How Much Electricity Does a Heat Pump Use

A heat pump is a combined heating & cooling system, eliminating the need for a separate heater or cooler. Its dual purpose includes heating your home in the winter and cooling in the summer.

Heat pumps are naturally more energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly compared to traditional heating or cooling systems. They have lesser GWP (Global Warming Potential), which is why many governments have started canvassing for the use of heat pumps, and even offer initiatives for anyone willing to use them.

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But heat pumps rely on electric energy, prompting the question of how much electricity does a heat pump consume. In this post, we will disclose heat pump energy consumption and how to optimize its overall performance.

Saving Energy Consumption by Using Heat Pumps

Unlike conventional heating systems like furnaces and boilers that create heat for warming your home, heat pumps rather transfer heat.

Heat pumps, such as the air to water heat pump, work by absorbing heat from outside and transferring the heat into your home. And when you need it to cool your home, the hot air within the house is moved outside.

Basically, heat pumps offer the most reliable way to heat/cool your home and save energy consumption. They cut down energy consumption by 50% compared to furnaces and baseboard heaters.

How Much Electricity Does a Heat Pump Use?

Heat pump power usage in a typical home ranges around 5,475 kilowatt hours (kWh) per year. But there is really nothing like a typical home when considering how much electricity your heat pump consumes because your needs and climate conditions may be different.

Regardless, you can measure your heat pump energy usage by calculating the wattage.

Heat Pump Wattage

The heat pump wattage is not included in the heat pump information. What you would rather see is the SEER rating, which can be used to calculate the heat pump’s wattage.

● The first step is to convert the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) to Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER), which is -0.02 x SEER² + 1.12 x SEER

● After that, divide the heat pump’s size by the EER.

Example Calculations of the Heat Pump Power Consumption

For example, you have a heat pump of 14 SEER rating with a 12,000 BTU (1 ton) size.

● First step: Convert the SEER to EER

-0.02 x 14² + 1.12 x 14 = 11.76 EER

● Second step: Heat pump’s size divided by EER

12,000 /11.76 = 1,020 watts.

Using the same formula, these are the wattages of some other heat pumps:

Do Heat Pumps Use a Lot of Electricity?

No, a heat pump doesn’t use a lot of electricity. Since it only uses electric energy, your electricity bill will definitely increase. That said, it will still work in your favor. The total amount of electric energy used costs about just half of what you would use to heat your home if you were using gas.

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Heat pumps, especially the R290 heat pump, are very effective in using minimal energy. They don’t have to produce new heat, they simply move heat from the air around, making them use less energy than other alternatives.

Why Do Heat Pumps Not Perform as Efficiently as Expected?

Heat pumps are generally reliable systems, but several factors can lead to their underperformance. These factors include:

● Wrong Heat Pump Size: Installing an incorrect heat pump size, especially when small, will cause the system to perform below par. It may turn on and off frequently, resulting in uneven temperature control and reduced efficiency.

● Poor Installation: Fixing the outdoor unit in an area with restricted airflow or direct sunlight can hinder the heat pump’s performance. Also, if the refrigerant is not properly sealed, it may begin to leak, reducing the heat pump’s ability to transfer heat.

● Inadequate Maintenance: Dirty filters hinder smooth airflow, causing the system to work harder. Also, when leaves, debris, and ice buildup are not cleared from the outdoor unit, airflow will be restricted.

● Extreme Weather Conditions: Air source heat pump energy consumption is excessively on the rise in sub-freezing temperatures and can only be efficient if there’s a supplementary heating system.

● Faulty Defrost Cycle: In cold climates, heat pumps periodically need to defrost to remove ice buildup from the outdoor unit. If the heat pump fails to enter the defrost cycle, the ice buildup will block airflow, resulting in reduced efficiency.

Factors Affecting a Heat Pump’s Power Consumption

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Here are common factors that influences your heat pump electricity usage:

● Heat Pump Size

The bigger the size of your heat pump, the higher its energy consumption, so you should opt for a heat pump that fits exactly your building needs. For example, a 36,000 BTU heat pump consumes more electricity than a 18,000 BTU heat pump. Using an oversized heat pump will result in higher power usage, as it consumes excess energy that goes to waste.

● Heat Pump Type

You need to have a proper understanding of what is a heat pump and the various types to choose the best one for your needs. For example, air-source heat pumps are common, but they are less efficient in extreme temperatures. Ground-source heat pumps, on the other hand, are more efficient due to the stable underground temperature, but are more expensive.

● Heat Pump Efficiency

Heat pump efficiency is measured using ratings like SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) for cooling and HSPF (Heating Seasonal Performance Factor) for heating. High-efficiency heat pumps consume less electricity compared to those with low-efficiency.

