In Fort Worth, heat pumps can be a popular solution for heating and cooling your home.
They seem about the same as an air conditioner. In reality, they work in a nearly identical way during hot weather. Since they have a reversing valve, they can move heat in the opposite direction as well as add warmth to your home when temperatures drop.
Not sure if you rely on a heat pump or an air conditioner? Just find the model number on the outdoor unit and run it online. If you discover you own a heat pump, or you’re thinking about purchasing one, discover how this HVAC unit keeps homes cozy.
How Heat Pumps Work
Heat pumps rely on a refrigeration system similar to an air conditioner. Most can operate like a ductless mini-split, because they can heat and cool. Heat pumps rely on an indoor evaporator coil and an outdoor condensing coil. Refrigerant is pumped through these coils to move warmth. The outdoor unit also uses a compressor and is enclosed by metal fins that act as a heat sink to help transfer warmth effectively.
Summertime Cooling
When your heat pump is set to cooling, the refrigerant starts in the evaporator coil. Air from inside the house blows over the coil, and the refrigerant sucks out warmth. Wetness in the air also condenses on the coil, dripping into the condensate pan below and moves away. The ensuing cold air circulates through the ductwork and back into your home.
At the same time, the refrigerant passes through a compressor on its way to the outdoor coil. This concentrates the refrigerant, causing it to warm up. As it moves through the condensing coil, the outside fan and metal fins help to exhaust heat to the exterior. The refrigerant travels back into your house, traveling through an expansion valve that chills it considerably, preparing it to begin the process from the start.
When your heat pump is replaced and maintained appropriately, you’ll enjoy efficient cooling on par with an energy-saving air conditioner.
Wintertime Heating
When your heat pump is set to heat, the heat exchange cycle takes place the opposite way. By traveling in the opposite direction, refrigerant extracts heat from the outdoor air and adds it into your home to warm rooms.
Heat pumps running in heating mode are most useful when the temperature is above freezing outside. If it gets too frigid, a backup electric resistance heater turns on to keep your home comfy, but your heating bills increase as a result.
Heat pumps run longer than furnaces because the air doesn’t become as warm. This helps maintain a more balanced indoor temperature. Additionally, because heat pumps shift hot air rather than making it from a fuel source, they can work well above 100% efficiency. You should receive 30–40% savings on your heating costs by getting a heat pump.
Book Heat Pump Installation or Service Now
Heat pumps are good for the environment and economical. They are a substitute for the regular AC/furnace system and require the same amount of maintenance—one appointment in the spring and another in the fall.
If you’re interested in installing a heat pump, Stark Services is the company to contact. We’ll size and install your system to fit your heating and cooling demands. And then we’ll uphold our work with a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee* for a year. For more information, contact us at 817-668-6689 now.