In Fort Lauderdale, heat pumps can be a popular choice to heat and cool your residence.
They look about the same as an air conditioner. In fact, they work in a nearly identical way during hot weather. Because of a reversing valve, they can shift heat in the opposite direction as well as heat your house in the winter.
Not sure if you have a heat pump or an air conditioner? Simply track down the model number on the outdoor unit and check it online. If you discover you have a heat pump, or you’re considering installing one, learn more about how this HVAC unit keeps houses comfy.
How Heat Pumps Work
Heat pumps depend on a refrigeration system much like an air conditioner. Most can work akin to 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 moved through these coils to move heat. The outdoor unit also uses a compressor and is enclosed by metal fins that function as a heat sink to help shift warmth properly.
Summertime Cooling
When your heat pump is cooling, the refrigerant is in the evaporator coil. Air from within the house blows over the coil, and the refrigerant extracts warmth. Water in the air also condenses on the coil, dripping into the condensate pan below and drains away. The ensuing cool air circulates through the ductwork and back into your house.
At the same time, the refrigerant moves a compressor on its way to the outdoor coil. This compresses the refrigerant, leading it to warm up. As it flows through the condensing coil, the outside fan and metal fins help to discharge heat to the exterior. The refrigerant moves back indoors, passing through an expansion valve that lowers its temperature it greatly, readying it to begin the process from the beginning.
When your heat pump is installed and maintained properly, you’ll have efficient cooling comparable to an energy-efficient air conditioner.
Wintertime Heating
When your heat pump is set to heat, the heat exchange cycle takes place the other way around. By traveling in a different direction, refrigerant pulls heat from the outdoor air and adds it into your house to warm rooms.
Heat pumps working in heating mode are most useful when the temperature is warmer than freezing outside. If it gets too cold, a backup electric resistance heater turns on to keep your home cozy, but your heating expenses go up as a result.
Heat pumps work longer than furnaces as the air doesn’t become as warm. This helps maintain a more stable 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 installing a heat pump.
Book Heat Pump Installation or Service Today
Heat pumps are environmentally friendly and money-saving. They are a substitute for the regular AC/furnace setup and require the same amount of maintenance—one inspection in the spring and another in the fall.
If you’d like to install a heat pump, Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning is the company to contact. We’ll size and install your equipment to fit your heating and cooling demands. And then we’ll support our work with a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee* for a year. To learn more, contact us at 954-736-4314 now.