● Home Size and Layout

The bigger the space, the more the heat pump consumes energy to circulate air. Also, multi-level buildings and homes with poor airflow design will require more power consumption. That is, your heat pump will consume more power in a building will many offices than it would in a single room.

● Local Climate

The weather condition of your area plays a significant role in the heat pump’s energy usage. In moderate climates, heat pumps operate more efficiently. But in colder climates, the heat pumps need to consume more power because they have to work harder to extract heat from the air.

● Coefficient of Performance (COP)

Coefficient of Performance (COP) refers to how effective the heat pump is, comparing the amount of electricity supplied to the compressor and the power that it produces. For instance, a COP of 3 means the heat pump delivers three units of heat for every unit of electricity consumed. A higher COP indicates better efficiency.

● Thermostat Settings

Thermostat settings play a vital role in heat pump electricity usage. Every degree you turn up the heat thermostat results in the consumption of 3% more energy. Constantly changing the thermostat, especially when significantly increased, causes the heat pump to run faster, using more electricity to reach the new temperature.

● Frequency of Usage

Basically, the more you use your heat pump, the more your electricity bill. Using the heat pump only when necessary can reduce the accumulated energy used in the long run. Meanwhile, if the building is properly insulated, you won’t have to use the heat pump often, as the transferred heat will remain indoors for a long time.

The Cost of Electricity Consumed by Heat Pumps

As earlier stated, integrating heat pumps to your HVAC (Heating, Cooling, and Air Conditioning) system will cause a spike in electricity cost. Expect an increase of $50 to $100 for running a single unit heat pump. While there will be an increase in electricity costs, the amount spent on buying fuel will reduce.

How to Reduce the Heat Pump Electricity Usage

Heat pumps are quite energy-efficient, but there are ways to further reduce heat pump energy usage and save on energy costs. They include:

● Improve Home Insulation: Ensuring every part of your building is properly insulated. Seal gaps around doors & windows, upgrade to energy-efficient windows like double-glazed or Low-E glass, and add covers to attics & crawl spaces that may cause heat loss. This will allow the transferred heat to circulate through the building faster and lower the workload on your heat pump.

● Install a Smart Thermostat: Integrating a smart thermostat with your heat pump will optimize its runtime and gradually lower the temperature when necessary, ensuring your heat pump doesn’t consume much energy. Also, smart thermostats can be set to your schedules and preferences. It can be set to automatically turn off the heat pump when you go to work or reduce the temperature during bedtime.

● Consider Zoning: This refers to dividing your home into separate temperature-controlled areas, especially if there are parts of the house that are unused. Zoning means that some parts of the house, such as the sitting room, kitchen, and bedroom will be heated at high temperature. Other parts like empty rooms and stores will be heated at lower temperatures.

● Adequate Maintenance: Have your heat pump serviced at least twice in a year. A well-maintained heat pump works more efficiently and consumes less power. Replace the filters often and clear any element that may obstruct smooth airflow. Also, you can call a professional technician to perform routine checks to keep the system operating effectively.

● Use Ceiling Fans: Ceiling fans help circulate the heat faster, reducing the time it will take for the whole room to be efficiently heated or cooled. They move the heat around the whole space, ensuring that all parts of the room are not hotter or cooler than others.

Use Solar Power to Reduce Heat Pumps’ Electricity Consumption

Solar panels absorb the sun’s energy and convert it to electricity, which can be used to power your heat pump.

When the sun is shining brightly during the day, the panels harvest energy from the sun and send it to the inverter, which converts it into the kind of electricity that can be used to operate your home appliances, including heat pumps. Excess energy can be stored and used at nights when the sun is no longer shining.

Integrating your heat pumps with solar power can significantly reduce electricity usage from the power grid by about 40%. This allows you to cut down on your energy costs and worry less about increased electricity tariff.

Choose the Most Energy-efficient Heat Pump

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It’s paramount that you select the most energy-efficient heat pump for your needs. For example, in some climates, people can get away with using any type of heat pump. But in places with extreme temperatures, it’s imperative that you choose a specially designed cold climate heat pump that’s capable of withstanding the frigid temperature and can defrost ice buildup efficiently.

Heat pump technology is advanced and can provide hot water. A heat pump water heater operates the same way as an air-to-air heat pump, but transfers warm air to heat water. So, instead of buying a secondary water heater, you can invest in an energy-efficient heat pump water heater.

Quote on SPRSUN Low Energy Consumption Heat Pump

SPRSUN is your reliable source for low energy consumption heat pumps. As a certified Chinese heat pump manufacturer, we are dedicated to making your homes, offices, commercial, and industrial buildings very conducive. We offer various types of heat pumps and our experts are available 24/7 to advise you on the best heat pump for your needs. Contact us today to take the next step to a more energy-efficient building without spending high on electricity bills.