How a Heat Pump Cools Your Home
In Louisville, heat pumps can be a popular solution for heating and cooling your home.
They look almost like an air conditioner. In reality, they operate in the same way during warm weather. Due to a reversing valve, they can shift warmth in the opposite direction as well as add warmth to your house in the winter.
Not sure if you have a heat pump or an air conditioner? All you have to do is track down the model number on the outdoor unit and look it up online. If you find you own a heat pump, or you’re thinking about purchasing one, learn more about how this HVAC equipment keeps homes comfortable.
How Heat Pumps Operate
Heat pumps have a refrigeration system similar to an air conditioner. Most can operate like a ductless mini-split, as they can heat and cool. Heat pumps rely on an indoor evaporator coil and an outdoor condensing coil. Refrigerant is moved through these coils to shift humidity. The outdoor unit also uses a compressor and is enclosed by metal fins that act as a heat sink to help transfer humidity effectively.
Summertime Cooling
When your heat pump is set to cooling, the refrigerant begins in the evaporator coil. Air from inside the house is set over the coil, and the refrigerant extracts warmth. Wetness in the air also condenses on the coil, dripping into the condensate pan below and flows away. The resulting cool air moves through the ductwork and back into your house.
At the same time, the refrigerant passes through a compressor on its way to the outdoor coil. This compresses the refrigerant, causing it to heat up even more. As it goes through the condensing coil, the exterior fan and metal fins help to discharge heat to the outdoors. The refrigerant travels back inside, 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 appropriately, you’ll have efficient cooling as good as an energy-saving air conditioner.
Wintertime Heating
When your heat pump is set to heat, the heat exchange procedure takes place in reverse. By traveling in a different direction, refrigerant removes heat from the outdoor air and vents it into your home 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 kicks on to keep your house comfortable, but your heating bills go up as a result.
Heat pumps operate longer than furnaces as the air doesn’t turn as warm. This helps sustain a more even indoor temperature. Also, because heat pumps transfer heat rather than creating it from a fuel source, they can perform well above 100% efficiency. You should expect 30–40% savings on your heating costs by installing a heat pump.
Request Heat Pump Installation or Service Now
Heat pumps are environmentally friendly and money-saving. They are an alternative to the traditional AC/furnace system and need the same amount of maintenance—one appointment in the spring and another in the fall.
If you’re interested in installing a heat pump, Becht/Givens Service Experts is the contractor to contact. We’ll size and install your system to match your heating and cooling demands. And then we’ll back our work with a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee* for a year. To find out more, contact us at 502-785-8230 now.
