Not Your Father’s Heat Pump!

Heat pumps continue to make significant advances, working in more situations and under more extreme weather, but the devil is in the details.  Learn all about heat pumps from heat pump expert, Robb Aldrich, a Principal Mechanical Engineer at Winter Associates.

This event was recorded and can be viewed by clicking on the play button below

Robb’s presentation includes an overview – and some meaty details – of using Air-Source Heat Pumps (ASHPs) effectively in homes. The technology can work fantastically well, but details matter for good performance:

• Efficient (or relatively efficient) buildings
• Proper design, sizing, and system selection
• Good installation
• Proper Operation and maintenance

Robb also presents principles and several examples (good and bad) of ASHP installations and performance.

Robb Aldrich is a Principal Mechanical Engineer at Steven Winter Associates (SWA). He has been with the firm since 2000. Robb focuses on building energy systems: researching new technologies, monitoring performance of systems, and working with stakeholders across the country to create better, healthier, more efficient buildings. Since 2010, his focus has shifted more and more towards heat pump technologies and electrification of residential buildings.

Evaluation and research into new technologies and systems has been a key part of Robb’s work. These efforts – often funded by government agencies, utilities, or other stakeholders – have led to much deeper understanding of system performance and integration. This allows for a much more holistic approach when consulting with clients on specific buildings. Research and evaluation efforts have included:

• Energy and IAQ implications of ventilation systems
• Simplified heating and cooling in low-load homes
• Inverter-driven, air-source heat pump performance (esp. in cold climates)
• Assessment of hundreds of solar electric and solar thermal systems
• Performance of heat pump water heaters

Robb has published and presented results of these efforts at conferences across the country. He also leads classes and workshops to help builders, designers, and contractors find effective, practical ways of making healthier, more efficient, and more durable buildings. Click here to learn more about Robb.

To learn more about Heat Pump selection and implementation, click here

Contractor Selection and Assessment

For one of the best articles about ASHPs for consumers that Robb has seen in the mainstream media click here. It is focused on the importance of design and sizing to get good performance, and it has some great advice about what to look for in a contractor.

Before getting quotes, it is best to first air seal and insulate your home. This step ensures your heat pump is sized properly for your air sealed and insulated home. You can get assistance from contractors to do a Blower Door Test to determine how drafty your home is and where the drafts are coming from. To test whether your heating and air conditioning ducts are sized properly ask the contractor for a Static Pressure Test.

Look for contractors with industry certifications such as the Building Performance Institute (BPI), National Comfort Institute and/or the Air Conditioning Contractors of America. Insist that the contractor perform a Manual J assessment to determine the proper sizing of the Heat Pump(s). The contractor should provide a report, and the report should include: local seasonal temperatures; home insulation details; air tightness details; wall attributes, such as windows and doors, including facing direction and size, etc. Review the report to ensure the details are accurate.

Some contractors use Apps to get detailed room information and to generate the Manual J report.

For a checklist of Heat Pump Replacement steps, click here