How a Heat Pump Cools Your Residence
In the U.S., heat pumps can be a popular option for heating and cooling your residence.
They look almost like an air conditioner. In fact, they work in the same way during hot weather. Because of a reversing valve, they can transfer humidity in the opposite direction as well as add warmth to your residence when temperatures drop.
Not sure if you use a heat pump or an air conditioner? Just find the model number on the outdoor unit and check it online. If it turns out you have a heat pump, or you’re thinking over installing one, discover how this HVAC equipment keeps houses comfortable.
How Heat Pumps Run
Heat pumps have a refrigeration system similar to an air conditioner. Most can run like a ductless mini-split, because they can heat and cool. Heat pumps have an indoor evaporator coil and an outdoor condensing coil. Refrigerant is pumped through these coils to transfer heat. The outdoor unit also has a compressor and is encircled by metal fins that act as a heat sink to help shift warmth properly.
Summertime Cooling
When your heat pump is set to cooling, the refrigerant starts in the evaporator coil. Air from indoors is set over the coil, and the refrigerant sucks out humidity. Moisture in the air also condenses on the coil, dripping into the condensate pan below and flows away. The following cool air circulates through the ductwork and back into your residence.
During this time, the refrigerant flows a compressor on its way to the outdoor coil. This compresses the refrigerant, causing it to heat up even more. As it moves through the condensing coil, the outdoor fan and metal fins help to discharge heat to the exterior. The refrigerant moves back indoors, moving through an expansion valve that cools it significantly, readying it to begin the process from the start.
When your heat pump is put in and maintained correctly, you’ll receive efficient cooling equivalent to a high-performance air conditioner.
Wintertime Heating
When your heat pump is heating, the heat exchange cycle takes place the other way around. By traveling in a different direction, refrigerant pulls heat from the outdoor air and vents it into your house to warm the inside.
Heat pumps operating in heating mode are most useful when the temperature remains above freezing outside. If it gets too frigid, a backup electric resistance heater turns on to keep your residence comfortable, but your heating bills rise as a result.
Heat pumps run longer than furnaces as the air doesn’t get as heated. This helps maintain a more stable indoor temperature. On top of that, because heat pumps shift heat rather than creating it from a fuel source, they can perform well above 100% efficiency. You can anticipate 30–40% savings on your heating bills by using a heat pump.
Request Heat Pump Installation or Service Right Away
Heat pumps are good for the environment and economical. They are an alternative to the regular AC/furnace setup and need 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 company to get in touch with. We’ll size and install your unit to meet your heating and cooling requirements. And then we’ll back our work with a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee* for a year. To learn more, contact us at 866-397-3787 now.
