Heat pumps can help you minimize your environmental footprint.
Getty Images
Homeowners looking for an energy-efficient solution to to traditional furnaces and air conditioners may be interested in a heat pump -- a type of heating and cooling system that can help you save money while also minimizing your environmental footprint amid the climate crisis.
Heat pumps don't burn fossil fuels, and for those living in milder areas, they may be a great solution for your heating and cooling needs. Here's everything you should know about how heat pumps work, the different kinds of heat pumps available and where to buy them, and how to service these energy-saving machines.
How do heat pumps work?
A heat pump is a type of home heating and cooling system that uses resources like water and air to regulate the temperature. It's like an air conditioner, but it has a built-in heating system, too. Heat pumps are installed outside your home.
Using electricity and refrigerant, a heat pump is able to turn cold air into hot air during the winter, and hot air into cold air during the summer. It does this by redistributing the heat in the air or ground, and heating it or cooling it with refrigerant as needed.
The standard heat pump has several parts:
Outdoor unit: Equipped with a coil that powers evaporation in heating mode and condensation in cooling mode.
Indoor unit: Includes both a coil and fan to circulate air throughout your home.
Refrigerant: A type of fluid needed to absorb and release heat as necessary to keep the system running.
hvac compressor: A pressurizing agent to prepare the refrigerant for use.
Reversing valve: Controls the direction of the refrigerant in your system, allowing you to switch between heating and cooling modes.
Expansion valve: Controls the movement of refrigerant in the heat pump.
hvac meaning in car
Report this page