Do you own a building or home that has a heat pump to supplement or perhaps in lieu of a furnace or an electric heating system? Have you ever really thought about your heat pump before? For many people, a heat pump is something that exists but is given little day-to-day thought. As long as it works, there's nothing to think about. However, there are definitely some things you should know about the system so that you can take better care of it in general. Some of these things include:

Lifespan: Depending on location and usage, you can expect to get around ten to fifteen years out of most heat pumps. This may be extended somewhat by the regular use of heat pump repair services to inspect and maintain the unit, helping to prolong its life. But if your heat pump is at or nearing ten years in age then it's time to at least start checking out the price of replacement pumps and getting ready to replace yours. It may or may not be for a few years yet but not preparing for this eventuality could leave your building or home without heat indefinitely if you don't have the funds or the means to replace the heat pump.

Efficiency: For portions of the southern US, a heat pump may be used as the only source of heat for a given building. But as the temperatures drop, a heat pump will become less and less efficient at providing sufficient heat. As the temperature approaches freezing, you might be tempted to call your local heat pump repair services company due to a lack of heat. But with temperatures that are at or below freezing, your heat pump is most likely working as expected. There simply isn't enough ambient heat in the air to provide heat for your home. You'll need a furnace or electric heater if you want to provide heat during these times.

Cost: If you're concerned about the potential downsides of a heat pump system and are thinking about ripping it out in favor of an entirely gas or electric furnace-based system, it might help you to know that heat pumps tend to be cheaper to install and to use than furnace systems. As long as you regularly use one of your local heat pump repair services to inspect and maintain the heat pump system, the efficiency can be expected to outweigh any potential drawbacks.