The heat pump is a miracle of modern society, allowing us to seamlessly and effortlessly source and distribute air throughout our homes. It’s essential for many, especially during those times of the year when temperatures are extreme and the indoors quickly reflect the blistering heat of the outdoors. In more ways than one, heat pumps are an essential part of home comfort and livability, and are therefore important things to understand in order to use and maintain properly. In this article, we’ll review what a heat pump is, how it works, and what its proper functioning means for the temperatures of your space.
What Is a Heat Pump?
A heat pump is a part of a heating and cooling system, primarily responsible for the transfer of thermal energy between spaces. They’ll most typically be installed between the interior of a property and its outer wall, so that they can source and manage the use of the air temperature in both environments.
How Does A Heat Pump Work?
Essentially, a heat pump serves as a gateway between the indoors and outdoors, managing the flow of thermal energy between the two spaces. Through a reversing valve, it can change the flow of its refrigerant to either cool or heat a home.
To cool, a heat pump will pump liquid refrigerant through an expansion device at its indoor coil. As air from within the space blows across the coils, its thermal energy is absorbed by the refrigerant. The cool air left over is redistributed throughout the duct system, and the thermal energy sourced from it is sent outdoors.
To heat, a heat pump will do the reverse. It will compress the refrigerant to raise its temperature and send it through the outdoor coil. As air from outside blows across this coil, its thermal energy is transferred to the refrigerant. The warm air left over is then sent through the duct system to heat the home.
What Does Proper Heat Pump Functioning Mean For Me?
It’s important to have a properly functioning heat pump because it’s what helps to maintain comfortable temperatures indoors, especially during extreme weather conditions. When your heat pump is working as it should, you’ll likely see an increase in the efficiency of your home’s heating and cooling system. Additionally, you’ll likely see a decrease in your energy bills as well.
If you’re not sure whether or not your heat pump is functioning properly, be sure to contact a professional to take a look and diagnose any potential issues. By understanding what a heat pump is and how it works, you can help ensure that yours is running smoothly and keeping your home comfortable all year long.
Have questions about heat pumps in Melbourne, FL? Contact Complete Air & Heat, Inc. Making families happy on the Space Coast since 1975.