Homeowners looking for an alternative to traditional ducted HVAC systems can find a space-saving solution in a ductless mini-split heat pump.

These units, often just called mini splits, offer the same level of home comfort as traditional furnaces, air conditioners and heat pumps, but with three significant advantages.

1. Ease of installation: Ductless mini splits are easier to install than traditional HVAC systems because they don’t require a large network of ductwork to distribute heated and cooled air, or any ductwork at all. The largest part of a mini-split system is the main outdoor unit that houses the condenser, compressor and other system components. The other parts of a mini-split system are one to four small indoor air-handling units that connect to the outdoor unit through an approximately 3-inch diameter conduit run through each wall where an air handler is located. The conduit contains power lines, refrigerant pipes and the condensing drain.
2. Flexibility of placement: Each indoor unit of a mini-split system operates independently of the others and has its own thermostat, which means it can be placed almost anywhere. You can zone for focused temperature control, spreading them out among different rooms or floors. The indoor units can be attached to a wall or ceiling, or simply placed where they’re the least obtrusive. They support almost any room design plan and run quietly, making them a good choice for bedrooms, home offices or recreation rooms.
3. Energy efficiency: Mini-split systems do not rely on ductwork, so they do not experience the energy loss sometimes found in ducted systems. They focus heating or cooling where you want it and when it’s needed, which means less waste of energy and money conditioning areas that are infrequently or never used. Since they function as a heat pump, they are extremely energy efficient, which means lower overall utility bills.

AC Pro and our network of certified professional contractors have been providing expert air conditioning and heating services to customers in Southern California and Nevada since 1986. Contact us today for more information on ductless mini-split heating and cooling, to get an estimate on a new system, or to schedule a professional installation.

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

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Looking for a wise investment? Consider upgrading your home’s heating and cooling system with a heat pump.

Like other air conditioning systems, heat pumps provide consistent, comfortable cool air all season long. Unlike other air conditioning systems, they can heat your home, too — without a separate furnace or other heat source.

This two-in-one system works by transferring existing heat rather than burning fuel to create it. During the warm months, your heat pump transfers heat from inside your house to the outdoors, leaving you cool. When you need home heating, your heat pump works in reverse, extracting heat from the outdoors and pumping it into your home.
Because the heat pump does not work to generate heat, it uses less energy than other systems.

Heat pumps are available in two main categories: air-source heat pumps, which extract heat from the air, or ground-source heat pumps. The latter take advantage of thermal heat underground to heat your home — unlike the air, the ground around your home maintains a surprisingly consistent temperature year-round. In the summer, thermal systems pump the heat from your home into the ground.

In climates with colder winters, standard heat pumps often lose efficiency. But hybrid heat pump systems include either electrical resistance heaters or backup burners to supplement the pump, kicking on when temperatures fall below a certain level. These options often prove more economical than running your home central heating purely on gas or electricity.

If now is the time to upgrade your cooling and heating system, it’s worth your while to investigate a heat pump. Energy efficient by design, they can pay off significantly over time by reducing your utility bills. Contact a contractor in the AC Pro network today to ask questions and get started on your search for a new, energy-efficient home comfort system. Serving Southern California and Nevada, we’re always happy to help.

Our goal is to help inform 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.

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In Southern California and Nevada, we generally enjoy mild winters with great weather throughout the year. This is the perfect climate for heat pumps, one of the most energy-efficient and comfortable heating and cooling systems available. 

Here’s how heat pumps work to provide efficient, year-round home comfort:

Heart of the heat pump

The heart of the heat pump includes the compressor, two heat exchangers (indoor and outdoor units) and the reversing valve. The compressor pumps refrigerant through coils, circulating between the two heat exchangers. The direction that the refrigerant flows determines heating or cooling mode, which is controlled by the reversing valve.

Sum of the parts

With heat-pump operation in heating mode, the outdoor fan blows across the heat exchanger (condenser). Heat is extracted by the liquid refrigerant, which then circulates to the indoor heat exchanger (evaporator). Indoors, the refrigerant releases the heat, which is blown by the indoor fan into your home’s duct system and circulated to every part of your home for comfortable, even heating.

