The Guide To Heat Pumps For Homeowners in Halifax

Halifax is a city with extremely unpredictable weather. One day it is warm and rainy, the next it’s an ice storm at -20°. These wild swings in temperature make heat pumps the best home heating and cooling option for Halifax area residents. In this article, we’ll explain why heat pumps work so well in Halifax’s climate, some key considerations for choosing the proper heat pump model, and some suggestions for local heat pump dealers in Halifax. 

Why Heat Pumps Work So Well For Halifax’s Climate

Heat pumps can provide home comfort all-year-round and in nearly all weather conditions. First, though, it is important to understand how heat pumps operate. 

Heat pumps do not produce heat, but instead, distribute it from one place to another. Heat naturally tends to move from one place to another. Heat pumps transfer the heat from outside into your home. To transfer heat, your outdoor unit takes the heat and runs it through sets of refrigerant tubes which absorb the heat and send it inside your house. Since heat pumps are able to transfer heat instead of creating it, it means that they can consume significantly less energy than traditional heating methods. 

While it may not seem like it, even during the coldest winter days, there is still heat in the air for heat pumps to extract and transfer into your home. This process of heat transfer works efficiently up to temperatures below -20 degrees. However, it’s important to note that in Halifax throughout the winter months in 2018 and 2019, there were no days in which the actual temperature dropped below -20 degrees (although it felt as though it did with the windchill).

The fact that heat pumps can provide and distribute heat all winter long makes them an ideal source for home heating for Halifax’s winters. However, just as it gets bitterly cold in the winter, the summer months can become just as uncomfortable with the heat. Luckily during the summer months, your heat pump can simply reverse the heat transfer process outlined above to cool your home. Interestingly enough, this is the same cooling process that modern air conditioning units use.

Which Heat Pump Model Should You Choose?

There are several different types of heat pumps that you can choose from. The most common configurations for homeowners in Halifax are ducted and ductless units. While the heat pump professionals outlined below are best suited to help you determine which type of heat pump is best for you, which system you choose often depends on your needs and the layout of your home. Ducted units are often best for homes with existing ductwork in place. Ductless (or mini split) units are highly versatile and are often used to provide heat to specific and often-used areas of your home. 

Beyond the configuration you choose, there are a variety of key performance measures that you should be evaluating. These include:

• HSPF, which is the measure of heat pump efficiency in heating mode.  
• SEER, which is the measure of heat pump performance in cooling mode. 
• COP, which describes the amount of heat that a heat pump can produce compared to how much energy has been put in at any given time. 

For colder climates like Halifax, HSPF and COP are key metrics that you will want to evaluate before making a purchase.

Contact us with any questions you have regarding your heat pump.

With thanks to Daikin Atlantic for their editorial contribution