With summer approaching, upgrading your heat pump may be a smart move. New heat pumps promise increased indoor comfort and lower utility bills. But choosing the right heat pump for your home is not entirely a do-it-yourself project. By consulting a cooling and heating expert, you can be sure you’ll get the most from your investment.

Trained and certified HVAC professionals can help you choose the right size system for your home and explain the various features that can lower your energy bills in Southwest Florida’s hot, humid climate. The best HVAC technicians pass rigorous examinations to demonstrate proficiency in order to earn their certification, and they continue to take courses to stay on top of improving technology.

Among the factors an HVAC expert can help you navigate when you’re upgrading your heat pump:

• Size. HVAC technicians calculate the optimal size of your system using the Manual J method. It takes into account the size of your home, insulation levels, window quality and orientation, the number of occupants and your lifestyle. Your old system is not a reliable guide, since home improvements can lower the capacity you need when upgrading your heat pump. A system that is too large costs more initially and uses more electricity. It won’t remove as much humidity and runs in frequent, short bursts throughout the summer, wearing the parts faster.
• Installation. A heat pump is not a plug-and-play appliance. The technicians need to ascertain that the ducts in your home are in good shape, the wiring is properly completed, the thermostat calibrated and the refrigerant safely installed. Anyone who works with refrigerant must have completed training required by the Environmental Protection Agency.
• Maintenance. You can buy the most efficient system on the market, but without annual maintenance, its performance goes down. Special tools are used to measure the performance and maintain the heat pump parts. Lack of maintenance may also void the warranty.

When you need a heat pump upgrade, contact Conditioned Air to guide you through the process. We’ve been serving Southwest Florida for more than 50 years.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about heat pumps and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Technician image via Shutterstock