A heat pump is a heating and cooling system that moves heat around rather than generating heat. The pump consists of an indoor air handler and an outdoor heat pump similar to the split-system of a central air conditioning unit. The pump even includes a compressor that pumps refrigerant through the system like a central HVAC unit. But the primary difference is that the heat pump takes heat from the ambient air either outside or inside your home then sends it in the opposite direction.
Confusing? Here is a more in-depth explanation of a heat pump and some of the benefits over a traditional HVAC system. Ask your heating and air conditioning services company for more information.
Heat Pump Explained
Air contains a certain amount of heat energy regardless of the actual temperature of the air. The heat pump system is designed to absorb some of this heat energy and then transfer the heat in the needed direction.
The direction of heat travel is the confusing part since it might seem to go in the opposite direction of what you would initially guess. For example, if the temperature outside is hot, it seems like a prime time for the heat pump to absorb that heat energy. But you don't want more heat moving inside your house during summer. Instead, the heat pump absorbs hot air inside your house, uses that process to cool off the interior, and then passes the heat energy outside.
During the winter, the opposite process happens. You don't want the heat pump stealing any warmth from inside. So the pump takes ambient heat from the outdoor air and pushes it inside to provide warmth.
Offers Better Efficiency
A heat pump system offers about a 5 percent improvement on the energy efficiency of even the most efficient traditional HVAC unit. The energy benefits rise if you also need a new water heater since the heat pump can pull double duty. Heat pump water heaters offer an up to 65 percent reduction in energy costs compared to a baseline traditional tanked water heater.
The heat pump also offers better space efficiency since the outdoor unit is smaller than a condensing unit on a central air conditioner and the pump might negate the need for a water heater tank taking up part of your indoor space.
Lower Maintenance Costs
The heat pump has fewer moving parts than a traditional HVAC system, which means there are fewer potential problems that can arise. Heat pumps tend to have lower maintenance costs than a central air conditioner. And the heat generation rather than creation also takes less of a toll on the system, which can help improve the longevity of the heat pump unit.
Share13 October 2016
I know it can be difficult to make yourself think about getting your furnace running when the skies are sunny and the temperatures are hovering around 90, but it is the best time for you to think about your heating system. Getting ahead of the winter preparation game will help to save on the cost of the repairs because the need for furnace maintenance is usually at a low during the fall season. This blog will show you what you can do to prepare your furnace for winter and when you should hire a professional HVAC technician to take care of it for you.