What is a Heat Pump?
What is a heat pump and how does it work? When you think about cooling your home, heat pumps probably don’t come to mind. In fact, an air conditioner is likely to be the first thing you think about. Unless you are old fashion and miss the white noise of a window fan.
As it turns out, a heat pump can both heat and cool, and in some mild climates, is preferred over a separate heating and cooling system.
A heat pump is an all-in-one unit that transfer heat from one place to another. Air source heat pumps move heat between the air inside of a home and the air outside of a home, meaning it absorbs heat energy from the outside air (even in cold temperatures) and transfers it to the indoor air. When it is in cooling mode, a heat pump and an air conditioner are functionally identical, absorbing heat from the indoor air and releasing it through the outdoor unit.
In harsher climates, heat pumps can be connected with an existing gas furnace. Together, the two systems share the heating load, but never operate at the same time. Each unit functions when it is most cost effective. The heat pump is the primary cooling and heating system until temperatures drop below the heat pump’s ability to operate as efficiently as the gas furnace. Then the gas furnace will start up, raising temperatures until the heat pump can operate as efficiently as the main system.
Advantages of heat pumps:
- Heat pumps are very efficient at converting energy to heat
- Heat pumps provides a medium to fast source of heat
- Heat pumps have the ability to provide heating and cooling
- Many have timer controls programmable for seven days and some connect to home WiFi to allow remote control via smartphone
- Electric heat pumps do not “dry” out the air
- Heat pump’s compressors are outside so they are quieter than other heating systems
Contact Polar Heating and Air today to schedule an appointment with our professionals. We understand heat pumps and we can perfect your home comfort.