Heat Pumps – How They Work and Why You Need One

If you want to cut down on your energy use and fossil fuel costs, consider a heat pump. These devices heat and cool your home by using the same technology as an air conditioner – they extract heat1 from ambient sources like the ground or nearby bodies of water, amplify it with electric power, and transfer it to where you need it. They operate much more efficiently than traditional gas furnaces and even fewer than air conditioners, using only about one-third as much energy.

If your home has ductwork, you can install a ducted heat pump system that works with the existing ducts to provide whole-home heating and cooling. This type of heat pump looks a lot like an AC unit, with a wall cassette that sits inside your house and a condenser unit that stays outside. Both units have aluminum fins and coils that release or collect heat, and they are connected by a refrigerant line filled with liquid. The system also includes a compressor that compresses the refrigerant to raise its temperature, and a blower that circulates air to your ducts and out of air vents throughout the house.

The efficiency of a heat pump is determined by its coefficient of performance (COP). A COP rating of four means that the system produces an amount of heat that is four times greater than the electricity used to power it. That makes it far more efficient than a gas boiler, which typically has a COP of about two.

https://architects.zone/what-are-heat-pumps-how-they-work-and-why-you-need-one/ Heat pumps aren’t perfect for every household, and they require a certain level of care. The outdoor unit needs to be kept clear of anything that could interfere with its operation, and the blowers inside your ducts need regular cleaning with a specialized solution. That’s why it’s important to work with a top-rated pro when installing a new system, and to hire an experienced technician for repairs or service.

The main reason to consider a heat pump is that it will save you money over the long run compared with traditional furnaces and electric heaters. They are more efficient than conventional systems, and they reduce your dependency on fossil fuels. They are also environmentally friendly, since they don’t produce any greenhouse gases of their own, and the electricity they consume comes from renewable resources.

However, the efficiencies of heat pumps drop significantly as the outdoor temperature drops. When that happens, you might want to back them up with a separate system — such as a supplemental propane boiler — to handle the heavy lifting for the coldest days of winter. Still, they’re a great alternative to a traditional gas furnace, especially when you’re considering how to heat your home in an environmentally responsible way.