powerful source of fuel. These units switch between electric and gas.
Air source electrical heat pumps use only electricity and come in several sizes. There are units large enough to heat your whole home and there are units small enough to heat just a room. The size of unit you choose will depend on what your heating requirements are. Typically, these units are used only in those locations that experience the occasional drop in temperature, but have a mild winter overall.
Either unit that you choose will assist you in saving on your electricity bills. If you want to go with the “greenest” unit possible, then you will probably want to consider using the geothermal unit. It is estimated that 40,000 of these units are being installed in the United States each year and that the savings in energy bills will pay for the unit in five to ten years and the unit itself could last you a lifetime.