Heat pumps provide both heating and cooling, and offer an energy-efficient alternative to air conditioning units. Here in Northeast Florida, we primarily use our heat pumps during the hot summer months to provide cool, dry conditions inside our homes. Let’s go over how heat pumps work as air conditioners.
Like your refrigerator, heat pumps use electricity to move heat from a cool space into a warm place. During the heating season, heat pumps move heat from the cool outdoors into your warm house; during the cooling season, a heat pump moves heat from your cool house into the warm outdoors.
Your heat pump goes through the same evaporative cycle that a traditional central air conditioning system or refrigerator does. In fact, you can think of your refrigerator as a heat pump that is always in cooling mode. When in the cooling mode, your heat pump simply reverses from the heating cycle to transfer heat from the cooler air in your home to the hot outdoors. Here are the steps in the process:
1. The compressor pumps out high-pressure, hot refrigerant vapor.
2. The vapor leaves the compressor and passes through the reversing valve.
3. It flows through the outdoor vapor line to the finned outdoor coil. Air from the outdoor fan removes heat from the refrigerant vapor. When enough heat is removed, the vapor condenses into a high-pressure liquid. The liquid temperature is slightly warmer than ambient air temperature.
4. This warm, high-pressure liquid leaves the outdoor coil, and flows through the copper refrigerant liquid line.
5. At the end of the liquid line, the refrigerant passes through a metering device, reducing its pressure and temperature.
6. As the liquid, under reduced pressure, enters the indoor coil surface, it expands and absorbs heat from the indoor air passing over the finned surface. Heat from the indoor air causes the low-pressure liquid to evaporate and cools the indoor air. The refrigerant is now a cool vapor.
7. The refrigerant vapor travels through the insulated vapor line to the reversing valve. The reversing valve directs the refrigerant into the accumulator.
8. The accumulator controls liquid refrigerant and refrigerant oil flow back to the compressor.
9. Refrigerant vapor flows through the suction line to the compressor. The cycle then repeats.
Cool air is circulated through vents and ductwork, the same as with a central air conditioning system. The difference between a heat pump and an A/C system lies mainly in the consumption of energy and efficiency of operation. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, if you heat with electricity, a heat pump can reduce the amount of electricity you use by as much as 30%–40%.
Here in Florida, we rely on our heat pumps to keep us cool and provide heat in the winter. Fortunately, these systems are quiet, efficient, and low-maintenance units that provide reliable and economical cooling when the temperatures start to soar. Ask us about how you can get the best performance from your heat pump, and maximize your comfort and energy savings this summer.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).For more information about Indoor Air Quality and other HVAC topics,click here to visit our website
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