How Does a Heat Pump Cool and Heat My Home?

Heat pumps are environmentally friendly, saving energy while providing excellent comfort all year long. They operate on the principles of refrigeration, extracting heat from one place and moving it to another. During the summer, they remove heat from indoors and expel it outside. During the winter, they pull residual heat energy from outside and bring it indoors. Flipping a switch reverses the flow of refrigerant, routing heat either indoors or out.

How Heat Pumps Work

Heat pumps do not generate heat. Instead, they transfer heat between the inside and outside of a building. Because they heat and cool, there is no need for separate heating and air conditioning components. Heat pumps have two components. An outdoor unit contains a fan and a coil. During heating mode, the coil acts as an evaporator. In cooling mode, the coil operates as a condenser. The indoor unit, often called an air handler, also contains a fan and a coil that perform the same functions.

Refrigerant circulating through tubing passes through the coils. During the winter, refrigerant captures heat from outdoors. As the liquid refrigerant heats, it turns into a gas, which is pressurized and moved indoors. It releases heat indoors and turns back into a liquid as it flows outside.

During the summer, the process reverses. The refrigerant absorbs heat from the inside air. The gaseous refrigerant is pressurized and routed outdoors, where it releases heat and turns back to liquid. Fans blow air across the coils to cool refrigerant as it cycles through the system.

There are several types of heat pumps, including ducted geothermal and air source systems and ductless mini-splits. Depending on the type you install and the energy costs in your area, these systems can reduce heating costs by between 35% and 70%.

Call the Experts at AC Southeast

AC Southeast serves the five-state area of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi and South Carolina. Our contractors hire NATE-certified technicians who specialize in heat pump installation, repair and maintenance. In addition, our contractors are Factory Authorized Dealers for Carrier or Bryant, leaders in the heating and cooling industry. These qualifications bring technological expertise, industry experience and top-notch customer service.

For more information about heat pumps, energy savings and improving indoor comfort, call the experts at AC Southeast.