Heat pumps have become a very popular heating and cooling option for Edmonton homeowners. If you’d like a heat pump for your HVAC system, you can trust our team at Weiss-Johnson for a quality installation and brand recommendation!
Before you make a decision, it’s important to ensure your heat pump is correctly sized for your home. One of the simplest ways to determine your heat pump size is with a square footage calculation. Keep reading to learn how our team at Weiss-Johnson can help you accurately size your heat pump for a successful installation!
Why Albertans Are Choosing Heat Pumps for Their HVAC System
Heat pump technology has come a long way in the last two decades, and has moved beyond its efficiency in warmer climates like Vancouver Island. More and more homeowners are considering a heat pump in Edmonton.
One of the biggest draws of heat pumps is their environmental friendliness. Heat pumps are air-source systems that operate on electricity, enabling your home to heat up without burning fossil fuels. These systems are more than an eco-friendly alternative; their energy-efficient design can also be great for the wallet, too!
To achieve the cost savings and environmental benefits of a heat pump in your home, it’s important to select the right size when selecting a brand or model.
How Can You Size a Heat Pump for Your Home?
If a heat pump is too small or too big, you’ll end up with issues like cold and hot pockets throughout the house, and rather than saving money, you’ll end up with a surcharge on your utility bills.
So, how do you choose the right size heat pump for your home? There are a couple of key methods.
One way to size a heat pump is with a manual load calculation. This is usually done by HVAC specialists and involves several calculations, from your ceiling height to your home’s insulation.
A square footage calculation is a simpler way to gauge the heat pump size you need, and you can do it by yourself (though you should always check the numbers with a certified technician)!
How to Do a Square Footage Calculation
Before buying a heat pump, it’s important to have a rough idea of the size you need so our team can better assist you in finding exactly what you’re looking for!
Here’s how you can determine the right heat pump size based on your home’s square footage:
- Measure the length and width of each room in your home
- Multiply the numbers, which will give you the square footage of each individual room
- Add all the room numbers together
As a rule of thumb, you need 1 ton or 12,000 BTUs (British Thermal Units) for every 600 square feet. This will help you determine both the size of the heat pump and the price range for a unit of that size.
However, here’s what you should keep in mind: this rule of thumb isn’t one-size-fits-all. Much like air conditioner sizing, heat pump sizing depends on numerous factors, such as window size and configuration, insulation levels, and duct sizing. In other words, an older home with drafty windows and limited insulation may require a bigger heat pump than a newer, well-insulated home of the same size. This is precisely why working with a trusted heat pump installer is so important.
Trust Weiss-Johnson for Heat Pump Installation in Edmonton
Once you have a rough calculation, contact our team at Weiss-Johnson! We work with a variety of reputable heat pump brands like Daikin, GE, Trane, Gree, and Mitsubishi. Our team will help you select a properly sized unit for your home that provides even heating and cooling and fits within your HVAC budget.
Contact us today to learn more about our heat pump models and installation services.
