Luckily living in Oregon often means having only moderate heating and cooling needs. In this case, heat pumps offer a great energy-efficient alternative to having an individual furnace and air conditioner.
Knowing how a heat pump works, and its interaction with air conditioning and your cooling system isn’t essential. But if you’re like us you love knowing in detail about integrating the gas furnace, cooling unit, HVAC system, and reversing valve give us a call and we will chat. If you just want to know the broad strokes of how a Heat pump works to help you prepare or purchase one then read on.
Let us look at a few key details of this temperature-regulating component of your home.
How Do They Work?
Heat pumps work by moving heat from a cool space to a warm space through electricity or gas. During the summer, heat pumps move heat from your house into the outdoors, thus keeping your house cooler.
In the winter, when you experience low temperatures, they move and heat air from the outdoors into your home, making your home comfortable.
Types Of Heat Pumps
There are three types of heat pumps: water source, geothermal, and air-to-air. Air-source heat pumps are the most common type of heat pump used.
Let’s have a brief overview of these pumps.
Water Source Heat Pump
The water source heat pump has the advantage of being efficient and sustainable.
There are two types of water-source heat pump systems; they are
Open-loop water source heat pump – this type of water source heat pump uses the water from a source to heat a building. The water is the direct medium through which a building is heated.
Closed-loop water source heat pump – this type of heat pump uses a collector to reach a water source and absorbs the energy from the water source using brine.
Geothermal Heat Pump
The geothermal heat pump offers a more renewable means of heating or cooling a home or building. It can be used to provide hot water. They can also be referred to as the “ground source heat pump” because they tap energy from the ground. The earth is the primary source of energy for this pump. The geothermal heat pump uses the heat absorbed by the ground and does not require fuel burning.
Air-to-Air Heat Pumps
Air-to-air heat pumps are heating or cooling systems used in household residential apartments. It involves the exchange of cooler air in the apartment with the warm outside air using a medium. Several blowers or fan coils are mounted on the heat pump to serve as the air exchange medium.
Do These Units Use A Lot Of Electricity?
Although heat pumps require electricity to work, they do not consume a lot of electricity. They consume a small amount of electricity and use it to generate more heat energy.
The energy of heat pump consumes and the amount of heat it generates is calculated as the heat pump’s efficiency. If the efficiency of a heat pump is 3, it means that the heat pump gives three times the heat it consumes.
Are Heat Pumps Worth the Cost?
Yes, they are!
Heat pumps reduce the amount a household spends on energy bills. An average household consumes 12,000 kWh of heat annually. Using a heat pump with an efficiency rate of 4 implies that you need four times less input (3,000 Kwh) to generate what you need (12,000 Kwh).
A properly installed and efficiently running heat pump can reduce electricity use by as much as 50% compared to furnaces or baseboard heaters. That adds to overall customer satisfaction.
High-efficiency heat pumps have also proven to dehumidify better than some standard central air conditioners, thus using less energy and providing more comfort in the summer.
If you have a home without pre-existing ducts, there are ductless alternatives called “mini-split heat pumps” or “ductless mini-splits.”
What to Look for In A Perfect Heat Pump?
Many heat pumps have two-speed compressors, which allow them to operate close to the actual heating/cooling capacity, which is needed saving energy and saving you money.
Some heat pumps are equipped with dual-speed motors (also called variable-speed motors), designed to keep the air moving at a comfortable speed, saving electricity. Furthermore, it reduces some of the noise which you may experience with a heat pump running at full speed.
Another advantage of heat pump technology over other heating options are the two spiral-shaped scrolls, also called scroll compressor. Compared to their piston compressor counterparts, the scroll compressors have a longer lifespan and tend to be quieter.
When in heating mode, scroll compressors provide 10° to 15°F warmer air than piston compressor heat pumps.
Home Comfort Inc. Is Here to Provide A Comprehensive Heat Pump Services and Conduct Installation Process
Home Comfort Inc. proudly offers our professional heat pump services to homeowners and business establishments in Oregon State. If you have questions, feel free to reach out to us today! Give us a call to schedule an appointment and learn more about types of heat pumps and how to choose the perfect one for your needs.