Heat Pumps

Heat pumps are popular for heating and cooling homes in the Delaware Valley because of how they work and their many benefits. If you’re like most homeowners, though, the technology that makes heat pumps work is a mystery to you. Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be. At Oliver Heating & Cooling, we want to take the mystery out of heat pump technology.

Providing cooling, heating or both for your home, a heat pump is an appliance that uses electricity and refrigeration technology. It’s designed with indoor and outdoor units that transfer heat between them to regulate the temperature that you set. Since a refrigerant line separates these two units, you might hear a heat pump referred to as a mini split system. This setup allows a heat pump to operate with high efficiency. On top of that, your home doesn’t need ductwork to have a heat pump. Without ductwork, a heat pump might be called a ductless mini split system.

There are a few types of heat pumps. Air-to-air heat pumps transfer heat from the air, while geothermal heat pumps transfer heat from the ground. Also, ductless systems use multiple air handlers to keep your space warm. Among them, some heat pumps only heat your space, so they’re a great option if you have an air conditioner. Others feature reverse operation, so they can heat and cool your home, making them ideal as stand-alone HVAC systems. Some heat pumps can augment your hot water supply as well. Oliver technicians can help you choose the best heat pump type for your heating and cooling needs, simply contact us today for more information!

Typically, a heat pump consists of two main components. The outdoor condenser which produces the cool or hot air, and the indoor air handler which delivers the air into your home. Each unit contains equally important components for maintaining your desired indoor temperature.

In the outdoor unit is a coil, fan and compressor. The coil functions as a condenser when cooling and as an evaporator when heating. The fan pushes outdoor air over the coil to aid the exchange of heat. Liquid refrigerant circulates throughout the system, absorbing or rejecting heat depending on which mode you turn on. The compressor in the outdoor unit pressurizes and disperses the refrigerant. On the refrigerant line is an expansion valve that regulates the flow of the liquid. Pumps with reverse operation have a reversing valve on the line, allowing the system to shift between cooling and heating.

In the indoor unit is a coil and fan. Opposite of the outdoor coil, the indoor coil functions as a condenser when heating and as an evaporator when cooling. The fan pushes air over the coil and through your ducts or the air handlers in your home.

Naturally, heat energy moves to areas that are cooler and have less pressure. A heat pump uses this action to heat your home. During heating mode, the coil in the outdoor unit acts as an evaporator. Meanwhile, the expansion valve pumps liquid refrigerant through the system. As it moves, the refrigerant absorbs heat from either outdoor air or the ground, whichever is the energy source. This step creates a cold gas that’s pressurized in the compressor, making the gas hot.

Then, the hot gas passes over the indoor coil, which is acting as the condenser. During this phase, the gas cools as the heat is transferred to the passing air. That heated air blows into your home to keep you warm. However, the cycle isn’t over. The transfer of heat makes the refrigerant warm. It’s depressurized and cooled as it enters the outdoor unit again, and the process repeats.

In a heat pump with a reversing valve, this process shifts during cooling mode. The indoor coil acts as an evaporator, and the outdoor coil acts as a condenser. Heat from the indoor air is transferred to the refrigerant, and cool air blows into your home. This action heats the refrigerant, which evaporates into a gas. The heat is transferred to the outside air or ground. As the warm refrigerant travels through the expansion valve, it’s depressurized and cooled significantly. Then, the cycle repeats. The experts at Oliver are experienced with explaining how a heat pump works if you have any questions, just reach out to us today!

One of the most common things that homeowners ask HVAC professionals about is how long heat pumps last. In general, they can last for 10 to 20 years. It’s different if you use a heat pump to cool and heat your home, though. It could wear out in seven to 12 years because you use it all year. However, there are many other factors that affect the expected life span of heat pumps.

Defective components, wrong system size and improper installation are a few issues that can reduce the life expectancy. Most importantly, maintenance has a major effect. A lack thereof could accelerate wear and result in costly repairs. Oliver understands how important these factors are in keeping your heat pump in tiptop shape. We can install and maintain your system to extend the life of the equipment as much as possible. Our maintenance plan can prevent expensive heat pump repairs too.

As mentioned, the size of your heat pump affects how efficiently it operates and how long it lasts. The HVAC industry uses the Manual J method to determine the right size system for every space. Generally, a system should have an air heating capacity of 12 British thermal units (BTU) for every 500 to 600 square feet of area. Although it sounds simple, the Manual J method takes eight factors into consideration as well. Some of these include your home’s layout, location of windows and number of residents.