Purchasing a New Heat Pump? Watch out for These 4 Common Sources of Failure!

If you will be purchasing a new heat pump unit soon, there are some things that you need to watch out for -- some areas where you could trip up! What are these common sources of failure? Let me list a few of them for you --

Failure to Factor in All the Costs

It isn't just enough to read consumer-oriented articles that purport to give you a lot of information on the best rated heat pumps. At some point you're going to have to actually go out and purchase one -- and it's easy to become misled. Don't just snatch up the very first "bargain-basement" heat pump unit system that you see advertised! The unit may have a very low purchase price, but it may not operate very efficiently. You need to consider-ALL-the costs before purchasing: purchase, installation, warranty and operational costs are all a part of the total picture.

Failure to Secure a Reliable Dealer

Another area where people will fail in their shopping for heat pumps is that they will focus on a brand-name instead of the reputation and know-how of a local dealer/installer. If you select a reliable dealer, you will find that they sell and service reliable equipment. If you visit many of the manufacturers websites -- Mitsubishi heat pumps, Goodman heat pumps, Bryant heat pumps etc. -- you will find that often times the manufacturers website will provide you with links to their authorized dealers and installers. Whenever feasible, you should follow-up on those dealer recommendations. Even if you purchased A-1 equipment, a shoddy installation can leave you with a disaster on your hands.

Failure to Select the Right Size of Heat Pump

Another area where people will fail when shopping for a new heat pump system is that they will not select the right size of heat pump unit for their home. For example, it is common for many people to think that they can purchase a smaller-sized heat pump unit in order to save money. While the smaller unit may cost less to purvhse, it will not heat/cool your home as efficiently -- and may cost you much more to operate as a result. This is why reliable manufacturers make a number of different heat pump units available, in various sizes. For example Carrier heat pumps are available in models/configurations to heat smaller homes as well as larger, more expansive homes. Don't expect a smaller window heat pump to be able to heat/cool a 3-story home!

Failure to Understand Heat Pump Efficiency Ratings

A final area where many people mess up, when making a purchase of a heat pump system, is that they do not understand the significance of the various measures of operational efficiency. Terms like EER, SEER and HSPF are totally unknown to many people -- yet understanding what these numbers mean is critical to making an intelligent buying decision about any heat pump, furnace or air-conditioning unit. Take the time to learn what these ratings calculations mean, and when shopping for your new heat pump make sure that you find out ratings information for the various models.

If you will avoid these four major "pitfalls," you will stand a much better chance of purchasing a heat pump unit that will work properly in your home.