Heat pumps are both old heating and cooling technology and one that is still evolving. Back in 1852 the first scientific principles behind heat pumps and artificial refrigeration were developed and from there inventors built on the concept. In the 1940s, heat pumps emerged as a popular home unit, providing cozy comfort and single system convenience. Ever since the heat pump has continued to increase in both popularity and efficiency. Let’s review how a heat pump “pumps heat” to both heat and cool.
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A heat pump is a system that transfers heat, moving it from one place to another. In the summer months, a heat pump moves heat from inside your home and dumps it outside while in the winter months it reverses this process. An air source heat pump has two parts – an indoor and an outdoor unit.
A typical heat pump system includes:
The story of heat pumps starts with refrigerants. Refrigerants come with a unique power – easy to manipulate – and low boiling points. A refrigerant is a fluid that can move quickly from a liquid to a vapor and back to a liquid again, over and over again. As it changes phases it absorbs and releases heat.
Heat pumps take advantage of that. As a closed system, heat pumps can force refrigerants to absorb and release heat where they want it to be. As the heart of the system, the compressor maintains the flow of refrigerant between the indoor and outdoor condensing units.
While in cooling mode during the summer, warm air from your home is pulled into the ductwork by a fan which is passed over the evaporator coils transferring the heat to the refrigerant which is cycled outside. The refrigerant dumps the heat outside and makes the return journey to do it again until your home is at the comfort level you want. While in heating mode during the winter, this process is reversed pulling heat from the ambient air outside into the home.
Heat pumps use electricity instead of fuel. The popularity of alternative fuel systems like heat pumps has been on the rise over the last decade as system efficiency standards increase. One of the reasons it is so efficient is the basic principle on which it operates – heat transfer.
Simply put, heat pumps work on the concept that it is more efficient to move heat than it is to create it. Heat naturally moves from high temperatures to areas where the temperature is lower. By using a small amount of electric energy, a heat pump system can reverse that process by moving heat from places that are relatively low temperature to higher temperature areas.
In the United States, every heat pump sold has an EnergyGuide label that tells buyers the heat pump’s heating and cooling performance rating so you can compare it to other models. Look for Energy Star which means the heat pump has met strict energy efficiency guidelines. The seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) for the cooling season and the heating season performance factor (HSPF) labels tell you the energy rating. The higher the SEER and HSPF the better the energy savings.
Additional reading: HVAC Efficiency Ratings Explained
Heat pumps have quite a few advantages. Innovations over the years have continued to improve heat pumps for efficiency and comfort. Heat pumps are typically quieter than an air conditioning unit, making it easy to find an outside home for the compressor unit, even near bedrooms and patios.
One of the cons of heat pumps is their lower life expectancy. Because they are used year-round, the life expectancy of a heat pump is about 15 years, slightly less than a typical furnace and air conditioner. However, the heat pump makes up for this with lower bills. According to Energy.gov, an air source heat pump can provide about one-and-a-half to three times more heat energy than the energy it uses.
Heat pumps are excellent options for moderate weather areas, like the Pacific Northwest, where the winter temperatures rarely regularly fall below 30 degrees. The reason is moving heat from very cold areas to a warmer one takes more energy than moving between two moderate temperature areas. However, when temperatures do dip you will still be warm. Supplemental heat helps the heat pump produce enough warmth to keep your home comfortable.
Related: The Best Temperature to Set Your Thermostat to in Winter
The most common type of heat pump is called an air source heat pump. Air source heat pumps blow air over refrigerant-filled coils that transfer heat either indoors or outdoors depending on the season. Air source heat pumps also come in a ductless heat pump system.
A ground source heat pump is also known as a geothermal heat pump or water source heat pump. Since the late 1940s, geothermal heat pumps use the constant heat from the earth instead of the outside air as a heat exchanger. Geothermal and water source heat pumps absorb heat from the ground or a body of water through a loop system that carries the refrigerant or water through underground pipes and are able to heat and cool homes.
Air conditioners have one great superpower – they bring lovely cool air to your home all summer long. While they work as a heat pump, moving heat from inside your home to outside, air conditioners are only good for one season. We have created an in-depth guide on deciding if an air conditioner or heat pump is better for you.
