In Hillsborough, heat pumps can be a popular option for heating and cooling your home.
They appear almost like an air conditioner. In reality, they operate in a nearly identical way during warm weather. Due to a reversing valve, they can move humidity in the opposite direction as well as heat your house in the winter.
Not sure if you rely on a heat pump or an air conditioner? All you have to do is locate the model number on the outdoor unit and run it online. If you discover you own a heat pump, or you’re considering purchasing one, find out how this HVAC unit keeps houses cozy.
How Heat Pumps Run
Heat pumps rely on a refrigeration system much like an air conditioner. Most can operate akin to a ductless mini-split, as they can heat and cool. Heat pumps depend on an indoor evaporator coil and an outdoor condensing coil. Refrigerant is pumped through these coils to shift heat. The outdoor unit also contains a compressor and is enclosed by metal fins that function as a heat sink to help move warmth efficiently.
Summertime Cooling
In cooling mode, the refrigerant is in the evaporator coil. Air from within the house blows over the coil, and the refrigerant extracts heat. Wetness in the air also condenses on the coil, falling into the condensate pan below and flows away. The ensuing dehumidified air moves through the ductwork and back into your house.
During this time, the refrigerant passes through a compressor on its way to the outdoor coil. This constricts the refrigerant, leading it to warm up. As it goes through the condensing coil, the outside fan and metal fins help to emit heat to the outside. The refrigerant moves back into your house, passing through an expansion valve that chills it significantly, readying it to go through the process from the start.
When your heat pump is put in and maintained appropriately, you’ll have efficient cooling comparable to an energy-efficient air conditioner.
Wintertime Heating
In heating mode, the heat exchange procedure occurs the other way around. By flowing in the opposite direction, refrigerant extracts heat from the outdoor air and adds it into your residence to warm the inside.
Heat pumps working in heating mode are most efficient when the temperature remains above freezing outside. If it becomes too cold, a backup electric resistance heater kicks on to keep your home comfortable, but your heating expenses increase as a result.
Heat pumps work longer than furnaces because the air doesn’t turn as warm. This helps maintain a more stable indoor temperature. Additionally, because heat pumps shift heat rather than making it from a fuel source, they can perform well above 100% efficiency. You should receive 30–40% savings on your heating costs by using a heat pump.
Book Heat Pump Installation or Service Now
Heat pumps are environmentally friendly and money-saving. They are an alternative to the standard AC/furnace configuration and should have the same amount of maintenance—one checkup in the spring and another in the fall.
If you want to install a heat pump, Fras-Air/General Service Experts is the contractor 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 908-448-2154 right away.