What is a heat pump and how does it work?
A heat pump is part of a heating and cooling system and is installed outside your home. As an air conditioner, it can cool your home, but it is also capable of providing heat. In the colder months, a heat pump pulls heat from the cold outside air and transfers it indoors, and in the warmer months, it takes heat from the indoor air to cool your home. They are powered by electricity and transfer heat using a refrigerant to provide year-round comfort. Since they handle both cooling and heating, homeowners may not need to install separate systems to heat their homes. In cooler climates, an electric heat strip can be added to the indoor fan coil for additional features. Heat pumps do not burn fossil fuel like ovens, making them more environmentally friendly.
How does a heat pump cool and heat?
Heat pumps do not generate heat. Instead, they redistribute heat from the air or ground and use a refrigerant that circulates between the indoor fan coil unit (air handler) and an outdoor compressor to transfer heat.
In cooling mode, a heat pump absorbs heat inside your home and releases it outside. In heating mode, the heat pump absorbs heat from the ground or outside air (even cold air) and releases it inside.
What types of heat pumps are there?
The two most common types of heat pumps are the air source and the ground source. Air source heat pumps transfer heat between indoor and outdoor air and are most popular for residential heating and cooling.
Geothermal heat pumps, sometimes called geothermal heat pumps, transfer heat between the air inside your home and the ground outside. These are more expensive to install, but are typically more efficient and have a lower operating cost due to consistent ground temperature throughout the year.
Where do heat pumps work best?
Heat pumps are more common in milder climates, where the temperature does not normally drop below freezing. In colder regions, they can also be combined with ovens for energy-efficient heating on all but the coldest days. When the outside temperature drops too low to too low for the heat pump to work effectively, the system will use the oven to generate heat. This type of system is often called a dual fuel system – it is very energy efficient and economical.
What are the components of a heat pump system?
Main components of a heat pump system:
• Outdoor unit with coil that works as a condenser in cooling mode and evaporator in heating mode.
• Indoor unit that contains a coil (just like the outdoor unit) and a fan to move air around your home.
• Refrigerant that absorbs and releases heat as it circulates through the system.
• Compressor that pressurizes the refrigerant.
• Reversing valve that changes the direction of refrigerant in the system to allow switching between heating and cooling.
• Expansion valve that regulates the flow of refrigerant through the system.