Do you know when central air conditioning became popular in United States households? It didn’t happen until the late 1960s. Before that, houses weren’t often built with central A/C in mind, and they often had no ductwork.
Many of the homes that Dixon Energy serves in Morris, Somerset, Union and Sussex Counties heat with boilers and radiators. They don’t have ducts to accommodate central cooling equipment, but that doesn’t mean they’re stuck using inefficient window units in the summer.
There’s a solution that can offer both whole-home cooling and supplemental heat in the fall and early winter — heat pumps.
Heat pump systems have been prevalent in Europe for decades, and they are gaining popularity in the U.S. You might have heard them referred to as ductless mini-splits, too.
These systems provide cooling and warmth to your home by transferring heat between indoor and outdoor spaces. Ductless heat pumps have two main components: an outdoor compressor/condenser and an indoor air handler. These units connect via thin pipes through your walls, so there’s no need for ductwork. You can connect several air handlers to one compressor.
In the summer, a heat pump draws in heat from your home. This heat is transferred outside and expelled. Then, the air handler returns cooled air to the room.
Heat pumps process reverse the process in cooler months. Your outdoor equipment absorbs heat from the air and transfers it indoors.
Unlike a furnace or boiler, this system does not generate any new heat. Believe it or not, there is heat even in cold air. These systems are extremely effective at heating homes in the fall and early winter, but most of our customers retain a gas- or oil-fired heating system for the coldest months of winter.
More and more Dixon Energy customers are asking us about heat pumps. They offer some distinct advantages, including:
Think a heat pump system is right for you? Now is an excellent time to install one. Not only will you enjoy efficiency savings, but you can get rewarded for the installation. Homeowners can qualify for a federal tax credit of up to $2,000 (thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act) for installing an ENERGY STAR-certified heat pump.
Dixon Energy sells, installs and repairs top-of-the-line heat pumps in northern New Jersey. Get in touch with our HVAC team for a free consultation.