If you live in White Plains, MD, a heat pump is an appealing home comfort option. It will provide highly efficient, all-electric heating and cooling for your home. Plus, heat pumps work best in places where temperatures rarely drop well below freezing. However, buying a new heat pump is a big investment. So, you’ll want to know which brands have the best reputations before you choose one. Here’s everything you need to know about heat pumps and which brands routinely exceed customer expectations.
What Is a Heat Pump?
Although heat pumps seem like a recent innovation, they actually first appeared in the mid-1850s. In fact, homes everywhere, probably including your own, rely on heat pumps today. For example, did you know that your home’s refrigerator is a heat pump? So is your home’s central AC, if it has one. A heat pump uses the refrigeration cycle to capture heat from one location and transport it to another. In your refrigerator’s case, it collects heat from its sealed compartment and expels it into your kitchen. In your AC’s case, it extracts heat from your home’s air and expels it outdoors.
When you hear the term heat pump in an HVAC context, however, it refers to a specific type of system. Air-source heat pumps are like ACs, except they can reverse their refrigerant flow to serve as a heating system. Ground source heat pumps are also known as geothermal HVAC systems. They rely on a buried coolant loop to use the ground itself as a heat sink. In the summer, they store heat underground. In the winter, they extract heat from the ground to heat your home.
Why Choose a Heat Pump in the First Place?
The biggest advantage of owning a heat pump is its tremendous energy efficiency. Heat pumps only consume the energy necessary to power their refrigeration cycles. As a result, they aren’t subject to the same conditions that restrict the efficiency of other system types. For example, a gas furnace can never be more than 100% efficient. In their case, efficiency is the fraction of their fuel they convert into usable heat. In practice, furnaces top out at 98.5% efficiency. The remainder goes to waste in the form of exhaust gases.
Meanwhile, an air source heat pump typically operates at an average year-round efficiency of about 300%. Ground-source heat pumps are even more efficient. It isn’t unusual for those to average up to 500% efficiency year-round. The secret is that heat pumps only move already-existing heat around. So, in their case, efficiency describes how many units of heat they move per unit of electricity consumed.
Choosing a Reputable Heat Pump Brand
If you’re looking for a quality heat pump, brand reputation matters. We only sell and install quality heat pumps from top brands. However, the one you should choose depends on the kind of heat pump you need. The following is a breakdown of top heat pump brands by category.
Top Ducted Heat Pump Brands
Ducted heat pumps share a form factor with conventional central ACs. That makes them a natural upgrade for homes with existing ducted HVAC systems. The most well-known brands of ducted heat pumps include:
Lennox
Lennox ducted heat pumps have a great reputation, with good reason. For starters, Lennox heat pumps are among the most efficient available. They have models with SEER ratings up to 24 and HSPF ratings up to 11.8. Those equate to a seasonal efficiency of close to 340%. Plus, Lennox heat pumps come with a 10-year parts warranty. However, Lennox systems tend to be on the expensive side, but they’re well worth their cost.
American Standard
American Standard is another highly regarded ducted heat pump brand. They offer excellent performance and durability without breaking the bank. American Standard heat pumps have SEER ratings as high as 23.6 and HSPF ratings up to 10.5. They also come with a 10-year limited parts warranty. While it’s not as comprehensive as Lennox’s warranty, it covers the costliest parts. We sell and install the whole range of American Standard ducted heat pumps.
Goodman
Goodman is a budget-friendly brand with a reputation for cost-effective reliability. Goodman’s highest-end ducted heat pump has a SEER of 23.7 and an HSPF of 9.6. So, despite their affordability, Goodman heat pumps remain an efficient choice. They also come with a 10-year parts and lifetime compressor warranty, so you can count on getting your money’s worth. We also carry the whole line of Goodman ducted heat pumps.
Top Ductless Mini-Split Heat Pump Brands
If your home lacks the ductwork necessary for a ducted heat pump, you might opt for a mini-split system. Ductless mini-split systems combine a slim outdoor unit with multiple indoor air handlers. And, they’re even more efficient than ducted heat pumps. Here are the top mini-split system brands:
Mitsubishi Electric
Mitsubishi Electric has made ductless mini-split heat pumps longer than anyone else. That’s because they invented them back in the 1950s. That experience gives them a natural advantage, and they remain the world leader in mini-split systems today. Their best mini-split system boasts a SEER of 36.7 and an HSPF of 15.6. Plus, they come with a 12-year parts and compressor warranty. And as a Mitsubishi Electric Diamond Contractor, we specialize in all their mini-split system offerings.
Daikin
Daikin has manufactured ductless mini-split systems for almost as long as Mitsubishi Electric. They also have a reputation for high quality and decent efficiency. They’re a corporate cousin of Goodman, giving you a good idea of what to expect. Daikin offers mini-split heat pumps with SEER ratings up to 22.1 and HSPF ratings up to 11.8. Plus, they’re budget-friendly, making them a great choice if you want to save on a heat pump installation.
Top Geothermal Heat Pump Brands
When it comes to geothermal heat pumps, there are fewer brands to choose from. However, that doesn’t mean you’ll struggle to find a quality brand. WaterFurnace is an all-American brand and the world leader in geothermal heat pump technology. Their current models offer unbeatable efficiency that no other HVAC system can approach. A top-of-the-line WaterFurnace boasts a coefficient of performance of 5.2. That equates to an average operating efficiency of 520%. Plus, WaterFurnace models come with a 10-year warranty covering all parts and a 5-year labor allowance for covered repairs. You can’t get much better peace of mind than that.
Your Local Heat Pump Specialists
Since 1993, Southern Pride Service has been the top provider of air-source and geothermal heat pumps in White Plains. We’re licensed and insured, and our team of HVAC technicians has extensive training. When you work with us, expect upfront prices and honest recommendations. We also offer financing options on approved credit if needed. Plus, we’ll take the time to answer your questions so you know what to expect from your new heat pump. But you don’t have to take our word for it. Instead, read some of the reviews left by our scores of satisfied customers. Then, contact Southern Pride Service today to discuss the available heat pump installation options for your White Plains home.
