As you know, there are a few different options for heating and cooling your home in Seattle, Tacoma area.

Of course, a gas furnace is the most common heating method in the area, as these devices are widely available, and the majority of homes in the region already have natural gas lines running to them. There’s nothing wrong with using a gas furnace because they’re abundant and convenient, but they’re far from the only game in town.

Cooling your home is a bit different because you’ll likely need an air conditioning unit. You can often use your existing ductwork with these systems, ensuring your home is cooled evenly and thoroughly on even the hottest days of the year.

Heat pumps are another option worth considering because they provide both heating and cooling for your home. These units have other benefits, too, that it’s a good idea to learn about before making the leap.

Ductless heat pumps are a cost effective option that allows you to cool and heat your entire home or just certain rooms or zones without the use of ducts.

Here’s a look at four of the main advantages associated with installing a heat pump in your home in Seattle, Tacoma, Bellevue, Gig Harbor or elsewhere in the Puget Sound area.

1) Environmental Benefits
About 75% of American homes currently use natural gas, propane, oil, or wood for heating and central or window air conditioners for cooling. However, those heating methods create a significant amount of carbon dioxide and methane, and air conditioning produces greenhouse gases, all of which are harmful to the environment.

Switching to heat pumps reduces the emissions your home is creating. In fact, heating your home with a heat pump lowers your carbon footprint by between 46 and 54 percent. If the entire country did this, it would cut our carbon emissions by 142 million metric tons every year. That’s staggering and shows just how clean heat pumps are compared to gas furnaces.

So, switching to a heat pump allows you to do your part for the environment because it’s a cleaner form of energy, and you’ll also use less energy because these devices are more efficient than their counterparts. This efficiency will save you money, which is another great benefit you’ll experience when going in this direction.

2) Lower Costs
It’s all fine and dandy to do your part to help the environment. After all, we’re all in this together, and by taking action to help reduce the effects of climate change, you can rest easy knowing you’re part of the solution rather than the problem.

However, you’re still a human being with bills to pay, so the next benefit heat pumps provide might make it easier to invest in one of these units. The gist is that you’ll save money, even when taking the cost of a heat pump into account. Tacoma Public Utilities reports that a heat pump can reduce your electricity use for heating by 25-50%.

On average, running a heat pump instead of other heating and cooling sources will save families $557 per year. That number equals thousands of dollars over the unit’s lifetime, paying for the difference in cost between a heat pump and a furnace and then some.

It’s also worth noting that the entire country switching over to heat pumps would create 6.6 million jobs, which is another win for people all over Western Washington because of how it would benefit the economy. While that probably isn’t realistic right now, it’s a figure that adds credibility to the idea.

In short, heat pumps are sure to save you money and put more money in the pockets of people in your area, both of which are beneficial now and in the future.

3) No Combustion
Gas furnaces rely on internal combustion to produce heat. The idea is that natural gas combines with a spark, which generates heat inside the furnace’s burner. The heat this reaction creates then passes through the heat exchanger, making it even hotter before the air passes over and is warmed.

While this reaction is generally pretty safe, there’s always risk anytime you’re dealing with combustion inside an appliance in your home. Therefore, heat pumps are safer than furnaces because they rely on electrical wiring instead of internal combustion.

The fact that there’s no combustion also means less maintenance, which is sure to save you money annually. A heat pump generally requires a quick once-over every year, and you should probably take the filter out and clean it every few months. Other than that, you don’t have to worry much about maintenance.

If you have a gas furnace and air conditioner in Seattle, you’ll need to have each appliance serviced once per year. It’s probably wise to have the furnace looked at in the fall and the air conditioner in the spring to ensure they’re both ready to go when needed.

The lack of maintenance heat pumps require is yet another reason they’re a solid investment for Western Washington households.

4) All-in-One Solution
Finally, a heat pump is an all-in-one solution for your home’s heating and cooling needs. Once you have one installed, it acts as a heater in the winter and an air conditioner in the summer, so you only have to worry about one appliance.

Rather than replacing your furnace and air conditioning unit every 15 to 20 years, you can invest in a heat pump that should last you at least 15 years if you maintain it. The life expectancy alone is enough to save you some cash, and when you factor in the energy savings, installing a heat pump in Seattle becomes an extremely attractive proposition.

Get the Expert Assistance You Need
Purchasing a heat pump for your Tacoma home is a significant decision, and you won’t want to make it without first speaking with an expert. Fortunately, Hunt’s Services is available to answer your heat pump questions, and we can also handle your heat pump installation when the time comes.

Give Hunt’s Services a call at 253-533-7500 to discuss your heat pump needs today.

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