The most experienced plumbers in Hampton Roads would like to introduce you to new, exciting heat pump technology. A heat pump operates much like an air conditioner in reverse. Heat Pumps pull heat from the air or ground and move it into your homes. Whether it’s heating or cooling, it pumps heat. That’s why it’s called a heat pump. It pumps heat into your home in the winter, and it pumps the heat out in the summer. Heat pumps both heat and cool, all from one unit, so there is no need to have a separate cooling unit. For heating and air conditioning in Virginia Beach, residents often find heat pumps to be helpful and reliable.
Heat Pump Basics for Dummies
Types of heat pumps
- Air source heat pumps or air-air heat pumps transfer the heat from outside your home into your home using a fan and refrigerant-filled coils (similar to the coils you have in your fridge.)
- Ground source heat pumps absorb heat from the ground or sometimes from an underground body of water. Underground pipes filled with water or refrigerant absorb the heat from underground and then transfer it into your home.
- Absorption heat pumps work like air source heat pumps, but instead of compressing refrigerant, it absorbs ammonia into water, pressurizes it, and then boils it dispelling the ammonia. Absorption heat pumps are powered by solar, geothermal, natural gas or propane.
How does a heat pump heat?
In nature, heat flows downhill. This naturally causes heat to move from a high temperature area into a low temperature area. A heat pump takes this process and reverses it by transferring heat from its source in the air or ground into your home. It doesn’t generate heat, so moving the heat takes less energy, thus saving you money.
How does a heat pump cool?
Heat pumps have a reverse valve on the unit that allows the system to change from heating to cooling. When a heat pumpsis in reverse, it is taking the heat from your home and transferring it outdoors. The refrigerant coil within the unit absorbs the heat from within the house and then releases it outdoors.
Advantages of a heat pump over other heating units like furnaces and boilers
- You only need one unit to both heat and cool your home.
- Heat pumps are more energy efficient than furnaces because they transfer heat rather than creating it.
- Heat pumps tend to heat the air more evenly than other heating systems.
- Heat pumps turn on and off less frequently than furnaces.
Disadvantages of a heat pump
- They are not as efficient in climates that consistently have temperatures below freezing.
- The heat created by a Heat Pump is not as intense and warm feeling as the heat created by furnaces and boilers.
During normal winters in Hampton Roads, we get some days and nights registering below 40 degrees. At that temperature, a heat pump can still heat your home, but if you want to feel warm air coming through the vents, you will need to switch to a furnace or boiler for heat. Another option is to install a dual-fuel system. This is a heat pump with a furnace, giving you the best of both worlds. In the winter, the system is designed to use the heat pump for heat until it gets below a pre-determined outside temperature. When it gets to that temperature or below outside, the gas or oil kicks in. For homes in Virginia Beach and surrounding areas, this is becoming a great alternative.
A-1 American Services offers heat pump repair and heat pump installation in Virginia Beach. If you need a new heat pump, such as a Trane heat pump, A-1 American Services can help you select a unit that is the right size for your home. Don’t forget the dual-fuel systems. We install those too! A-1 American Services offers emergency heat pump repair services, 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
Southside 757-425-2400 Peninsula 757-595-9900 Williamsburg 757-565-1900.
Sources: howstuffworks.com