Because they only run seasonally, air conditioning units typically last 15 to 20 years and may be a better match if you already have a furnace. The advantage to heat pumps is that they are all-in-one units – both cooling and heating – which saves space and uses one fuel source.
There is very little difference between how a heat pump and an air conditioner cool provided you are comparing the same SEER ratings. Other factors to consider are the size of your home, windows, doors, and insulation, along with the orientation of your home to the sun. These are all things a Jacobs Heating & Air Conditioning expert can help evaluate.
Heat pumps work best in warm climates that have mild winters and that description fits Portland perfectly. With average low winter temperatures in the mid-30s, a heat pump is an efficient and effective HVAC system that both saves money on bills and gives you an all-in-one system that works year-round.
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Deciding what kind of HVAC system you want to live with for the next 15 to 20 years can feel daunting. Jacobs Heating & Air Conditioning experts are here to guide you through the process to help you pick the right system for your home. Consultants will help evaluate your home to ensure you have a long-lasting system that will keep you comfortable in all seasons. Avoid extra costs and fewer repairs by scheduling a tune-up for your existing system before issues arise. Our maintenance plans keep your system running like clockwork without any stress or hassle. No matter what you need we’re always just a phone call away. You are welcome to review our statement on COVID-19 and how we’re taking precautions to protect you, our team, and our communities.
So, what is a heat pump? A heat pump is part of a home heating and cooling system and is installed outside your home. Like an air conditioner such as central air, it can cool your home, but it’s also capable of providing heat. In cooler months, a heat pump pulls heat from the cold outdoor air and transfers it indoors, and in warmer months, it pulls heat out of indoor air to cool your home. They are powered by electricity and transfer heat using refrigerant to provide comfort all year round. Because they handle both cooling and heating, homeowners may not need to install separate systems to heat their homes. In colder climates, an electric heat strip can be added to the indoor fan coil for additional capabilities. Heat pumps do not burn fossil fuel like furnaces do, making them more environmentally friendly.
The two most common types of heat pumps are air-source and ground-source. Air-source heat pumps transfer heat between indoor air and outdoor air, and are more popular for residential heating and cooling.
Ground-source heat pumps, sometimes called geothermal heat pumps, transfer heat between the air inside your home and the ground outside. These are more expensive to install but are typically more efficient and have a lower operating cost due to the consistency of the ground temperature throughout the year.
How does a heat pump work? Heat pumps transfer heat from one place to another by different air or heat sources. Air source heat pumps move heat between the air inside a home and the air outside a home, while ground source heat pumps (known as geothermal heat pumps) transfer heat between the air inside a home and the ground outside a home. We will focus on air source heat pumps, but the basic operation is the same for both.
Despite the name, heat pumps do not generate heat – they move heat from one place to another. A furnace creates heat that is distributed throughout a home, but a heat pump absorbs heat energy from the outside air (even in cold temperatures) and transfers it to the indoor air. When in cooling mode a heat pump and an air conditioner are functionally identical, absorbing heat from the indoor air and releasing it through the outdoor unit. Click here for more information about heat pumps vs air conditioners.
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When considering which type of system is best for your home, several important factors should be considered, including the size of the home and the local climate. A local Carrier dealer has the expertise to properly evaluate your specific needs and help you make the right decision.
Homeowners in need of a new heating or cooling system, may consider the type of climate they live in before purchasing a heat pump system. Heat pumps are more common in milder climates, where the temperature does not typically drop below freezing. In colder regions, they can also be combined with furnaces for energy-efficient heating on all but the coldest days. When the temperature outside drops too low for the heat pump to operate effectively, the system will instead use the furnace to generate heat. This kind of system is often called a dual fuel system – it is very energy efficient and cost effective.
A typical air source heat pump system consists of two major components, an outdoor unit (which looks just like the outdoor unit of a split-system air conditioning system) and an indoor air handler unit. Both the indoor and outdoor unit contain various important sub-components.
The outdoor unit contains a coil and a fan. The coil operates as either a condenser (in cooling mode) or an evaporator (in heating mode). The fan blows outside air over the coil to facilitate the heat exchange.
Like the outdoor unit, the indoor unit, commonly referred to as the air handler unit, contains a coil and a fan. The coil acts as an evaporator (in cooling mode) or a condenser (in heating mode). The fan is responsible for moving air across the coil and throughout the ducts in the home.
