A home appliance specialist discussed the things a homeowner should keep in mind when they're thinking about upgrading their HVAC.
The YouTube short from Consumer Reports (@consumereports) features an expert outlining the merits of differing home heating and cooling setups. Paul Hope begins by advising viewers to start by taking the existing system into account. "The smartest thing you can do is look to what you already have," he said
It really comes down to whether or not the home has existing ductwork. If it doesn't, "super efficient" mini-splits are a good choice. They avoid the need to spend huge amounts on installing ductwork.
Next, he described the process of a heat pump, specifically a ground-source heat pump, which extracts heat or cool air from the ground for distribution into the home.
Because underground temperatures are steady, they are really just transferring heat rather than burning energy sources like oil or gas to create it. An air source heat pump works in much the same way, using ambient air to heat or cool a home.
If you're looking to upgrade your home's HVAC setup, check out TCD's HVAC Explorer and slash your energy bills by up to 50%. Because heating and cooling account for the largest portion of your energy bill, opting for appliances that use 75% less electricity, per the Department of Energy, will result in smaller bills. In fact, heat pumps can reduce heating and cooling costs by 50%.
With big long-term savings at stake, the initial upfront costs will pay for themselves before long. Upgrading your HVAC is a major financial decision, and you really want to know all your options before committing.
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The clip prompted a few comments.
One grateful viewer said: "I really like this series. I find keeping energy costs down in the winter a real challenge."
Another added: "With ductwork you've got one system in the entire house and only that system to maintain. This is another reason why if you've already got ductwork it's best to stick with it."
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