Buying a heat pump for your home is a major purchase. It’s also technology that most people are unfamiliar with, so how can a homeowner know if what they’re buying is right for them and their home?
It all starts with the contractor’s first visit, explains Jason Rockson, owner of Mercury Refrigeration.
During the initial site visit, the contractor should understand what you’re hoping to get out of your new heat pump – are you most concerned with noise? Is efficiency your priority? Do you only need to heat/cool part of your house? Are there any problems with your current system? Are there parts of your house that are not heating/cooling properly?
Knowing what you want to get out of your heat pump lets the contractor know which direction to go.
With a rough idea of your goals understood, the contractor should next review your current heating system to see if any parts can be reused. For example, it’s almost always possible to adapt existing ductwork for use with a heat pump, Rockson notes.
Checking out your current electrical service is also critical. While newer high-efficiency units can often fit onto your current panel, a heat pump can sometimes require a panel upgrade.
Next, the contractor should be measuring your house or reviewing building plans in order to complete a heat loss calculation – a critical factor when sizing your heat pump.
Many installers will use “rules of thumb” to size heat pumps and this doesn’t always work. A heat loss (and sometimes a cooling load) calculation allows you to be confident that the heat pump you’re getting will properly heat and cool your home.
This is especially important if your home is either ultra-efficient or older and less efficient. Always ask the contractor to provide the heat loss calculation results.
Finally, you want to ensure your contractor is qualified to install heat pumps, Rockson advises. In B.C., you can check out the Home Performance Stakeholder Council, which maintains a list of members on their website. It’s also important to choose a Red Seal Refrigeration Mechanic for your installation. Heat pumps use refrigerant to move heating and cooling and refrigeration mechanics are experts on these systems.
Mercury Refrigeration is a South Island company that only employes Red Seal Refrigeration Mechanics and apprentices to install heat pumps. They’re true heat pump experts having installed hundreds of systems over the last 16 years.
To learn more, call 250-686-1716 for service in Victoria, or 250-748-0170 for those in Duncan, or visit mercuryrefrigeration.ca, where you can request a consultation.