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What is an AHRI number?
An Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) certified heat pump system confirms the efficiency ratings of specific combinations of an outdoor heat pump unit, indoor heat pump unit, and/or furnace in the case of a dual-fuel system. If any component of your heat pump system changes, the system will have a different AHRI reference…
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Do heat pumps provide air filtration?
Yes, both mini-split and central air source heat pumps are able to provide air filtration. The air filtration system of the heat pump filters indoor air rather than fresh air coming in to the home and has the ability to capture airborne contaminants including dust, dirt, allergens, smoke, fibers, bacteria, viruses, fungi, and mold spores.…
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How do I convert my heat pumps capacity rating between BTUs to tons?
The size, or capacity, of the heat pump is expressed in either nominal tons or British Thermal Units (BTU). One ton of capacity is equivalent to 12,000 BTU per hour or 3.5 kW. A typical residential heat pump generally ranges between 1 to 5 tons. In order to receive a heat pump rebate through the…
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What is a cold climate heat pump?
Heat pumps are the perfect heating system option for colder parts of British Columbia. While in these regions, cold climate heat pumps are recommended, they become increasingly popular even in the Lower Mainland and on Vancouver Island. Cold climate heat pumps are built to work efficiently in conditions down to -25 degrees Celsius, with some…
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Do heat pumps work well in cold weather?
Heat pumps are the most energy efficient and climate friendly heating and cooling upgrade option for homes in British Columbia. A typical modern heat pump works at a high efficiency down to minus 8.3 degrees Celsius1. As the outdoor temperature decreases below this temperature the heat pump’s efficiency also decreases. Heat pumps are ideally suited…
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What is the best way to operate my heat pump?
Heat pumps are the most efficient and climate-friendly heating and cooling systems on the market today. While heat pumps can operate up to two to three times more efficiently than conventional heating and cooling systems, your home’s long-term comfort, energy savings and operational costs are dependant on how you operate your heat pump on a…
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What is the House as a System concept?
Although separate from each other – your insulation, heating and cooling system, windows, doors, ventilation, and exterior walls, foundation and siding make your house operate as a multi-component system, where all the components are interactive. Because your house operates as a multi-component system – sometimes energy retrofits to one component of your home can affect…
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What is a heat pump and what are its benefits?
A heat pump takes heat energy from one place and moves it to another – just like a refrigerator. In summer, it moves heat out of the house, and in the winter it moves heat into the house – even if it’s cold outside. Heat pumps are able to transfer heat using a process of…
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What are air-to-water heat pumps?
Heat pumps are very efficient, and climate friendly heating systems that are used to heat the home.In Canada, air-to-water heat pumps are an alternative to the more common air-to-air heat pumps. Unlike an air-to-air heat pump, an air-to-water heat pump does not use forced air to heat the home. Instead, this type of system uses…
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How do I interpret the U-factor and performance of windows?
U-factor is a measure (W/ m2·K) of the rate of non-solar heat transfer through the window. The lower the U-factor, the greater a window’s resistance to heat flow, the better its insulating value, and the more energy efficient it is. Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) measures the fraction of solar energy transmitted and tells you how well…
