Heat Pumps
What you need to know about heat pumps
A heat pump furnace uses refrigeration technology to transport air from your furnace to the rooms in your home. These pumps use properties of physics to extract heat from cold air and pump it in from the outside, converting it to heat on the inside. It's a very interesting and unique technique for heating homes, which uses coils to extract heat from your fridge and expel it out the back.
How Heat Pumps Work
Heat pumps transfer heat by using a refrigerant, or liquid, that is transferred through coils using a system of evaporation and condensation. Essentially, a device called a condenser pumps this refrigerant between a pair of heat-exchanging coils. The refrigerant then evaporates at low pressure and absorbs heat from its surroundings. It becomes compressed while travelling between the coils, in which it condenses at high pressure. At this point, it releases the heat is absorbed from the air earlier in the cycle.
Another advantage of heat pump technology is that they don't burn fuel to work. They are much more high efficiency furnaces and work double duty – in the summer, they simply reverse operations, allowing your home to be cooled down by the pump, which pushes the heat out of your home, leaving the cool air inside.
Types of Heat Pump Furnaces
Different types of heat pump furnaces include ductless heat pumps, electric heat pumps and carrier heat pumps. Before deciding on what type of heat pump furnace to buy, you should consult an HVAC contractor. These people work exclusively with home heating and cooling appliances and will be able to tell you if this type of furnace is right for your home. Some considerations to keep in mind include:
- Climate. If the temperature outside your home doesn't go below 40 degrees, a heat pump furnace is probably a good option for you.
- Cost. How much are you willing to spend on your heating and cooling needs?
Heat pump furnaces can do double-duty as an air conditioner and a heater, but they can be expensive and wear out more quickly than other models. Do your research and consult an expert to decide if a heat pump furnace is right for you.
