You would have often heard homeowners with an HVAC system talk about the “Heat Pump”. In fact, you would have heard about this term even while looking to buy a new HVAC unit for your home. So, what exactly is a heat pump? Well, you are in the right place to get the answer to this question.
What Is A Heat Pump?
A heat pump is a versatile heating and cooling system that transfers heat from one place to another. It can provide both heating and cooling by extracting heat from the surroundings and transferring it to another place. In the cold winter months, this means extricating heat from outside and pushing it indoor to provide a comfortable and warm environment. In the hot summer months, this means isolating the heat from indoors and transferring it outdoors.
Types Off Heat Pump
Now that you know what a heat pump is, it would be right up the alley to know its types. There are two types of heat pumps, these are:
1. Air Source Heat Pump – Air source heat pumps extract the heat present in the air. In winters, it absorbs the heat present in the air outside and disperses it inside. And in summers, it absorbs the heat present in the air inside and disperses it outside.
2. Ground Source Heat Pump – Ground source heat pumps are also known as Geothermal heat pumps. These transfer heat between the ground outside the home and the air indoors.
How Does The Heat Pump Work?
Heat pumps move heat by moving the refrigerant or coolant through an evaporation and condensation cycle. A compressor drives the refrigerant amidst two heat exchange coils. In one coil, the refrigerant gets evaporated at low pressure and soak up the heat from its surroundings. This refrigerant then gets compressed on the way to the second coil. Here it condenses at high pressure. At this time, it dissipates the heat that it absorbed earlier on in the cycle.
An important thing to remember is that a heat pump does not generate heat. It simply moves it from one place to another. Unlike that, a furnace creates heat and then circulates it through the entire home.
Heat pumps are unique because their cycle is fully reversible. Due to this reason, they are successful in providing all-year-round climate control, which is heating and humidification in winter and cooling and dehumidification in summer. The ground and air outside your home will always have some heat. As a result, a heat pump can provide heat to a house even on the coldest winter days. The plain fact is that air at –18°C retains about 85% of the heat it had at 21°C.
Common Examples Of Heat Pump
Refrigerator and air conditioner are both common examples of a heat pump. Though both of them operate in the cooling mode only. The full potential of a heat pump has been realized in the HVAC system only where it caters to all kinds of temperature requirements.
Benefits Of A Heat Pump
There are several key benefits of using heat pumps in homes. The most important ones are:
1. High Efficiency – Today, amongst all the heating and cooling appliances available in the market, heat pumps are known to be most efficient. If you want to increase the savings on your utility bills, the solution is a heat pump.
2. Cost-Effective – A heat pump is any day a cheaper investment than buying an air conditioner and a furnace. Add to that the energy savings rendered by the heat pump, it is any day a wiser investment. When the AC and furnace fail, you have to change to critical appliances. A heat pump, on the other hand, is a single unit and makes for a cost-effective investment.
3. Low Maintenance – The heat pump is a piece of single equipment used in your HVAC system. Since the number of pieces is less, the cost of maintenance is also low. Not only that, but you will have a lesser number of systems in the home that you need to be concerned about maintaining.
4. Use Electricity – The heat pump is driven by electricity. If you reside in an area where the electricity rates are low, you will find it a better option. Add to that the fact, if you make your own solar power, you have the best combination to achieve greater savings by using a heat pump.
5. Efficient Heating At Low Cost – In places with a moderate climate, people don’t usually buy a furnace. So when the weather does get a might chilly, you land up wearing an extra layer of clothing. With a heat pump, you need not worry about additional heating costs because you can achieve the same with no extra expenditure.
When To Buy A Heat Pump?
What is the ideal time for you to buy a heat pump? Here are a few scenarios when you can upgrade to it.
1. If you are planning to buy a new air conditioner, you can consider buying a heat pump instead. It is even more advisable to do that if your furnace is also old and may bite the dust within the next year or two.
2. If you don’t have a furnace and would like to add one or if your existing furnace needs to be replaced. In both these cases, you may upgrade to a heat pump.
3. If you are remodeling your home or adding new areas to it, again, the heat pump is a feasible option.
Closing Notes
The heat pump is a godsend opportunity at times when we are piling one equipment over the other. A little simplicity goes a long way in giving you the much-needed peace of mind. With a reversing valve, the heat pump efficiently does away with the need for a separate furnace and air conditioner, making things less complicated.
As a company providing maintenance and troubleshooting services for HVAC systems, Aztil AC strongly recommends using a heat pump instead of the traditional AC and furnace combo. If you still have any queries or concerns, contact us or call at +1-888-729-8452 anytime.
