Just like air conditioners, heat pumps are part of a home’s HVAC system, and can also provide both cooling and heating. They move heat from one space to another using the same refrigeration cycle that power refrigerators, freezers, and air conditioners — only much more efficiently! They use the fact that heat energy naturally wants to move from warmer environments to cooler ones, like your home or the outdoor environment. That’s why the most energy efficient heating systems rely on a process that transfers heat from the air, water, or ground outdoors to your home’s ductwork.
There are two main types of heat pumps: air-to-air and ground-source. Both transfer heat by using the same basic cycle, but air-to-air systems have a visible outdoor unit, while ground-source systems require a lot of digging to bury piping (typically in a combination of water and antifreeze) that connects a series of coils inside your home with a reservoir of buried heat underground.
Air-to-air Heat Pump are the most common, and are often paired with furnaces to provide high efficiency heating on the coldest days of winter. They can, however, be used in mild climates by themselves and may even offer some cooling.
During the summer, a heat pump works in reverse to extract the absorbed heat from your home’s ductwork and the outside air, and then circulate it back into the house. The refrigerant, a gas at that point, is then pressurized and heated before it returns to the outdoor unit. There it absorbs additional heat from the air or the ground, and the cycle repeats.
The most important component in any heat pump is its compressor, which actually pumps the heat. The simplest models have a single-speed compressor that either is on or off, which does the job but causes temperature and humidity to swing up and down as it cycles on and off. The gold standard is a variable-speed compressor that adjusts its output over time to deliver only the amount of heating or cooling you need.
Most homeowners will be pleasantly surprised to learn that their heat pumps are quieter than traditional air conditioners, even when they’re running at full capacity in the winter. In fact, most manufacturers will publish a noise level estimate for their products, which is usually based on a variety of outdoor temperatures and fan speeds.
If your heat pump does not seem to be performing properly, contact a top-rated professional for an evaluation and repair. They can diagnose problems in a variety of ways that homeowners may not be able to see, such as in piping or under the ground, and make recommendations for fixing it. This could help your heat pump function more effectively and reduce the chances of future breakdowns. As with any equipment, you should have your heat pump serviced regularly for optimal performance and to keep its warranty valid. The best way to do this is with a professional who can clean and flush the system, and make sure there are no leaks in the ductwork.