In Rochester, heat pumps can be a popular option for heating and cooling your home.
They seem very similar to an air conditioner. In reality, they run in a similar fashion during warm weather. Due to a reversing valve, they can shift warmth in the opposite direction as well as add warmth to your home when temperatures drop.
Not sure if you use a heat pump or an air conditioner? All you need to do is locate the model number on the outdoor unit and look it up online. If it turns out you have a heat pump, or you’re thinking over getting one, discover how this HVAC equipment keeps homes comfortable.
How Heat Pumps Operate
Heat pumps depend on a refrigeration system like an air conditioner. Most can work akin to a ductless mini-split, as they can heat and cool. Heat pumps have an indoor evaporator coil and an outdoor condensing coil. Refrigerant is sent through these coils to shift humidity. The outdoor unit also uses a compressor and is surrounded by metal fins that function as a heat sink to help shift humidity efficiently.
Summertime Cooling
When your heat pump is cooling, the refrigerant begins in the evaporator coil. Air from indoors blows over the coil, and the refrigerant sucks out heat. Moisture in the air also condenses on the coil, dripping into the condensate pan below and drains away. The ensuing cold air circulates through the ductwork and back into your home.
During this time, the refrigerant flows a compressor on its way to the outdoor coil. This constricts the refrigerant, forcing it to get hotter. As it goes through the condensing coil, the outdoor fan and metal fins help to exhaust heat to the exterior. The refrigerant travels back inside, moving through an expansion valve that chills it greatly, readying it to go through the process from the beginning.
When your heat pump is put in and maintained properly, you’ll have efficient cooling comparable to an energy-efficient air conditioner.
Wintertime Heating
In heating mode, the heat exchange process takes place in reverse. By moving in a different direction, refrigerant extracts heat from the outdoor air and adds it into your house to warm the interior.
Heat pumps working in heating mode are most efficient when the temperature is above freezing outside. If it turns too chilly, a backup electric resistance heater starts to keep your residence cozy, but your heating expenses go up as a result.
Heat pumps run longer than furnaces as the air doesn’t become as warm. This helps sustain a more stable indoor temperature. Also, because heat pumps move heat rather than generating it from a fuel source, they can work well above 100% efficiency. You should expect 30–40% savings on your heating expenses by using a heat pump.
Schedule Heat Pump Installation or Service Today
Heat pumps are a green choice and economical. They replace the standard AC/furnace configuration and need the same amount of maintenance—one checkup in the spring and another in the fall.
If you want to install a heat pump, Strogen's Service Experts is the contractor to call. We’ll size and install your system to match your heating and cooling demands. And then we’ll support our installation with a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee* for a year. For more information, contact us at 603-923-4570 now.