Heat Pumps Explained
Heat pump technology has existed for a while but in different forms. When it was first developed, it was used to heat and cool homes using bodies of water or deep wells. However, new technological advances have made heat pumps an effective way to heat and cool every home. Here is a quick guide to heat pumps for homeowners looking for an alternative to inefficient, fossil fuel-based heating and cooling systems.
What are Heat Pumps?
A heat pump is an air conditioner that works in both directions. Air conditioners use a compressed refrigerant to absorb heat indoors and pump it outside to the condenser unit. This is why the fans blowing out of the condenser unit always push hot air. The heat is absorbed indoors. Engineers have made a way for this cycle to work backward for heating.
To work backward to heat a home, a heat pump must be able to absorb heat energy from outside and pump it indoors. It accomplishes this by absorbing heat energy with refrigerant, even in subzero temperatures. The refrigerant is then quickly compressed, reducing the volume of the fluid and causing the absorbed heat to be greatly concentrated. The warmed, compressed fluid then moves indoors, warming the space.
Benefits of a Heat Pump
Because of the necessity of a heat sink, heat pumps require a stable temperature to absorb heat. Modern air-to-air heat pumps only need atmospheric air to exchange heat, eliminating the need for ground-source wells and adding massive heat pump installation costs. Modern heat pumps have quickly gained popularity and are now more available due to technological advances. Some of the reasons that people make the switch are:
- Lower Bills: Heat pumps reduce fuel costs since they rely only on electrical power. Instead of spiking gas bills in the winter, heat pumps allow for more consistent and lower bills throughout the year.
- Eco-Friendliness: Ditching fossil fuels and relying only on electrical power allows heat pumps to lower a home's carbon footprint. Since heat pumps are up to 300 times more efficient than other central systems, they are lauded as the next step in reducing climate control emissions.
- Ease of Installation: Modern heat pumps are designed to replace nearly any central heating and cooling system, making direct replacement possible in nearly every home. Heat pumps also power ductless heating and cooling systems, making them a customizable option for heating and cooling any space.
Signs Heat Pump Repair Is Needed
Heat pumps are just as reliable as any other heating and cooling option, but everything will need repairs occasionally. Luckily, the learning curve for homeowners to recognize problems with their heat pump is short because most of the signs that heat pump repair is needed mirror the signs that AC repairs are needed. These include:
- Inadequate heating or cooling
- Loud noises
- No power to the unit
- Poor air quality and circulation
- Foul odors
About All Clear Plumbing
All Clear Plumbing can handle heat pump repairs when any of the above signs are noticed. They also offer 24/7 emergency service and install heat pumps as part of their full line of heating services. Call today for heating and furnace service in Belleville, NJ.
