If you notice your building’s energy bills and repair costs soaring, it might be time for an update. As a commercial planner or developer, you’ll probably start considering a heat pump retrofit. But before you do, it’s important to understand how heat pumps work and decide which one would suit your needs. Before you decide to replace your boilers or furnaces with heat pumps, ask:

• How energy-efficient is this retrofit?
• How difficult is it to install, and how much will that installation cost?
• Is a heat pump capable of heating on winter design day or cooling on a summer design day?
• Will this retrofit make my building’s residents more comfortable?

Heat pumps are a significant expense; before you invest in one, consult with an expert at Windy City Representatives. We can help you determine the viability of a heat pump retrofit in your commercial HVAC systems. Our expertise in the commercial HVAC industry offers you: 

• Innovative heat pump technology: Our featured products include high-performance heat pumps with the latest technologies to solve difficult heating and cooling challenges.
• Competitive pricing on name-brand equipment: Through our OEM partners, we offer competitive pricing on a wide variety of commercial heat pumps.
• Service and support: As a full-service manufacturers’ representative firm, we don’t just help you select your equipment—we provide service and support throughout its lifetime. 

Interested in knowing more about heat pump retrofits? Here’s a quick rundown of factors you should consider before you invest—and how our heat pump retrofit solutions can lower your energy losses while still offering top-tier performance and comfort.

What to Consider Before a Heat Pump Retrofit

Efficiency

The integrated energy efficiency ratio (IEER), coefficient of performance (COP), and simultaneous cooling and heating efficiency determine the energy efficiency of a heat pump retrofit that translates to increased cost savings.

Size

Retrofitting the right-sized heat pump with extended operating ranges can meet the demands of your project while consuming minimal energy. 

Installation/Building Configuration

Heat pump installation costs vary based on the size, type, and model of heat pump. Although the equipment may be more expensive, newer heat pumps could save you time and money in installation costs. 

Comfort

Retrofit features such as temperature-sensing, automatic adjusting airflow, and remote monitoring and control provide precise comfort to building occupants. 

Heating and Cooling Demand

On a design winter day or a summer design day, will a heat pump be able to keep your occupants warm in the winter and cool in the summer? Sometimes your heating demand is too much for air-source heat pumps and you need to look at a water-source system. A water source system allows for a heat source to inject heat into the system. 

Options for Heat Pump Retrofits

With Windy City Representatives, you don’t just get a quality heat pump. We help you choose from the latest, most effective technology, including: 

Air-Source Heat Pumps

There are two general types of air-source heat pumps. Mini-split heat pumps, or duct-free split systems, are typically used in smaller-scale projects. Variable refrigerant flow (VRF) systems are ideal for commercial buildings. Both are ideal for retrofitting, as they do not require extensive renovation to ductwork—a particularly attractive option in larger buildings. 

Though air-source heat pumps are efficient and effective in warmer climates, recent advances have produced models which operate well even in subzero temperatures. In addition, the reverse cycle chiller—a special type of air-source heat pump—can be paired with a wide range of heating and cooling distribution systems to lower winter electric bills. 

Here’s a little more about each kind of system.

Duct-Free Split Systems

The mini-split heat pump, or duct-free split system, offers homeowners many advantages. They’re simple to install, energy efficient, quiet, and allow you to control temperatures in individual rooms. 

We recommend: Duct-free Mini Split System from YORK®

Variable Refrigerant Flow Systems

With flexible installation and design solutions, variable refrigerant flow (VRF) systems are an ideal retrofit choice for larger facilities. Not only do they minimize renovation costs, they’re energy efficient, with IEER ratings up to 26.5 and COP ratings up to 4.25. They also operate in temperatures down to -13 degrees fahrenheit.

We recommend: VRF Gen II Heat Pump from YORK® 

Water-Source Heat Pumps

Though the technology needed for water-source heat pumps is readily available, retrofitting with a water-source heat pump requires new room terminal units and new condenser water piping. advanced water-source heat pumps offer features including:

• Dual fuel units that allow an additional heat source to be used as a supplement/backup if water loop downtime is required. 
• Variable-capacity compressors paired with variable air volume fans significantly reduce operating costs. 
• Low maintenance requirements with potential reuse of the distribution system using water and packaged heat pump circuits. 

We recommend: AAON® and YORK® water-source heat pumps

At Windy City Representatives, we are dedicated to providing you and your clients with competitively priced heat pumps from leading manufacturers, with service and support throughout the equipment’s lifetime. Keep your heating solutions practical, affordable, and simple. After all, retrofitting with the best equipment and minimal hassles of maintenance is a win-win solution for both you and your client.

Windy City Representatives can assist you in everything related to heat pump retrofitting. We are a full-service manufacturer’s rep firm offering competitive pricing as well as end-to-end service and support on state-of-art commercial HVAC products. To request a quote, call us at (630) 590-6933 or email us at info@windycityreps.com.