Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why should I buy a new heating or cooling system?

Efficiency and cost savings should be the main motivator in buying a new system. If your existing unit needs repair, is inefficient or is about 10-years-old, a new system can be up to 60% more efficient. Purchasing a new system can save you money in the short and long term.

2. How do I pick a new system?

A Coastal Energy technician can help you determine which system will work for you and your needs. A variety of factors, including your homes age and size, will affect your options.

3. How long will a new system last?

If maintained properly, a new air conditioner can be expected to last from 12 to 15 years and a gas furnace for 20 to 25 years. A Coastal Energy technician can provide you with a maintenance schedule that is appropriate for your system and needs.

4. What is a heat pump?

Used for heating or cooling, a heat pump transfers hot and cold from the interior to exterior or vice versa. It can heat your home or be used as an air conditioner.

5. How does a heat pump work?

A heat pump simply extracts the heat that's present in outdoor air in winter and delivers it inside your home to keep you warm and comfortable.

In summer, the process reverses. The heat pump pulls the heat out of indoor air and releases it outside to keep your home cool and dry. A heat pump's ability to both heat and cool makes it a very economical and efficient home comfort system.

A special liquid called a refrigerant circulates between the indoor and outdoor units, absorbing and releasing heat as it travels through the loop.

6. What are the parts of a heat pump?

A typical heat pump installation consists of two parts: an indoor unit and an outdoor unit. The indoor unit is called an air handler and looks similar to a gas furnace. The outdoor unit looks exactly like a central air conditioner in both size and appearance and contains the compressor.

Regardless of whether the heat pump is heating or cooling, the compressor is considered the "heart of the system" because it is the pump that circulates the refrigerant through the loop.

Because of its importance, experts recommend that you look closely at the compressor's reputation and warranty when selecting a heat pump.

7. Do heat pumps have efficiency ratings?

Yes. In fact, they have two, one for heating and one for cooling. The heating rating is called the Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF), the cooling rating is called the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER). In both cases, the higher the number, the greater the efficiency and the lower the operating costs.

When comparing ratings, remember that they are based on the total system, meaning the combination of the outdoor unit and the indoor unit.

8. Why do heat pumps have supplemental heaters?

Heat naturally migrates from warmer to colder areas through windows, doors, ceilings and walls. Insulation, weather-stripping and caulk slow down this heat loss, but cannot totally eliminate it. The colder it becomes, the faster a home loses heat.

The supplemental heater helps the heat pump during weather extremes when a home may lose heat faster than the heat pump can replace it. Electric heating elements in the indoor unit turn on automatically to make up the difference.

9. Can heat pumps be installed in existing homes?

Yes, especially if you already have a forced-air heating system, suitable ductwork and adequate insulation. Heat pumps can work with any forced air heating system ... gas, oil, propane or electric.

Heat pumps can also be installed in homes without existing ductwork and can be retrofit to almost any installation. Contact us for more information or to discuss your project.