this post was submitted on 27 Jul 2023
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Sales are growing so quickly that some installers wonder whether heat pumps could even wipe out the demand for new air conditioners in a few years and put a significant dent in the number of natural gas furnaces.

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[–] 9488fcea02a9@sh.itjust.works 8 points 1 year ago (5 children)

I've never felt more stupid in my life, but i only just realized that the "AC unit" in my condo can also heat in the winter

I also have electric baseboard heaters. Which is more efficient? The heat pump? Or the baseboard heaters? I'm going to try using the heat pump this winter

[–] nebula@lemmy.ca 19 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Baseboard heating is 100% efficient but heat pumps can be up to 400% efficient. Depending on model and outside temperature. This is because hear pump is not generating heat its just moving it from one place to another. In AC mode from inside to outside of house and in heating mode from outside to inside.

Thanks for the info. Will try it out this winter

[–] Darkassassin07@lemmy.ca 4 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Is it actually a heat pump, or just an AC with a heating element as well. That's what mine is.

Yeah, my old furnace had an AC on the outside, but electric heat coils on the inside.

The only big perk was that it acted like a dehumidifier in the winter - since I switched to a heat pump, I've had to put a dehumidifier in the basement.

[–] 9488fcea02a9@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 year ago (2 children)

It says "split type heat pump"

[–] xthexder@l.sw0.com 2 points 1 year ago

That just means it's got 2 separate parts inside and outside connected by refrigerant lines (i.e. not a window unit that's all one piece). Most AC-only units would also be considered "split type".

[–] Darkassassin07@lemmy.ca 1 points 1 year ago

Ah, more than likely a proper heat pump then.

It's not unheard of, but uncommon to have resistive heating in a split unit.

Fun fact: The only real difference between a heat pump and a plain AC is a reversing valve to change the direction of refrigerant flow. Resistive heating is just cheaper to manufacture and not enough people think about the long term cost.

[–] MisterD@lemmy.ca 3 points 1 year ago

Heat pumps are 300% to 500% efficient

IOW: you get more heat energy out of a heat pump than the electrical energy put in.

Electric heaters are only 100% efficient

[–] RagingRobot@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

Use both stay warm

[–] barnsbauer@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I've always relied solely on my AC for both my summer and winter needs. I'm also interested in learning what may be a more efficient option.

[–] flower3@feddit.de 8 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Direct electrical heating will always be less efficient because it’s 1 kWH of power = 1 kWH of heat. ACs are air-air heat pumps where in my country β€žheat pumpsβ€œ refer to water-air or water-soil heat pumps. Since they are literally pumping heat from one place to another, they are up to 5x more efficient than any infrared heater or electrical furnace

[–] barnsbauer@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

That makes sense. Thanks. A water-air heat pump looks worth considering.