Exploring Air Source Heat Pumps - A Confusing Guide to Home Efficiency

In the realm of home heating and cooling solutions, Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHPs) are garnering attention for their efficiency and versatility, especially in Canada's wide range of climates. This email aims to provide you with a detailed understanding of ASHPs and their relevance in residential properties.

What are Air Source Heat Pumps?

The easiest way to think of a heat pump is as a regular AC unit that cools the home, except it can also run in reverse and heat the home using newer technology to transfer heat between indoor and outdoor air. During winter (even in -30C!), they extract heat from the outside air and transfer it indoors to heat homes. This dual functionality makes them suitable for year-round use.

Do they actually work year round?

Yes, but actually no… While they are still able to heat your home in extreme cold temperatures, they are not good enough to rely on. A back up heat source such as a regular gas furnace is usually kept around for those emergencies. This is a major drawback in our climate as if you need a furnace anyways, did you really need the heat pump?!

Electricity is expensive…Gas is Cheap….

As with any type of electric heating in our province, it aint cheap! Anyone in their right mind that is thinking of installing a heat pump, is also installing solar. Being able to subsidize your electrical costs is crucial if you still want to be able to afford your mortgage after paying your utility bills. That being said, heat pumps are by far the most efficient way of using electricity to heat your home, so for people with access to solar power or without access to natural gas, these are the way to go!

So, should I get a heat pump or not?!

Honestly, probably not. These things are not for everyone yet! Unless you have or are building an energy efficient home that generates solar power, you are best off sticking with the tried and true high-efficiency gas burning furnaces that we all know and love. In other places in Canada where they use electricity to heat their homes, heat pumps are much more prevalent, but ‘round these parts it will be a while before we see them become really popular.

Is that a heat pump or an AC Unit?!

Great question! It can be very hard to tell. Below I have a picture of an AC unit and a heat pump, can you guess which is which?

Trick question, they are both heat pumps! Usually they are more vertically oriented like in the second picture but they can come in all shapes and sizes, so make sure you read the label on the unit itself to be sure!

Conclusion

Understanding ASHP technology equips you with valuable knowledge to better serve your clients in Alberta's dynamic real estate market. Whether you're advising buyers or sellers, knowing the benefits and considerations of ASHPs can enhance your credibility and help clients make informed choices about their home heating and cooling systems.

What is an HRV and how does it help my home?

Today we are going to be talking about Heart Rate Variability. Wait… that’s not right…. Today we are going to be talking about Heat Recovery Ventilators! Ever wondered how to keep your home comfortable while maintaining energy efficiency? Enter the Heat Recovery Ventilator (HRV), a nifty device that plays a crucial role in modern ventilation systems. But what exactly is an HRV, and why should you care?

What is an HRV? Simply put, an HRV is a ventilation system designed to provide fresh air to your home while simultaneously conserving energy. It works by exchanging stale indoor air with fresh outdoor air, all while retaining the heat from the outgoing air to warm up the incoming air during colder months, and vice versa during warmer months. This process helps to regulate indoor temperature and humidity levels while reducing the strain on your heating and cooling systems.

How does it work? The magic of an HRV lies in its heat exchange core, which allows the transfer of heat between the outgoing and incoming air streams. By harnessing the heat from the exhaust air, HRVs can preheat or precool the fresh air entering your home, depending on the season. This not only improves indoor air quality but also contributes to energy savings by reducing the amount of conditioned (heated or cooled) air leaving your home.

In addition to energy efficiency, HRVs offer other benefits such as improved indoor air quality and moisture control. By continuously exchanging air, HRVs help to remove pollutants, allergens, and excess moisture from your home, creating a healthier and more comfortable living environment for you and your family.

Where did my bathroom fans go? In most northern climates, HRV’s are installed in such a way that they replace the bathroom fans in the home. This is great as we no longer have the bathroom vents penetrating through the attic space!

Is there maintenance involved? You bet. All you have to do is open the front panel of your HRV and follow the cleaning instructions on the sticker in front of you. This will involved checking and cleaning the filters a few times a year, and cleaning the cooling core annually. You can download our home maintenance guide to help you remember when to do this!

An Update on Poly B in Edmonton

Poly B (Poly Butylene) water piping has gone back and forth between being accepted by insurance companies, to being uninsurable for many years. So where does it stand now? Here is everything you need to know to make an informed decision.

Why does Poly B fail?

Poly B piping is susceptible to degradation when exposed to certain chemicals commonly found in water, such as chlorine, as well as oxidants and ultraviolet (UV) rays from sunlight. This degradation can weaken the piping material, leading to brittleness, cracks, and eventual failure. Of course, these failures can result in massive water damages in a home.

I have personally seen Poly B fail several times in the last couple years, and am a firm believer that it should be replaced immediately to avoid future damages.

How do I know if a home has Poly B installed?

Luckily, Poly B is extremely easy to spot! It is a grey plastic pipe that was installed in homes during the 90’s. If you are having a hard time telling by color look at the writing on the side of the pipe, if you see Poly B written on it then you can be sure you’ve identified it correctly.

Can it be insured?

Yes, but mostly no. I have heard that some insurance companies will still provide home insurance (though at an increased rate), but most companies are now enforcing replacement.

What are the repair costs?

The quotes I have seen for this are never as bad as I think they are going to be and typically range in price from 3k to 8k depending on the size and complexity of the home. Quotes for this are easy to obtain, I advise reaching out to a plumber immediately so you have a solid number in mind.

Hopefully you found this useful! Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or need some clarification.

Compromised Window Seals

Compromised Window Seals are a Walrus of a Problem!

The goal of this post is to help you pick out compromised window seals in a home during the viewing process, as with a keen eye these can be easily spotted!

What is a compromised window seal?
A compromised window seal manifests as visible condensation or fogging between the panes of glass. This indicates that the insulating gas between the panes has escaped, reducing the window's energy efficiency and allowing moisture to enter between the panes of glass. This happens to all windows eventually, though due to manufacturing defects, we are seeing these more often in brand new windows.

What does a compromised window seal look like?

As you can see in the picture below, compromised window seals appear as fogginess or condensation buildup. Make sure you wipe your finger on the interior and exterior of the window glass first to rule out normal condensation. Most of the time in newer windows, it can be much harder to see and appears as a light fogginess only seen from a certain angle.

Windows are expensive! Are they under warranty?

Most window companies offer around a 10 year warranty on the glass itself, but only a 2 warranty on labor. This means that most of the time you will at least have to pay the labor for replacing the windows which can still be quite expensive. It is important to reach out to the previous owners or home builder to find out who installed them and find out the warranty details as soon as possible!

Can they just be repaired?

Unfortunately there is no repair for this, the entire window assembly (usually including the entire window frame) needs to be replaced.