How a Heat Pump Cools Your Residence
In Fort Lauderdale, heat pumps can be a popular option for heating and cooling your house.
They seem about the same as an air conditioner. In actuality, they work in a similar fashion during warm weather. Due to a reversing valve, they can move humidity in the opposite direction as well as add warmth to your house when it’s cold.
Not sure if you rely on 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 it turns out you own a heat pump, or you’re considering buying one, learn more about how this HVAC equipment keeps houses comfy.
How Heat Pumps Work
Heat pumps use a refrigeration system like an air conditioner. Most can operate akin to a ductless mini-split, as they can heat and cool. Heat pumps use an indoor evaporator coil and an outdoor condensing coil. Refrigerant is pumped through these coils to move heat. The outdoor unit also has a compressor and is surrounded by metal fins that act as a heat sink to help transfer warmth properly.
Summertime Cooling
In cooling mode, the refrigerant is in the evaporator coil. Air from inside the house is set over the coil, and the refrigerant extracts warmth. Moisture in the air also condenses on the coil, falling into the condensate pan below and drains away. The following dehumidified air moves through the ductwork and back into your home.
At the same time, the refrigerant flows a compressor on its way to the outdoor coil. This concentrates the refrigerant, leading it to get hotter. As it flows through the condensing coil, the outside fan and metal fins help to discharge heat to the outside. The refrigerant moves back indoors, traveling through an expansion valve that cools it considerably, prepping it to begin the process all over again.
When your heat pump is put in and maintained properly, you’ll enjoy efficient cooling similar to a high-performance air conditioner.
Wintertime Heating
When your heat pump is heating, the heat exchange cycle takes place in reverse. By flowing in the opposite direction, refrigerant extracts heat from the outdoor air and vents it into your home to warm rooms.
Heat pumps operating in heating mode are most useful when the temperature is warmer than freezing outside. If it becomes too cold, a backup electric resistance heater turns on to keep your house comfy, but your heating bills rise as a result.
Heat pumps work longer than furnaces as the air doesn’t turn as warm. This helps keep a more stable indoor temperature. On top of that, because heat pumps move warmth rather than creating it from a fuel source, they can work well above 100% efficiency. You should expect 30–40% savings on your heating expenses by installing a heat pump.
Request Heat Pump Installation or Service Now
Heat pumps are good for the environment and money-saving. They replace the standard AC/furnace setup and should have the same amount of maintenance—one inspection in the spring and another in the fall.
If you’re interested in installing a heat pump, Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning is the company to get in touch with. We’ll size and install your system to fit your heating and cooling requirements. And then we’ll back our services with a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee* for a year. To learn more, contact us at 954-736-4314 today.
