In Concord, heat pumps can be a popular choice to heat and cool your house.
They seem about the same as an air conditioner. In fact, they work in the same way during hot weather. Since they have a reversing valve, they can shift warmth in the opposite direction as well as heat your house when it's cold.
Not sure if you use a heat pump or an air conditioner? All you need to do is locate the model number on the outdoor unit and check it online. If you find you use a heat pump, or you’re thinking about purchasing one, learn more about how this HVAC system keeps residences cozy.
How Heat Pumps Operate
Heat pumps depend on a refrigeration system like an air conditioner. Most can operate like a ductless mini-split, as they can heat and cool. Heat pumps depend on an indoor evaporator coil and an outdoor condensing coil. Refrigerant is pumped through these coils to transfer heat. The outdoor unit also uses a compressor and is encircled by metal fins that function as a heat sink to help shift warmth effectively.
Summertime Cooling
When your heat pump is cooling, the refrigerant is in the evaporator coil. Air from inside the house is distributed over the coil, and the refrigerant sucks out warmth. Moisture in the air also condenses on the coil, falling into the condensate pan below and moves away. The resulting cool air circulates through the ductwork and back into your house.
Meanwhile, the refrigerant moves a compressor on its way to the outdoor coil. This compresses the refrigerant, forcing it to warm up. As it flows through the condensing coil, the outside fan and metal fins help to discharge heat to the outside. The refrigerant heads back inside, traveling through an expansion valve that cools it considerably, readying it to start the process from the beginning.
When your heat pump is installed and maintained properly, you’ll get efficient cooling comparable to an energy-efficient air conditioner.
Wintertime Heating
When your heat pump is set to heat, the heat exchange procedure happens the other way around. By flowing in a different direction, refrigerant pulls heat from the outdoor air and vents it into your home to warm the inside.
Heat pumps running in heating mode are most effective when the temperature is above freezing outside. If it gets too frigid, a backup electric resistance heater turns on to keep your residence cozy, but your heating bills increase as a result.
Heat pumps are on longer than furnaces since the air doesn’t become as warm. This helps keep a more balanced indoor temperature. Also, because heat pumps transfer heat rather than generating it from a fuel source, they can operate well above 100% efficiency. You should expect 30–40% savings on your heating costs by using a heat pump.
Request Heat Pump Installation or Service Today
Heat pumps are environmentally friendly and cost-effective. They are a substitute for the regular AC/furnace setup and require the same amount of maintenance—one appointment in the spring and another in the fall.
If you’d like to install a heat pump, Freschi Service Experts is the contractor to contact. We’ll size and install your system to meet your heating and cooling requirements. And then we’ll support our installation with a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee* for a year. To find out more, contact us at 925-384-1303 today.