In the U.S., heat pumps can be a popular choice to heat and cool your home.
They look almost like an air conditioner. In actuality, they work in the same way during high temperatures. Because of a reversing valve, they can shift humidity in the opposite direction as well as heat your house when it’s cold.
Not sure if you rely on a heat pump or an air conditioner? Simply track down the model number on the outdoor unit and run it online. If you find you have a heat pump, or you’re thinking about purchasing one, learn more about how this HVAC unit keeps houses comfy.
Heat pumps rely on a refrigeration system like an air conditioner. Most can work like a ductless mini-split, as they can heat and cool. Heat pumps have an indoor evaporator coil and an outdoor condensing coil. Refrigerant is pumped through these coils to move heat. The outdoor unit also contains a compressor and is surrounded by metal fins that act as a heat sink to help move heat properly.
When your heat pump is cooling, the refrigerant is in the evaporator coil. Air from indoors moves over the coil, and the refrigerant sucks out warmth. Water in the air also condenses on the coil, dropping into the condensate pan below and drains away. The resulting cold air moves through the ductwork and back into your residence.
At the same time, the refrigerant passes through a compressor on its way to the outdoor coil. This compresses the refrigerant, causing it to warm up. As it moves through the condensing coil, the outdoor fan and metal fins help to exhaust heat to the outside. The refrigerant heads back into your house, moving through an expansion valve that chills it significantly, preparing it to go through the process from the start.
When your heat pump is installed and maintained properly, you’ll get efficient cooling on par with an energy-efficient air conditioner.
In heating mode, the heat exchange process occurs the other way around. By flowing in a different direction, refrigerant extracts heat from the outdoor air and vents it into your home to warm the inside.
Heat pumps running in heating mode are most useful when the temperature remains above freezing outside. If it gets too cold, a backup electric resistance heater turns on to keep your residence comfy, but your heating bills go up as a result.
Heat pumps operate longer than furnaces because the air doesn’t become as hot. This helps maintain a more balanced indoor temperature. Additionally, because heat pumps move warmth rather than creating it from a fuel source, they can work well above 100% efficiency. You can anticipate 30–40% savings on your heating expenses by getting a heat pump.
Heat pumps are a green choice and money-saving. They are a substitute for the regular AC/furnace system and should have the same amount of maintenance—one checkup in the spring and another in the fall.
If you’d like to install a heat pump, Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing is the contractor to call. We’ll size and install your system to match your heating and cooling needs. And then we’ll support our work with a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee* for a year. For more information, contact us at 866-397-3787 now.
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There’s no reason to skip your seasonal maintenance that saves energy and helps ensure your air conditioner and heater will work reliably all season long.
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