The name “heat pump” may be a little confusing at first, especially when you’ve been told that a heat pump works well for providing cool, dry air to your home in the summer. But with some basic knowledge of how a heat pump works, its easy to understand how this summer tip can provide added comfort and in some cases, energy savings!
Home Efficiency Experts is a trusted Long Island heat pump installation contractor, and our technicians have seen and heard from many homeowners throughout Suffolk and Nassau Counties who have been “blown away” by their new heat pumps as AC replacements. Read on to learn how heat pumps work.
What Does a Heat Pump Do?
Residential heat pumps provide all electric heating and cooling, and different models can be used either with or without existing central ductwork. In the summer, a heat pump operates like an air conditioner, and then in the winter, it provides energy-saving heat without the need for fossil fuels.
Depending on the type of heating and cooling system you currently use, upgrading to a heat pump can provide year-round energy bill savings. And with drier and cooler air in your home this summer, you can even expect an increase in your indoor air quality!
How Heat Pumps Work
Air source heat pumps are able to operate so efficiently because they move existing heat from one location to another, instead of generating it, and only use a small amount of energy to provide the conditioned air you need. In “cooling” mode, a heat pump absorbs heat from your indoor air and moves it outside. This reduces your home’s cooling load, requiring less energy from your heat pump to keep you comfortable.
In the winter, the process reverses and a heat pump will collect heat from the outside air. Even in sub-freezing temperatures, a heat pump compressor unit can gather enough heat from the air to warm the air in your home.
How Can You Use a Heat Pump?
You may be wondering how a heat pump can factor into your current home heating and cooling system. Because heat pumps come in ducted and ductless configurations, a heat pump can serve as a replacement for a central AC system or used to condition one room or area, or connected together as a whole-home heating and cooling system. Multiple indoor air handlers can be connected to a single outdoor compressor, separating your home into multiple comfort zones (we find this particularly helpful for families who struggle to find a temperature setting that pleases everyone).
Include a Heat Pump in Your Home Upgrade
There are many home upgrades that can make your Suffolk or Nassau County home more efficient while also making it more comfortable — and heat pumps can be a part of your next project! Our free home energy audit will help identify all the areas in your home that are wasting energy, including your air conditioner and furnace. If you (and your energy bills) will benefit from a heat pump, we will tell you all about it when we walk you through the results of your audit. This gives you all the information you need to make the right decision for you and your family.
