Do you LOVE the concept of clean heat but just can’t quite wrap your head around how a heat pump actually works? You aren’t alone, despite all the talk about converting to a more energy efficient HVAC system, many people don’t really understand the mechanics of how a heat pump can keep you warm in the winter and cool in the summer. We’d like to help you gain a better understand of heat pumps so you can make an educated decision when it comes to updating your HVAC system.
What is a heat pump?
A heat pump offers a high efficiency state-of-the-art electric technology that is designed to keep you warm in the winter and cool in the summer. In technical terms, it’s a reversible, mechanical-compression cycle refrigeration system installed outside the home to extract and redistribute air.
OK…but how does it work?
A heat pump is a single unit that is installed outside your home and will act as both a heater and an air conditioner. It draws heat from the environment and during the winter it moves the energy indoors to heat and during the summer, it moves the energy outdoors to cool.
Traditional units take air and with cooling and heating elements, use fuel to change the temperature of the air before sending it out. While a heat pump requires electricity to run, it delivers more energy than it uses by concentrating and moving heat rather than generating it.
