The Value of Heat Pumps over Traditional A/C Units

As experts in the Kansas City heating and cooling business, we’ve talked with a lot of homeowners (and small business owners) about their old air conditioning units during repairs and replacements. We get a lot of the same questions about their equipment: How long does the average central air conditioning unit last? How long should I expect to keep my current A/C unit before I have to replace it with another one?

The answer, unfortunately, depends on how old your unit is, what brand name you own, and how well it has been used or treated in the past. Just like a car, your air conditioner (or furnace for that matter) needs to be serviced from time to time. If we had to throw a number at the average lifespan of an A/C unit in the Kansas City area, we’d probably be inclined to say 15 years (but late-model units should last longer). And when it is time to replace your A/C unit, we often suggest that home and small business owners look into the benefits of replacing a traditional air conditioner with a new heat pump.

If you’re not familiar with heat pumps and how they differ from traditional air conditioners, it’s important to know that heat pumps can both heat and cool using ambient air. The process can be a little perplexing, but it works like this: The heat pump absorbs heat (even when it’s cold) from the outside air and releases that heat to the inside of the home. In the summer, a heat pump does the reverse.

It should also be stated that a traditional air conditioner will cool your house a bit more efficiently. But the heat pump offers a greater level of energy efficiency and cost savings throughout the year as a multi-function unit capable of offering a secondary source of home heating (inexpensive electric heat) down to temperatures of about 38-degrees (give or take). Below 38-degrees, it’s probably best to switch over to your forced-air furnace.

The other thing to note about heat pumps is that they’re ideal for our seasonal temperatures here in the Midwest. Our spring and fall seasons are cool but not frozen like those farther up north. Given this, the heat pump is able to cool your home during the hot summer months and warm your home more efficiently during the cooler seasons. Many homes in the Midwest utilize what is called a “dual-fuel” system where the home has a heat pump and a gas furnace as a backup unit.

Additionally, there are a number of heat pumps that meet ENERGY STAR guidelines for energy efficiency. And although many of these units are more expensive to purchase, they pay for themselves over their lifetime with their energy efficiency.

At Aaron’s Services, we can service and maintain any heating or cooling system, regardless of size or brand. If you have a question about our heating or cooling service offerings, or if you wish to schedule a Kansas City furnace tune-up in your home or office, we encourage you to phone us at (816) 471-7890 or simply click here to send us an e-mail from our online form.