If you’re like most Seattle homeowners, you want to prevent heat loss in your home—not only because it will make your home chilly, but also because you’ll end up spending more money to keep your household comfortable. Even when you turn up the thermostat, however, your home heating system may not be keeping you warm. Have you noticed that some parts of your home stay colder than others? As this video explains, the most likely culprit is inadequate insulation and poorly sealed windows and doors. When cold air seeps in from the outside, you can run the furnace for hours without being able to effectively warm some of the rooms in your house. To learn more about how to stop heat from escaping your home, watch the full clip.

If you’re looking to keep your energy costs down in your household this year, you may want to think about installing a heat pump . Obtaining a home energy audit from an HVAC contractor in Seattle can help you determine whether this is a worthwhile investment for you. Geothermal heat pumps are a popular option for cold climates. If you’re interested in learning how these devices work, keep reading.

What are geothermal heat pumps?

A heat pump is a heating system that works by transferring heat out of one space and into another—for example, from the air outside your home to the air inside. Geothermal heat pumps work by transferring heat to or from an area a few feet under the ground, which stays at a steady temperature throughout the year. As with other heat pumps, these systems can be used to either heat or cool the air inside your home, and they can also be used to heat water.

What are the different types of geothermal heat pumps?

There are two distinct types of geothermal heat pumps used in homes: Closed loop and open loop systems. Open loop systems rely on groundwater to exchange heat, while closed loop systems can use either vertical or horizontal installations or rely on a nearby lake or pond for heat exchanges. When you talk to a contractor about installing your heat pump, he or she will inspect your property and advise you which option is best suited to your needs.

What are the advantages of geothermal heat pumps?

Since the temperature of the ground doesn’t change from one season to the next, geothermal heat pumps are much more efficient than heat pumps that rely on air. They are highly eco-friendly, since they don’t produce any emissions or have any noticeable impact on the environment. Geothermal heat pumps also require little maintenance once they’ve been installed, and they are quiet and unobtrusive.

Most people spend most of their time indoors, which means that the air they’re most exposed to is the air inside their homes. That means that the quality of your indoor air can have a significant impact on your life. Acting to improve your indoor air quality can make your Seattle home a safer and healthier place for you and your family. Here are some of the steps you can take to make your household air cleaner:

Invest in an Air Cleaner

Air cleaners—or air purifiers—are devices that are designed to remove contaminants such as dust and pollen from the air. If you can’t seem to keep allergens out of your home, an air cleaner may be a smart investment for you. It’s important to keep in mind, however, that air cleaners work best if you are already using other ways to minimize the number of pollutants in your household air.

Have Your Ducts Cleaned

If you don’t have them cleaned out from time to time, your HVAC system’s air ducts can harbor dust, pollen, mold, pet dander, dust mites, and other contaminants. When you run your furnace or air conditioner, these pollutants are spread throughout your entire home. If you suffer from allergies, this can make them worse. Having your ducts cleaned by a professional can help to ensure that your indoor air stays clean and breathable.

Call for Regular HVAC Service

When you use your furnace or air conditioner frequently, the various components of your HVAC system can get dirty and moldy—which will not only impact your air quality, but can also cause your system to break down. To reduce your need for repairs and maintain high-quality air inside your home, you should have your system inspected, cleaned, and serviced by an HVAC professional on a regular basis.