How Heat Pumps Work
As the name suggests, heat pumps pump heat. What many people don’t know is that heat pumps can pump heat in either direction, meaning they can be used to bring heat into a home, or move heat out of the home, effectively heating or cooling a space depending on the season. Because they serve this dual purpose and they are highly efficient, heat pumps are the choice for many Fredericksburg homeowners’ HVAC needs.
Different Kinds of Heat Pumps
There are several different kinds of heat pumps, and each has its own pros and cons. From ground-source to air-source heat pumps, your heating specialist will know which one is right for your home and your heating and cooling needs, so that you have the best system possible.
How Air-Source Heat Pumps Work
Heat pumps are actually more complicated than they may seem, made up of several elements that all work together to move heat.
- On the exterior of your home, there is a fan surrounded by a series of liquid refrigerant-filled coils. As the fan moves, it pulls in outside air, which passes over the coils as it moves through the system.
- Because these coils are filled with liquid refrigerant, they absorb the heat from the air and transform into hot vapor.
- This hot vapor passes through a compressor and becomes pressurized, increasing in temperature as it is pushed through to coils on the interior of the house.
- A fan on the inside of the house sucks in cold air from the home, and passing over the now heated coils, becomes hot air which is then distributed through vents to the rest of the house.
- The refrigerant gradually loses its heat and moves back outside as liquid to begin the process again.
Why They Are So Efficient
Heat pumps focus on moving heat, not producing it. Because of this, they use much less energy than their boiler, furnace, or air conditioner counterparts. The only energy they require is to move the fans inside the system, which is very minimal compared to other HVAC units which use your home’s energy sources to boil water or keep a flame ignited.
Is a Heat Pump Right for You?
Heat pumps are highly energy efficient, but they are only effective as long as they have some heat from which to draw. Because of this, heat pumps are generally only recommended by HVAC contractors for homes in relatively mild climates. Because Virginia is considered a mild climate, this means that a heat pump could provide you with your heating and cooling needs.
It is important for you to speak with a professional before making a decision to buy an entirely new HVAC system. At All Air Heating & Cooling, we have the experience and knowledge necessary to understand your home, your heating and cooling needs, and your budget so that we can guide you in the best direction. Because we are local to the Fredericksburg area, we also understand the kind of demand that the Virginia climate can place on your systems, so we know how to best care for your equipment.
If you want to know more about heat pumps, how they work, and whether or not they can save you money, then contact our HVAC specialists today! We have the equipment and the expertise to get you on the right track.
