How Your Home Is Cooled by a Heat Pump

Heat pumps are a common option for home heating and cooling in Virginia.

They resemble an air conditioner in appearance. In fact, when it's hot outside, they function similarly. They can both shift warmth in the reverse direction and heat your home when it's cold thanks to a reversing valve.

Not sure whether you use an air conditioner or a heat pump? All you have to do is look up the outdoor unit's model number online. If you already own one or are considering buying one, learn how a heat pump maintains comfort in homes.

Why Do Heat Pumps Function?

A refrigeration system akin to an air conditioner is what heat pumps rely on. Since they can both heat and cool, most can function similarly to a ductless mini-split. Both an interior and an exterior condensing coil are used by heat pumps. To transfer humidity, refrigerant is passed through these coils. The outdoor unit also has a compressor, which is protected by metal fins that act as a heat sink to help heat move more quickly.

Seasonal Cooling

The refrigerant starts off in the evaporator coil, where your heat pump cools. The distribution of indoor air over the coil causes the refrigerant to absorb humidity. Additionally, water from the air condenses on the coil, falls into the condensate pan below, and is then drained away. The resulting cool air then circulates through the ducts and returns to your home.

On its journey to the outdoor coil, the refrigerant passes through a compressor simultaneously. The refrigerant becomes more restricted as a result, heating up more. Heat is expelled to the outside as it passes through the condensing coil with the aid of an outside fan and metal fins. The refrigerant returns to your home and passes through an expansion valve, which significantly decreases its temperature and gets it ready to repeat the process.

When your heat pump is installed and maintained properly, you will experience effective cooling that is comparable to an energy-efficient air conditioner.

Heating in the Winter

The process of heat exchange takes place the other way around in heating mode. Refrigerant removes heat from the outside air and adds it inside your home to warm it by flowing in the opposite way.

When the outside temperature is above freezing, heat pumps operating in the heating mode perform at their best. In order to maintain comfort in your home if it becomes too cold, a backup electric resistance heater kicks in, but as a result, your heating expenditures increase.

Since the air doesn't get as warm as it does in furnaces, heat pumps need to run longer. This promotes more consistent indoor temperature control. Furthermore, heat pumps can run at well above 100% efficiency since they transport heat rather than generate it from a fuel source. By using a heat pump instead of an electric heater, you should save 30–40% on your heating costs.

Get a Heat Pump Installation or Service Scheduled Immediately

The process of heat exchange takes place the other way around in the heating mode. Refrigerant removes heat from the outside air and adds it inside your home to warm it by flowing in the opposite direction.

When the outside temperature is above freezing, heat pumps operating in the heating mode perform at their best. As a result, your heating costs will rise.

Since the air doesn't get as warm as it does in furnaces, heat pumps need to run longer. This promotes more consistent indoor temperature control. Furthermore, heat pumps can run at well above 100% efficiency since they transport heat rather than generate it from a fuel source. By using a heat pump instead of an electric heater, you should save 30–40% on your heating costs.