An air conditioner is necessary to counter the scorching heat in summers whereas an infrared heater becomes necessary to stay warm during bone cracking winter season. But why should you buy two separate machines when there is one machine available to carry out both tasks in a comprehensive manner? Well, I’m talking about heat pumps.
The concept of heat pumps is premised upon the movement of thermal energy, which is opposite to the normal flow of heat energy, so in a heat pump, the heat energy is absorbed from a cooler place and released at a warmer place. Due to this innovative technology, heat pumps are now widely popular among the people.
If you too want to buy one, then there are plenty of products available from which, you can select the best one. If you think you’re going to get confused seeing a large assortment of heat pumps, then you can just go through the best heat pumps reviews by consumer reports consisting of five top products. This will certainly make your task a lot easier.
Reviews Of 5 Best Heat Pumps Consumer Ratings & Reports
1. Goodman 3 Ton 14 SEER Air Conditioner
A trusted brand in the field of heat pumps, the company has lived up to its expectations with this 3 ton 14 Seer Air Conditioner, which is well-versed in providing cool and hot air, depending upon the season. Whether you talk about the design of the unit or its functionality, you will not be disappointed at all. The product looks good and works efficiently, what else you want.
This heat pump makes use of a non-chlorine refrigerant, which in layman language is known as R-410A. This refrigerant is perhaps the safest that you can find in the market, as it doesn’t cause much harm to the ozone layer. As far as the operation of the unit is concerned, then that is extremely quiet.
With a SEER rating of 14, this machine ranks higher on efficiency and churning out the maximum from the minimum energy units. HSPF rating of the unit is 9, which is again more than the federal minimum of 7.7. If you want an efficient and reliable heat pump split system, then you should definitely opt for Goodman’s heat pump.
2. Senville SENL-18CD Mini Split Air Conditioner Heat Pump
Senville has emerged as one of the biggest players in air conditioner niche in the past few years, thanks to its uncompromising stand on the quality and excellent efficiency of the products. This mini split AC and heat pump unit are no different, as it is one of the few units available on the market with the capability of handling 1000 square foot of area comfortably.
The heating capacity of the unit is 18,000 BTUs, which is among the highest in the lot. The kind of big specifications this mini split AC and heat pump has, you could easily mistake it for a central AC system. The unit is capable of cooling and heating your space up to -15C/5F, thanks to its silent indoor handler and reliable outdoor condenser.
Despite being a feature-packed product, the price of the unit remains doesn’t shoot up. The company has provided all the essential accessories with the unit to ensure that the buyers can install the product on their own. Moreover, the company offers a 5-year warranty on the product as well, just in case any problem arises.
3. Goodman 3 Ton 16 SEER Air Conditioner R410A
From installation to operation, this AC/Heat Pump is going to amaze you with its incredible capabilities. It comes with a liquid line, which makes installation a breeze. With a SEER rating of 16, this unit will keep you cool in summers and warm in winters. You can use this machine at home or in the office, as it works in both setups quite efficiently.
Boasting high-energy rating, this AC/heat pump will cool or warm up the room using the minimum possible power. The fin coils of the unit are made up of high-quality aluminum, which makes the machine durable and long lasting. The unit makes use of R410A as its cooling agent, which is environment-friendly.
Since it is a 3-ton unit, you can expect this AC/heat pump to cool down or heat up a room as big as 1200 to 1300 square feet. Moreover, the operation of the unit is quiet, so you won’t feel a thing when this unit is working hard to bring the temperature of your room to a comfortable level. A 10-year warranty given by the company on the product makes the unit even more dependable.
4. Goodman 3 Ton 14 Seer Heat Pump System with Multi-Position Air Handler
The pairing of a heat pump system with a multi-position air handler makes it a lot more convenient for the users, as they can quickly bring the temperature of the room to a desirable level. This heat pump incorporates a ‘SmartShift’ Technology, which allows the unit to stay quiet during operation and provides reliable defrost.
The company has added a wide range of features in the product such as compressor crankcase heater, suction-line accumulator, bi-flow liquid-line filter drier and a high-capacity muffler. Along with these, the heat pump has easy-access gauge ports, sweat connections, and service valves.
