4 Downsides of Air-Source Heat Pumps

Air-source heat pumps are constantly praised for their energy efficiency and are sought-after for their all-in-one heating and cooling. As beneficial as they are, heat pumps have a few downsides worth noting. 

After installing hundreds of heat pumps around Los Angeles and the surrounding areas, we’ve seen how the pros and cons compare. By working with the top brands in heating and cooling, our technicians can get a deeper understanding of heat pumps through specialized training.

Before we do a deep dive, here’s a quick overview of the 4 downsides of air-source heat pumps, which are.

• Cost to install 
• Higher electricity bills
• Requires more maintenance
• Poor severe weather performance 

After reading through this list, you’ll have a better idea of whether an air-source heat pump is suitable for your heating and cooling needs. 

Let’s get started!

What Are the Downsides of Air-Source Heat Pumps?

Heat pumps are capable of providing heating and cooling through a single system and provide plenty of benefits. However, it helps to understand their drawbacks, starting with installation costs. 

Cost to Install

Air-source heat pumps can cost more to install than traditional gas furnaces and air-conditioning packaged systems. The total average cost of a brand new heat pump with installation can start from $25,000 and higher.

Heat pump systems can be packaged (single unit) or split (indoor and outdoor units). If your home needs to be configured to accommodate an installation, then that could end up increasing the costs further. 

The systems can also be priced higher as standalone units without factoring in installation costs. Although there are particular rebates available for heat pump purchases, that may not be enough to offset the total cost for some homeowners. 

If the installation costs are within your budget or purchasable through financing, then it helps to know what the operating costs are for heat pumps.

Higher Electricity Bills

Heat pumps run purely on electricity, which may increase your monthly electric bill. During cold weather, heat pumps do not use natural gas for heating, which tends to be cheaper to use than electricity. 

These systems may be more efficient than their furnace and air conditioning counterparts, but their reliance on electricity may still impact your monthly bills. If your home has solar panels that can power your heat pump, you may not see a negative impact on your electricity bills.

Air-source heat pump’s reliance on electricity also makes them completely unusable in the event of an outage or power surge. 

One way to make sure your heat pump system is running properly is with maintenance. Yet, these systems can require more maintenance than traditional heating and cooling units.

Requires More Maintenance

All heating and cooling systems require maintenance, but heat pumps need extra care to ensure they’re running efficiently. Heat pumps typically need at least two maintenance tune-ups a year completed by a technician. 

These tune-ups should be scheduled twice a year, right before the start of the heating and cooling seasons. This falls just before the start of winter and summer, respectively.

Heat pumps have a lot of internal parts that need to be kept in good working condition, or they can experience a drop in heating and cooling efficiency. It’s essential to maintain a warm or cool home depending on the weather, but can heat pumps keep houses warm during extreme cold weather?

Poor Severe Weather Performance 

Some air-source heat pumps can struggle to produce warm air in freezing temperatures. Even when it’s cold outside, heat pumps can pull in latent heat and use it to warm up a home. 

If temperatures drop below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, some heat pump models can lose heating efficiency because they cannot produce sufficient heating. Another important note is that all areas of Los Angeles don’t ever reach temperatures close to 0 degrees Fahrenheit.

On the contrary, there have been strides in designing a heat pump system capable of handling sub-zero temperatures.

Should I Get an Air-Source Heat Pump?

Despite their few drawbacks, an air-source heat pump for your heating and cooling needs is worth considering. Still, now that you know what the downsides of air-source heat pumps are, you’re in a better position to decide if they’re worth investing in. 

Since 2007, our technicians have gained plenty of experience installing and servicing heat pumps. Through this experience, we’re able to see all of the advantages and disadvantages of these heating and cooling systems.

If you have questions about heat pumps, contact us using the button below. You can also book an appointment directly with our HVAC online scheduler.

After reading about the disadvantages of heat pumps, find out how they compare with their benefits to gain more insight into these heating and cooling systems.