Heat pumps
Why Heat Pumps Work So Well in the Pacific Northwest
Mild winters, warmer summers, and clean electricity make Western Washington one of the best places in the country for a heat pump. Here is what Seattle homeowners should know.
By Aakool Heating & Cooling·· 5 min read
Ask any HVAC technician in Western Washington which system they would put in their own home, and the answer is very often a heat pump. Here is why our climate is nearly ideal for them, and what to think about before you install one.
Our winters are mild
A heat pump heats your home by moving heat from the outdoor air inside. The colder it gets outside, the harder that is. Seattle's average winter lows sit in the mid-30s, which is comfortably within the range where even standard heat pumps operate efficiently, and modern cold-climate models maintain capacity well below freezing.
Our summers are getting warmer
For decades, most Seattle homes had no air conditioning. That has changed. Recent summers have brought extended stretches of heat, and a heat pump gives you full air conditioning from the same outdoor unit that heats your home, no separate AC system required.
Efficiency that is hard to beat
Because a heat pump moves heat instead of generating it, it can deliver two to three units of heat for every unit of electricity it consumes. Compared with electric baseboard or resistance furnaces, that is a dramatic reduction in energy use. Compared with an aging gas furnace, the savings depend on fuel prices, but the comfort and cooling benefits remain.
Ducted or ductless?
- Ducted heat pumps connect to your existing ductwork and replace a central furnace and AC. Good for homes with ducts in decent condition.
- Ductless mini-splits use wall-mounted indoor units in each zone. Ideal for older Seattle homes without ducts, additions, and rooms that never get comfortable.
- Dual-fuel systems pair a heat pump with a gas furnace as backup for the coldest nights.
What to ask your installer
- Did you perform a load calculation to size the system, rather than matching the old equipment's size?
- Is the model rated for cold-climate performance?
- Will you handle the permit and inspection?
- How will the system be commissioned and tested after install?
- What rebates or incentives are currently available?