In Clearwater, heat pumps can be a popular option for heating and cooling your house.
They seem almost like an air conditioner. In actuality, they run in the same way during high temperatures. Since they have a reversing valve, they can move warmth in the opposite direction as well as heat your home in the winter.
Not sure if you have a heat pump or an air conditioner? Just find the model number on the outdoor unit and look it up online. If it turns out you use a heat pump, or you’re considering installing one, discover how this HVAC unit keeps homes comfortable.
How Heat Pumps Operate
Heat pumps have a refrigeration system much like an air conditioner. Most can operate similar to a ductless mini-split, because they can heat and cool. Heat pumps have an indoor evaporator coil and an outdoor condensing coil. Refrigerant is pumped through these coils to move warmth. The outdoor unit also contains a compressor and is enclosed by metal fins that work as a heat sink to help transfer humidity effectively.
Summertime Cooling
In cooling mode, the refrigerant is in the evaporator coil. Air from within the house blows over the coil, and the refrigerant extracts heat. Wetness in the air also condenses on the coil, falling into the condensate pan below and moves away. The following dehumidified air circulates through the ductwork and back into your home.
Meanwhile, the refrigerant moves a compressor on its way to the outdoor coil. This compresses the refrigerant, causing it to heat up even more. As it goes through the condensing coil, the exterior fan and metal fins help to emit heat to the outside. The refrigerant heads back into your house, passing through an expansion valve that cools it greatly, prepping it to start the process all over again.
When your heat pump is replaced and maintained properly, you’ll have efficient cooling as good as a high-performance air conditioner.
Wintertime Heating
When your heat pump is set to heat, the heat exchange procedure happens the other way around. By traveling in the opposite direction, refrigerant extracts heat from the outdoor air and adds it into your house to warm rooms.
Heat pumps running in heating mode are most efficient when the temperature remains above freezing outside. If it becomes too chilly, a backup electric resistance heater starts to keep your house cozy, but your heating costs rise as a result.
Heat pumps run longer than furnaces as the air doesn’t get as warm. This helps sustain a more balanced indoor temperature. Additionally, because heat pumps move heat rather than making it from a fuel source, they can work well above 100% efficiency. You can anticipate 30–40% savings on your heating expenses by installing a heat pump.
Request Heat Pump Installation or Service Now
Heat pumps are environmentally friendly and cost-effective. They are a substitute for the regular AC/furnace system and require the same amount of maintenance—one checkup in the spring and another in the fall.
If you’d like to install a heat pump, Midway Services is the Expert to call. We’ll size and install your equipment to fit your heating and cooling needs. And then we’ll support our services with a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee* for a year. For more information, contact us at 727-219-2471 today.