High Efficiency Heaters and Heat Pumps

High Efficiency Heaters

With ever increasing design and cost options, high efficiency heating systems are quickly becoming the standard system for both new homes and replacement units in existing construction. The term hi-efficiency covers a wide range of systems with varying installation requirements. In general, however, these systems merit hi-efficiency ratings because they utilize more of the energy produced during fuel combustion (as high as 97%) than the conventional system which operates at efficiencies below 73%. According to the HouseMaster Technical Staff, this is accomplished in many cases by simply increasing the design of the heat exchanger – the heart of any heating system – so that there is more surface area and hence greater heat transfer.

Considerations:
In the process of reclaiming more heat, the temperature of the exhaust gas which normally would vent through a chimney is reduced. This both slows down the exhaust movement and also allows water – a principal by-product of combustion – to condense out. For these systems to continue to work properly, it is essential that this condensate be controlled properly to prevent damage to the heat exchanger or venting system. Because of the lower gas temperatures, it is common to use plastic vent piping for units with very high efficiencies. These systems should only be installed by qualified heating contractors and need to be checked regularly.

Heat Pumps

The heat pump is a system that is designed to capture the heat that can be found in even seemingly cold air and utilize it for heating of the home. An electric compressor pumps a refrigerant between coils located on the outside of the house and in the ductwork inside the house. During the heating season, as the refrigerant moves from outdoors to inside, it absorbs heat and then releases it to the house air that is blown across the coils. This warmed air is then distributed throughout the house via the ductwork. During summers, the flow of the refrigerant reverses and the heat pump works like a conventional A/C system extracting heat from the house and discharging it to the exterior.