Is Your Home Set Up for Maximum Heat Pump Efficiency?

Modern Heat Pump Repair by Caucasian Technician in His 30s. House Heating Technologies.

Winter is coming… and so is your energy bill. If that stresses you out, then this blog is for you!
A Certified Home Performance Energy Audit is an excellent solution if you are looking to
minimize air leaks and enhance the energy efficiency of your Michigan home and heat pump.
Even the best heat pumps may fail to meet their potential without the correct setup.
As we approach colder months, ensuring your home is prepared to maximize heat pump
efficiency is crucial for maintaining your indoor comfort, saving energy (and lowering bills!), and
reducing your carbon footprint.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re a seasoned heat pump pro or still Googling, “How do I know if I
have a heat pump?” This blog is here to help you ensure any heating system is running at peak
efficiency. Spoiler alert: a home energy evaluation and a few simple tweaks could save you
some serious cold cash this winter!
Here’s what you need to know about optimizing your home for maximum heat pump efficiency
and how the right setup can make all the difference. How do we know? Better World Builders specializes in
home performance, using building science to ensure Michigan homes in and around Battle
Creek
, Portage, and Kalamazoo, MI, perform at their best.

Benefits of Heat Pumps


Heat pumps are unique in that they both heat and cool your home, providing year-round comfort
in Michigan. By transferring heat rather than generating it, they consume significantly less
energy compared to electric resistance heating systems like furnaces or boilers.
According to the Department of Energy, heat pumps can reduce electricity use for heating by
approximately 50 percent compared to electric resistance heating. Additionally, heat pumps
produce fewer carbon emissions since their usage does not require burning fossil fuels, aligning
with goals for a more sustainable and environmentally conscious home.
This ecological friendliness is why heat pumps are one of the main items eligible for the tax
credits outlined in the Inflation Reduction Act and other rebate incentive programs.
However, even with these benefits, a heat pump won’t perform at its best unless installed
properly.
Your system’s efficiency is directly linked to how well your home supports its operation. Better
World Builders can provide a home energy evaluation for homeowners in Kalamazoo, MI, and nearby cities to help identify key areas of improvement.


Certified Home Performance Energy Audit for Heat Pump Efficiency


Discover how to optimize your heat pump’s performance and reduce energy costs with the
experts at Better World Builders. We explore some tips below to help you get the most out of
your heat pump, ensuring maximum efficiency and comfort all year round.

Schedule a certified home performance energy audit to learn more about your Portage, MI,
home and how you could improve your energy efficiency with our Priority Action Plan Quote.

Insulation Inspection in Portage, MI

Proper insulation is one of the most critical factors in heat pump efficiency. If your home isn’t well-
insulated, your heat pump will have to work much harder to maintain a comfortable temperature,

leading to higher energy bills and potential wear and tear on the unit.
Schedule an insulation inspection to have these key
areas of your Portage, MI, home checked for insulation issues:

  • Attic and Roof: An under-insulated attic is often the biggest culprit in energy loss over
    winter since heat rises. Our attic insulation service can help to
    correct this.
  • Walls: Some homes in and around Battle Creek, MI, may lack sufficient wall insulation,
    allowing air to escape. Adding wall insulation reduces the loss of
    heated air over winter (or cooled air in the summer), which helps reduce electricity
    consumption and wear on your heat pump.
  • Windows and Doors: Drafts from poorly sealed windows and doors can undermine the
    work your heat pump is doing. Air leakage testing near Kalamazoo,
    MI, can confirm this issue, and our experts can provide air sealing services to correct it.
  • Crawlspaces/Basements: Cold floors above your basement or crawl space and high
    energy bills could indicate that your insulation is failing. Insulation and encapsulation of these areas of your Portage, MI, home not only helps minimize heat loss but also helps ward against moisture issues.
  • Foundation: If poorly insulated, your cement or block foundation can drain heat and
    lower comfort throughout your home. Insulating your foundation can reduce the
    heating load required for a comfortable Kalamazoo, MI, area home.
    Better World Builders has the expertise to assess your home’s insulation and help you take the
    necessary steps to improve it. Fortifying your home’s thermal envelope with our insulation
    services will significantly enhance your heat pump’s efficiency.

Air Sealing Services in Kalamazoo, MI


Air sealing is a common problem that can sabotage heat pump performance. Gaps in your
Kalamazoo, MI, home’s structure allow warm air to escape during winter and cool air to seep
out during summer.

This means your heat pump has to work overtime to maintain a stable indoor climate. Our air
sealing services can help
homeowners in the area maintain consistent indoor temperatures and reduce the strain on their
heat pumps.


Common Areas We Find Air Leakage

  • Attic and Basement
  • Floors and Walls
  • Fireplace/Chimney
  • Ductwork
  • Doors and Windows

The initial step in air sealing a home in the Battle Creek, MI, area is pinpointing any trouble
spots that need attention. This is typically done through our certified home performance energy
audit.
During our home energy audit, our team can identify the exact locations of air leaks using
advanced diagnostic tools like blower doors and infrared imaging.
Once identified, our skilled technicians can get to work on our air sealing services. We will seal
air leaks using caulking, weatherstripping, foam gaskets, and other appropriate materials to
close any gaps or cracks causing unwanted air leakage.

Heat Pump Sizing and Installation


A common mistake in heat pump installation is choosing a system that is either too small or too
large for your Portage, MI, home.
If your heat pump is too small, it will constantly run to meet the heating or cooling demand,
driving up energy costs and reducing the system’s lifespan. Conversely, an oversized unit may
short-cycle, turning on and off frequently, which can also waste energy and lead to more
frequent repairs.
Better World Builders provides heat pump installation in Battle Creek, MI, and
surrounding communities. We emphasize proper heat pump sizing based on precise load
calculations. We assess your home’s square footage, insulation levels, climate, and other
factors to recommend the right-sized heat pump for your needs.
Proper heat pump installation is just as critical; even the best heat pump will underperform if not
installed correctly. A heat pump installation from our team ensures every unit is installed to
manufacturer specifications, promoting optimal performance and efficiency.
Among other expert services, we also offer attic inspection, performance insulation, and air
sealing services to our Michigan customers to optimize their homes for maximum performance
of newly installed heat pumps.
We can perform energy retrofits for our Battle Creek and Kalamazoo, MI, customers to address other areas of concern that could impact the performance
and efficiency of new heat pump installations.


Energy Retrofits for Comfort and Efficiency


As we head into the colder months, there’s no better time to assess your home’s readiness for heat pump efficiency. Whether it’s improving insulation, sealing air leaks, or installing a high-
efficiency heat pump, these steps will not only enhance your comfort but also help you save on

energy bills and reduce your environmental impact.
The award-winning team at Better World Builders is here to help you maximize your heat pump investment.
Our expertise in building science and energy-efficient solutions allows us to transform your
Battle Creek, MI, home into a more comfortable, durable, and sustainable space—just in time
for winter.
Focusing on air sealing and the right home insulation setup can ensure your heat pump delivers
maximum efficiency, providing comfort and savings all year long. Schedule a home energy
evaluation in Kalamazoo, MI, or an attic inspection in Portage, MI, and let’s get your home and
your heat pump performing like new. Call us today at 269-383-7862 or request service online.

Contact the experts at Better World Builders.

Call us at (269) 383-7862!