In Birmingham, heat pumps can be a popular option for heating and cooling your residence.
They appear very similar to an air conditioner. In fact, they run in a nearly identical way during warm weather. Since they have a reversing valve, they can shift humidity in the opposite direction as well as heat your house when temperatures drop.
Not sure if you have a heat pump or an air conditioner? Just locate the model number on the outdoor unit and check it online. If you find you own a heat pump, or you’re thinking over getting one, learn more about how this HVAC equipment keeps houses cozy.
How Heat Pumps Run
Heat pumps have a refrigeration system much like an air conditioner. Most can work like a ductless mini-split, because they can heat and cool. Heat pumps use an indoor evaporator coil and an outdoor condensing coil. Refrigerant is pumped through these coils to shift warmth. The outdoor unit also contains a compressor and is surrounded by metal fins that function as a heat sink to help shift humidity effectively.
Summertime Cooling
When your heat pump is set to cooling, the refrigerant is in the evaporator coil. Air from indoors is distributed over the coil, and the refrigerant extracts heat. Wetness in the air also condenses on the coil, dropping into the condensate pan below and drains away. The following cold air circulates through the ductwork and back into your residence.
Meanwhile, the refrigerant moves a compressor on its way to the outdoor coil. This constricts the refrigerant, leading it to get hotter. As it flows through the condensing coil, the outside fan and metal fins help to emit heat to the exterior. The refrigerant travels back into your house, traveling through an expansion valve that chills it considerably, preparing it to go through the process from the beginning.
When your heat pump is installed and maintained properly, you’ll receive efficient cooling as good as an energy-efficient air conditioner.
Wintertime Heating
In heating mode, the heat exchange procedure occurs in reverse. By flowing in the opposite direction, refrigerant removes heat from the outdoor air and adds it into your home to warm the interior.
Heat pumps running in heating mode are most effective when the temperature is above freezing outside. If it gets too frigid, a backup electric resistance heater starts to keep your home cozy, but your heating costs rise as a result.
Heat pumps work longer than furnaces since the air doesn’t become as hot. This helps keep a more even indoor temperature. Also, because heat pumps transfer heat rather than creating it from a fuel source, they can perform well above 100% efficiency. You should expect 30–40% savings on your heating costs by using a heat pump.
Schedule Heat Pump Installation or Service Now
Heat pumps are a green choice and economical. They are a substitute for the standard AC/furnace configuration and require the same amount of maintenance—one service in the spring and another in the fall.
If you want to install a heat pump, Norrell Service Experts is the Expert to get in touch with. We’ll size and install your equipment to match your heating and cooling requirements. And then we’ll support our installation with a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee* for a year. To learn more, contact us at 205-267-0023 now.