What is a heat pump anyway? In this brief guide, we will be learning about what a heat pump is and how it works so you can decide if it is right for your home.
What Does a Heat Pump Do?
A heat pump is useful to both heat and cool your home. It works like an air conditioner in the warmer months and then can be reversed in the cooler months to provide heat. How does it do this? In the summer, it removes the warm air from inside your home and puts it outside, and in the winter, it extracts warmer air from outside and moves it in. How can there be warmer air outside in the winter? Even when it is cold out, there is still some heat around the outside of your home, either in the air or in the ground, and the heat pump can utilize it to help keep your home warm!
Here are the steps of how a heat pump works:
1. Heat is sourced from the outside air or underground.
2. Heat causes refrigerant liquid to evaporate turning into gas.
3. Gas is moved through a compressor, increasing pressure, causing temps to rise.
4. Heat is moved over the internal heat exchange surface and blown around the house, or to central heating or hot water systems.
5. As heat is moved around, it cools and turns back into a liquid.
6. This cycle repeats until the temperature reaches what you set your thermostat to.
There are three types of heat pumps. One sources the heat from the air, and the other from the ground. The third is a hybrid that works with your furnace or boiler.
Air-Source Heat Pump
A heat pump that extracts heat from the air can be transferred either to the air in your home or to the water. Air-to-air heat pumps use the outside air and feed it into your home through fans. Air-to-water heat pumps are mainly used in newer buildings that are more energy efficient. They take the heat from the air outside and transfer it to a wet central heating system that you can use for underfloor heating.
Ground-Source Heat Pump
A heat pump that extracts heat from the ground has a ground loop where water and antifreeze are pumped through to collect the radiant heat. The bigger the house, the bigger the loop. This heat is then transferred to your home heating system. This is similar to a furnace or boiler, but it uses ambient heat from the ground rather than fuel. This type of heat pump can also be used for radiators, hot water, and underfloor heating systems.
Hybrid Heat Pump
A hybrid heat pump system uses both a heat pump — either air or ground source — and your furnace or boiler. It can monitor the outside temperature and choose which system to use. This makes sure you are getting the most efficient use out of your furnace, boiler, and heat pump.
Maintaining and Repairing Your Heat Pump
Once you have a heat pump installed, it is important to properly maintain it. At Of Course! Heating and Cooling, we provide expert service for all your heat pump needs, including routine maintenance and repair. Here are some signs to watch out for that mean it is time to get your heat pump serviced.
- Inconsistent heating and cooling
- Inadequate airflow or ventilation
- Atypical cycling patterns
- Metallic noises such as clicking, banging, or grinding
- Increased energy costs
When a heat pump is working properly, it should deliver evenly dispersed heat or cooling and maintain a normal pattern of coming on and turning off. If you notice that some rooms seem warmer or cooler than others or hear the heat pump acting erratically, it is time to call a professional to get it checked out.
Trust the Pros in Yucaipa
If you are in the market for a new heat pump or require repairs or maintenance, you can trust our team at Of Course! Heating and Cooling to get the job done in Yucaipa! We pride ourselves on using the best parts and tools available and providing you with the best service around. Besides heat pumps, we also offer AC and furnace services to meet your needs. Contact us today for an appointment!
Today!