As far as multi-position air handler is concerned, then it features an aluminum evaporator coil, which can be optimized for use with the eco-friendly cooling agent, i.e., R410A. To access the cabinet, you can make use of one of many attic doors, which can also be positioned either horizontally or vertically. This unit complements the heat pump because it increases the heating process without consuming extra electricity units.
5. MrCool DIY 24k BTU 16 SEER Ductless Heat Pump Split System
This is another AC/Heat Pump unit, which does both functions in an impeccable manner. Many users call this unit unique among all the ductless heat pumps because of its remote controller, which is provided in the form of an app. Therefore, users can control the device using the app-based remote controller using their smart devices. The unit sports an inverter compressor, which has different speed controls making it eligible to be used in all types of weather conditions.
The unit can be easily installed, courtesy of the pre-charged line set. The same can be said for the refrigerant as well, which comes intact in the coils. The installation process is so easy that even a novice can do it without taking anybody’s assistance. The company offers a 7-year warranty on the compressor and 5-year warranty on the rest of the parts of the unit.
The Advantages of Heat Pump
A heat pump might not be great in terms of being an environmentally friendly product, but it is also a fact that many products lie beneath heat pumps for caring about the environment. Moreover, heat pumps have a wide range of benefits as well, which make them a considerable choice for heating up your house during cold weather conditions.
Safety: With a dozen of heating units available on the market, you can line them up all together and check as to which is the safest unit, and you’ll definitely find heat pumps to be among the top contenders. It is the safety aspect of heat pumps, which make them a top choice for people in search of a heating unit.
Low Maintenance Cost: Heat pumps are easy and cheap to maintain. You can compare the cost of maintenance of heat pumps to that of oil or gas-based heaters and you will find the difference. Initially, you may feel that both are at the same level when it comes to maintenance, but in the long run, heat pumps will save you a lot more money than oil or gas-based heaters.
Carbon Emission: Like all other heating and cooling devices, heat pumps also emit gases into the environment, which mainly comprise of carbon. However, the amount of carbon emitted by a heat pump is lesser than that of other heating units. Moreover, the energy conversion rate to the heat of heat pumps is higher compared to other heating units, thus getting you optimum heat with less energy.
Factors To Consider When Choosing A Heat Pump
If you have finally decided that you’re going to use a heat pump as the source of heat in your house, then you need to first figure out as to what the right price of the heat pump is. The price of an average heat pump could be anywhere between $1000 and $1500, which is not cheap by any means. Therefore, you will definitely be interested in knowing as to what benefits does the heat pump offer in order to decide whether it is worth spending that much money on the same.
Budget: This is perhaps the most important factor because if you have finalized a heat pump, but then you find out that the price of the unit is beyond your budget, would you buy it? Probably not, so you need to find out the heat pump that has all the features you need and suits your budget as well.
Specification: You need to buy a heat pump that efficiently heats up your house. Some heat pumps are more powerful than others, so you must check the specifications of the unit whether those are sufficient for your house or not. If the heat pump is not able to heat up your house or taking way too much of time, then there is no use of buying it.
Efficiency: The efficiency of a heat pump is determined from the ‘SEER’ and ‘HSPF’. Where SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating, HSPF, on the other hand, expands to ‘Heating Season Performance Factor’. Where SEER measures air conditioning efficiency, HSPF measures heating efficiency.
A heat pump having 20 SEER value is considered highly efficient, whereas if the heat pump has HSPF value of above 10 is considered good. It is extremely important to check these ratings while buying a heat pump because these will decide how efficiently the unit will work on a given amount of electricity.
Summary
A heat pump is the best alternative to your cooling and heating problem because it can do both tasks without burning a hole in your pocket. If you want only a heat pump, then that’s even cheaper and easier to install. Many heat pumps are now coming with multi-position air handler unit, which allows the heat pump to obtain air from more places in order to ensure fast heating of the premises. To find the most suitable heat pump, you will have to go through the best heat pumps reviews by consumer reports consisting of five amazing products that are currently ruling the market.