How a Heat Pump Cools Your House
In Fort Lauderdale, heat pumps can be a popular option for heating and cooling your home.
They seem very similar to an air conditioner. In reality, they work in a nearly identical way during high temperatures. Since they have a reversing valve, they can transfer humidity in the opposite direction as well as heat your house when it’s cold.
Not sure if you rely on a heat pump or an air conditioner? All you need to do is track down the model number on the outdoor unit and look it up online. If you find you use a heat pump, or you’re thinking over installing one, discover how this HVAC unit keeps residences comfortable.
How Heat Pumps Run
Heat pumps have a refrigeration system like an air conditioner. Most can operate akin to a ductless mini-split, because they can heat and cool. Heat pumps depend on an indoor evaporator coil and an outdoor condensing coil. Refrigerant is moved through these coils to shift warmth. The outdoor unit also uses a compressor and is surrounded by metal fins that function as a heat sink to help shift humidity effectively.
Summertime Cooling
In cooling mode, the refrigerant starts in the evaporator coil. Air from indoors blows over the coil, and the refrigerant extracts heat. Moisture in the air also condenses on the coil, falling into the condensate pan below and moves away. The following cool air flows through the ductwork and back into your residence.
Meanwhile, the refrigerant flows a compressor on its way to the outdoor coil. This compresses the refrigerant, forcing it to get hotter. As it moves through the condensing coil, the outdoor fan and metal fins help to emit heat to the exterior. The refrigerant travels back inside, traveling through an expansion valve that chills it considerably, preparing it to start the process all over again.
When your heat pump is installed and maintained correctly, you’ll have efficient cooling similar to an energy-efficient air conditioner.
Wintertime Heating
When your heat pump is set to heat, the heat exchange procedure happens 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 running in heating mode are most efficient when the temperature is above freezing outside. If it gets too cold, a backup electric resistance heater turns on to keep your home cozy, but your heating costs increase as a result.
Heat pumps operate longer than furnaces as the air doesn’t get as hot. This helps maintain a more stable indoor temperature. Additionally, because heat pumps move hot air rather than generating it from a fuel source, they can work well above 100% efficiency. You can anticipate 30–40% savings on your heating expenses by getting a heat pump.
Schedule Heat Pump Installation or Service Right Away
Heat pumps are a green choice and economical. They are a substitute for the standard AC/furnace setup and should have the same amount of maintenance—one service in the spring and another in the fall.
If you’d like to install a heat pump, Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning is the contractor to call. We’ll size and install your system to meet your heating and cooling requirements. And then we’ll uphold our installation with a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee* for a year. To learn more, contact us at 954-736-4314 today.