The refrigerant is the substance that absorbs and rejects heat as it circulates throughout the heat pump system.
The compressor pressurizes the refrigerant and moves it throughout the system.
The part of the heat pump system that reverses the flow of refrigerant, allowing the system to operate in the opposite direction and switch between heating and cooling.
The expansion valve acts as a metering device, regulating the flow of the refrigerant as it passes through the system, allowing for a reduction of pressure and temperature of the refrigerant.
Heat pumps do not create heat. They redistribute heat from the air or ground and use a refrigerant that circulates between the indoor fan coil (air handler) unit and the outdoor compressor to transfer the heat.
In cooling mode, a heat pump absorbs heat inside your home and releases it outdoors. In heating mode, the heat pump absorbs heat from the ground or outside air (even cold air) and releases it indoors.
One of the most important things to understand about heat pump operation and the process of transferring heat is that heat energy naturally wants to move to areas with lower temperatures and less pressure. Heat pumps rely on this physical property, putting heat in contact with cooler, lower pressure environments so that the heat can naturally transfer. This is how a heat pump works.
STEP 1
Liquid refrigerant is pumped through an expansion device at the indoor coil, which is functioning as the evaporator. Air from inside the house is blown across the coils, where heat energy is absorbed by the refrigerant. The resulting cool air is blown throughout the home’s ducts. The process of absorbing the heat energy has caused the liquid refrigerant to heat up and evaporate into gas form.
STEP 2
The gaseous refrigerant now passes through a compressor, which pressurizes the gas. The process of pressurizing the gas causes it to heat up (a physical property of compressed gases). The hot, pressurized refrigerant moves through the system to the coil in the outdoor unit.
STEP 3
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A fan in the outdoor unit moves outside air across the coils, which are serving as condenser coils in cooling mode. Because the air outside the home is cooler than the hot compressed gas refrigerant in the coil, heat is transferred from the refrigerant to the outside air. During this process, the refrigerant condenses back to a liquid state as it cools. The warm liquid refrigerant is pumped through the system to the expansion valve at the indoor units.
STEP 4
The expansion valve reduces the pressure of the warm liquid refrigerant, which cools it significantly. At this point, the refrigerant is in a cool, liquid state and ready to be pumped back to the evaporator coil in the indoor unit to begin the cycle again.
A Heat pump in heating mode operates just like cooling mode, except that the flow of refrigerant is reversed by the aptly named reversing valve. The flow reversal means that the heating source becomes the outside air (even when outdoor temperatures are low) and the heat energy is released inside the home. The outside coil now has the function of an evaporator, and the indoor coil now has the role of the condenser.
The physics of the process are the same. Heat energy is absorbed in the outdoor unit by cool liquid refrigerant, turning it into cold gas. Pressure is then applied to the cold gas, turning it to hot gas. The hot gas is cooled in the indoor unit by passing air, heating the air and condensing the the gas to warm liquid. The warm liquid is relieved of pressure as it enters the outdoor unit, turning it to cool liquid and renewing the cycle.
Installing a heat pump can be a complex task, requiring a thorough understanding of HVAC systems and electrical connections. The intricate nature of the installation process emphasizes the importance of having an expert handle the job. Your local Carrier expert possess the knowledge, experience, and expertise necessary to ensure a seamless and efficient installation. From assessing the specific heating and cooling requirements of a space to correctly sizing and positioning the heat pump, they meticulously plan and execute the installation, considering factors such as ductwork, electrical compatibility, and optimal placement. Entrusting the installation to a Carrier expert ensures not only a properly functioning heat pump but also peace of mind, knowing that the system has been installed with precision and adherence to safety standards.
Heat pumps are versatile, efficient cooling and heating systems. Thanks to a reversing valve, a heat pump can change the flow of refrigerant and either heat or cool a home. Air is blown over an evaporator coil, transferring heat energy from the air to the refrigerant. That heat energy is circulated in the refrigerant to a condenser coil, where it is released as a fan blows air across the coil. Through this process, heat is pumped from one place to another.
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A local Carrier HVAC expert can help evaluate your heating and cooling requirements and recommend the proper heat pump system.
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