What is a heat pump and how does it work?

What Is A Heat Pump?

If you know anything about how refrigerators work, it’s easy to understand how heat pumps work.

Heat pumps and refrigerators operate on the same principles.

Heat pumps can also use the compression cycle to heat, as well.

Essentially, a heat pump transfers heat from one place to another to provide either heating or cooling.

When it’s in cooling mode, the pump transfers heat out of your home to make it feel colder.

In the heating mode, it transfers heat into your home, making the air feel warmer.

Through a closed-circuit system, the heat pump uses refrigerant to transfer the heat.

The refrigerant changes state from liquid to gas and back to a liquid as the temperature and pressure change.

Benefits Of A Heat Pumps

Heat pumps offer considerable advantages for homeowners.

There is a multitude of heat pump advantages, which make them a great investment for homeowners.

Energy Efficiency

One of the reasons that heat pumps are so efficient is their ability to transfer heat instead of generating it from scratch as a standard air conditioner does.

According to the Department of Energy, homeowners who currently use electricity for heating can save up to 40 percent of the amount they spend on heating and cooling by installing an air-source heat pump.

Humidity Control

Heat pumps deal with humid climates better than standard air conditioners do.

That’s because the air handler naturally runs at a lower speed for a longer time than other systems, and long cooling cycles are the key to reducing humidity.

Comfort

With the lower stages of cooling, heat pumps offer superior comfort over standard A/Cs.

Most air conditioners and furnaces cycle on at full force and then shut down to stop sending cool air to the home.

As a result, it’s common to experience cold zones while the system’s running and hot zones when it shuts off.

With a heat pump, you’ll get a continuous stream of cooled air coming into the home and boosting comfort.

Installation:

If you currently heat your home with electricity or gas and cool it with an air conditioner, the HVAC installer won’t have to make any changes to retrofit the air-source heat pump.

The unit will take up about as much space as your air conditioner and furnace because it comprises the same two components: the indoor air handler and the outdoor condenser.

Dual System Flexibility:

If your home’s existing HVAC system needs to be replaced, it can be costly to invest in both a furnace and an air conditioner.

By upgrading to a heat pump, you’ll get a two-in-one system that heats and cools at a reduced cost.

Denver heat pump service by First String Heating

If you have any questions about heat pumps, or if you’d like a heating system serviced or installed in your home, contact us at First String Heating or call us @ 303-250-4422.