Pinnacle Building Performance installs ducted heat pumps and ductless cold-climate mini splits in Durango and the surrounding Western Slope communities of Colorado.
Many Coloradans believe heat pumps don’t work in cold or high-altitude conditions. But cold-climate heat pumps are specifically engineered to perform efficiently in below-freezing temperatures.
When it comes to improving your home’s comfort and energy efficiency, heat pumps are one of the best options on the market today. With the consistent rise in energy costs, they have risen in popularity over recent years to replace existing, inefficient HVAC systems or as supplemental heating and cooling options.
Heat pumps can provide many benefits to your home, including:
- Year-round heating and cooling
- Lower monthly energy bills
- All-electric and fossil-fuel-free
- No risk of carbon monoxide leaks
- Better indoor air quality
- Eligible for up to $2,000 in federal tax credits
How Do Heat Pumps Work in Colorado?
Heat pumps do not create heat, instead, they transfer it from one place to another—depending on where it’s needed. Because they don’t generate heat using combustion, heat pumps use less energy than traditional HVAC systems to keep your home comfortable all year round.
Heat pumps use a compressed refrigerant to “pump” heat into and out of your home. During the summer, the refrigerant acts as a medium to remove heat from the indoor air to make it cool and comfortable. The process is reversed in the winter, with heat pumps being able to extract heat from outdoors—even in the below freezing temperatures we get here in Durango and the surrounding area.
Ductless Mini Split Heat Pumps
Ductless mini split heat pumps are a flexible solution—ideal for home additions, hard-to-condition areas, or full replacements of existing HVAC systems. Individual air handlers are installed directly in each room or area of your home without the need for ductwork, which makes installation simpler. Each air handler operates independently, so you can set each one to a different comfort preference.
Benefits of a Ductless Mini Split System:
- No ductwork means easier installation
- Individual temperature control for each air handler
- No risk of energy loss from leaky ducts
Ducted Heat Pumps
Heat pumps also come in ducted models that connect to the same whole home ductwork that a central AC or forced air furnace would, delivering conditioned air through your vents. This ductwork can be renovated and optimized for heat pump operation, allowing you to heat and cool your home using a single system.
Benefits of a Ducted Heat Pump System:
- Clean and unobtrusive in-room look
- Whole-home comfort
- Good for larger homes with higher heating and cooling needs
Maximize Your Heat Pump Efficiency with Insulation & Air Sealing
As with any HVAC system, a heat pump will only be as efficient as your home allows. To maximize the performance of your heat pump, Pinnacle Building Performance recommends insulation and air sealing. When combined, insulation and air sealing keep conditioned air in your home where it belongs. To find air leaks or areas with improper insulation, get started with a home energy audit.
We also want to make sure that your new heat pump is the best fit for your home. That’s why we use building science to ensure your system is the right size for your energy consumption and needs. We work with you through the entire process to make you more comfortable, healthy, and energy efficient.
Electrify Your Colorado Home With Heat Pump Installation
Homeowners throughout Colorado looking to reduce their use of fossil fuels can look to heat pumps to better reach their clean energy goals. Electrification is the process of replacing gas and other fuel-burning appliances with electric versions. It has many benefits, like:
- Increasing home safety
- Reducing your carbon footprint
- Better indoor air quality
Even if you don’t want to replace your existing heating and cooling systems, adding supplemental mini split heat pumps can efficiently condition your home’s air and lower your energy costs. You can even save on heat pump installation with a variety of rebates and incentives, including up to $2,000 in federal tax credits and up to $8,000 in forthcoming Inflation Reduction Act rebates.
