Oklahoma City Heat Pump Systems

Because our winters are fairly mild compared to norther climates, heat pump split systems are very common here in the Oklahoma City area.

In this Oklahoma City HVAC Guide we’ll discuss how they work, how to determine the right size, how to hire a contractor, and factors affecting cost.

How Heat Pumps Work

A heat pump gets its name from the fact it “pumps heat” from one location to another. In summer it removes heat from your home. In winter, it brings heat into your home. They are 100% electric units and look just like a central ac.

A heat pump is a central air conditioning unit that does double duty. For the nuts and bolts of central air conditioning, see the guide on that subject. To summarize, the condensing unit outside your home contains a compressor, a fan and a coil. Inside your home, in the air handler, is the indoor coil. Copper refrigerant lines connect the two coils and cycle refrigerant through the system.

Refrigerant has the ability to absorb and shed heat rapidly — the key to both heating and cooling your home. For air conditioning, the refrigerant collects heat from your home as it passes through the indoor coil. This makes the indoor coil very cold. The blower fan pushes air across the coil to cool it on its way to the rooms of your home through the supply ductwork. Warm air is pulled into the system through the return ducts.

The refrigerant carries heat outside and releases it in the outdoor coil where it is dispersed by the condensing unit fan. This cycle is continuous and it proceeds until the air temperature in your home is cooled to the temperature called for on the thermostat.

For heating your home, a reversing valve in the condensing unit is switched, changing the direction and function of the refrigerant. In winter, refrigerant collects heat in the outside coil and carries it into the house, releasing it in the indoor coil. It radiates through the coil and is pushed into your home through the supply ducts while cool air is drawn into the system through the return ducts. Heat pumps can effectively bring in heat from outdoors until the temperature falls into the 30′s. Most heat pumps have electric heat strips in the air handler to supply extra heat on cold days. Some heat pumps are paired with a gas furnace instead of an air handler so that when temperatures get very cold, you can switch from electric heat to gas heat. These are called hybrid heat systems or dual fuel systems and are they are increasingly common in the OK City area.

Sizing your OKC Heat Pump

Heat pumps come in sizes ranging from 1.5 ton to 5.0 ton capacity. A load calculation is required to know the exact size needed for your home. An OKC HVAC professional can do a load calculation in about an hour. He or she will factor your home’s size, layout, insulation, windows, doors, construction materials as well as our climate in this region. A series of calculations are done to determine the right system for your home. Some homes, those that are especially large, may require more than one system to heat and cool the home’s zones.

Failing to do a load calculation can lead to installing the wrong size system, and that is an expensive mistake. Systems that are too small wont’ heat and cool properly. Those that are too large will waste energy and may also be prone to mechanical problems due to something called short-cycling. Have your HVAC contractor do a load calculation before you choose a system for your home. Even if you are simply replacing an existing system, it is important to do a fresh load calculation. If one wasn’t done before that last system was installed, it may be the wrong size. In addition, if you’ve replaced windows and doors with more energy-efficient ones, added insulation or made other changes, the size system you need may be changed too.

Hiring a Heat Pump Installer in Oklahoma City

If you don’t already have a reliable air conditioning and heating company, here’s how to locate one.

  • Ask for recommendations from friends. Start a list of companies that have done a good job for others.
  • See our Contractors Page for a list of good contractors in our area. Click on each one to see reviews and ratings left by recent customers. If you find a contractor on our page that you’ve heard good things about, that probably means they’ll do a good job for you.
  • Make a list of 3 or 4 contractors to get estimates from. It is always important to get multiple estimates in order to get the best pricing from a company you feel good about hiring.
  • If time is a factor, request free estimates online from local contractors. Their bids are very competitive and they have been pre-screened for quality control.

Oklahoma Heat Pump Prices

Here are factors that will affect the price you pay for a new heat pump system in our area.

  • Capacity: The more heat and air conditioning it can supply, the more it will cost.
  • Efficiency: Heat pumps are rated with HSPF (heat seasonal performance factor) for heating and SEER (seasonal energy efficiency rating) for cooling. The higher those numbers are, the more the unit will cost. However, it will also use less electricity, reducing your energy bills. Because we get both hot summers and cool winters here, it makes economical sense to get a high-efficiency heat pump.
  • Time of Year: HVAC contractors get busy in the spring and remain busy into fall. They are also busy during the worst part of winter. When they aren’t so busy, they often offer discounts on equipment and installation in order to promote sales. You will get a better deal on a heat pump system if you get multiple bids during fall or late winter/early spring.
  • Installation Issues: Some jobs are more time-consuming or use more materials than others. These will cost more.