With the current push for decarbonization and the rebate incentives that come along with it, we get a lot of questions about heat pumps in the Alberta market. Here are some of the most common questions we get!
Q: What is a heat pump?
A:To put it simply, a heat pump is like an air conditioner that can run in reverse. So instead of a standard air conditioner that removes heat from your home and rejects it to the outdoors, heat pumps can also pull heat from the outdoor air (even when it’s -30C there is still heat there) and use it to warm your home.
Q: Heat Pumps aren’t suited for Alberta’s Climate
A: First of all, that’s not a question! But we understand some people’s hesitation to use a heat pump with our frigid winters. In fact, a few years ago this would have been true as traditionally heat pumps were only able to heat down to around -15C. However there has been a massive improvement in heat pump technology in recent years, allowing them to heat to -30C and beyond! In fact Tosot’s parent company, Gree, has focused on heating technology to operate in Northern China, whose climate is actually very similar to Alberta’s
Q: Who is Tosot?
A: Tosot is a brand that Gree Manufacturing uses in Canada. Gree is actually the largest air conditioning/ heat pump manufacturer in the world, but most people don’t recognize that because they manufacture for many different brands. Tosot products are trusted to provide exceptional reliable performance in some of the most demanding climates around the world. From the blistering deserts of the Middle East, to the winter-frozen mountains, prairies, and shores of Canada, our products have proven themselves where others have failed. Not only are our products reliable and capable, but, with SEER ratings as high as 38, and HSPF ratings as high as 15, they also represent some of the most efficient equipment on the market. Efficiency not only saves you money; it also saves the environment for future generations. What are the benefits of TOSOT? Reliable, capable, efficient equipment that you can trust.
Q: Can I use a heat pump in conjunction with my furnace?
A: Yes you can! Tosot’s Apex units can be installed as a full system with a Tosot air handler, or in conjunction with an evaporator coil and your furnace
Q: How can a heat pump be more cost effective than a furnace when Alberta’s natural gas is so cheap?
A: Most furnaces are rated with an AFUE rating for the efficiency that they use natural gas, and with today’s models they can be rated up to 98%. However heat pumps don’t actually create heat, they move it using the refrigeration cycle, which is much more efficient than burning natural gas to create it. Additionally, with many more homeowners choosing to install solar panels, the electricity that is generated can be used to power a heat pump. Heat pumps are also able to modulate to heat your home more efficiently than most furnaces that can only be on or off.
Q: How are heat pumps better for the environment?
A: Heat pumps don’t burn fossil fuels to operate as they use electricity which can be produced in a more environmentally friendly way than natural gas