In cooling mode, the same process occurs, except in the opposite direction, thanks to the reversing valve. The indoor heat exchanger becomes the condenser, extracting heat from your home. The refrigerant is pumped outdoors, where it releases the heat into the outside air.

Put it all together for greater efficiency

During this process, the heat pump does not produce heat. Instead, it transports heat from one place to another. That’s what makes the heat pump extremely efficient.

Greater climate control

Heat pumps deliver superb comfort and are designed to run for very long periods of time. This provides even heating and cooling, and humidity control when needed, and it maximizes air filter efficiency, ensuring cleaner air for your family.

If you would like more information on one of the most efficient and comfortable heating and cooling systems for your home, contact a contractor in the AC Pro network. With service in Southern California and Nevada, we’ll connect you with an expert heating and air conditioning contractor in your area.

Our goal is to help inform 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.

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AC Pro Home Comfort Blog

Heat pumps have provided heating and cooling for many homes in Nevada and California for the past several decades. However, advancements in heat pump technology make newer models more sophisticated and more energy efficient than ever.

If you’re in the market for buying a heat pump, consider these features of high-performance models:

• Two-speed compressors. These compressors adjust to your home’s needs at the moment rather than running at full speed at all times. This saves electricity and reduces wear, saving you money. This feature is ideal for zone controlled heating and cooling systems.
• Variable-speed motor. Similarly, heat pumps with variable-speed motors save energy and maintain a more consistent temperature when they run at half-speed. Then, when the temperature drops low enough, the compressor automatically boosts to full speed to keep your home comfortable.
• Desuperheater. This feature heats your home’s water using the heat pump’s waste heat during the cooling season. This costs two to three times less than heating your water with a conventional tank water heater.
• Scroll compressor. Piston compressors operate loudly compared with scroll compressors, which also tend to last longer.
• Backup burners. Traditionally, heat pumps use electric resistance heaters for backup heat on the coldest nights, but backup burners are another option. They solve the issue of relatively cool air being delivered as the temperature outside drops, and they reduce electricity use as well. Backup burners can be fueled with natural gas, propane, oil or even sources like wood and coal.

For more information, contact AC Pro’s certified contractors in Nevada and California. Our network of air conditioning and heating professionals offers state-of-the-art equipment and reliable, expert service.

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

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AC Pro Home Comfort Blog

The concept is simple: Instead of creating “new” heat, why not simply move around heat that already exists? Heat pumps do just that, providing warmth or cool air as needed, and saving a bundle year-round.

However simple the concept may be, though, the equipment is sophisticated. Keep your heat pump professionally maintained, and take simple steps yourself to care for it between service visits. Here are a few things homeowners can do to help keep a heat pump running reliably:

• Keep the outdoor unit clear of yard debris. Grass clippings, twigs and leaves can build up, compromising performance. Go ahead and give the condensing unit a spray with the hose now and then to rinse away dust and dirt.
• Use your thermostat well. In summer, set it as high as you’re comfortable with. You could set it a few degrees higher at night and during the day when your home is empty. During the winter, lower it a little.
• Keep your air filter clean. Check it once a month to make sure dust isn’t clogging things up. Heat pumps are designed to handle a specific amount of airflow. If this is reduced, so is heat pumps’ performance.

Some heat pump maintenance tasks should be left to certified technicians. Hire a contractor to:

• Test the refrigerant level. Refrigerant can be hazardous material, and handling it requires training and EPA certification.
• Check the coils for efficiency. In heat pumps, the condensing and evaporating coils switch roles. The fins on both have tiny gaps that easily collect dust and dirt, which impede airflow.
• Check the reversal valve. A faulty one could leave you with no cooling or heating.
• Ensure all electrical parts are functioning efficiently. Proper voltage and current and tight connections are all essential for safety, and to prevent premature degradation.
• Check the thermostat. Heat pump-specific thermostats are complex units.

The Department of Energy’s research indicates that well-maintained heat pumps last longer and use as much as 25 percent less energy than neglected units. Contact AC Pro for a Southern California or Nevada contractor to care for your system.

Our goal is to help inform 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.

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