How Heat Pumps Operate
If you’ve never owned or used a heat pump, it can be challenging to understand how they work. In short, a heat pump is mechanically similar to a central AC. The significant difference is that a heat pump can also operate in reverse. That’s what enables them to function as a heating system.
In heating mode, a heat pump collects heat energy from the outdoor air and transports it inside. It can do so because outdoor air will always contain ample heat energy, even if you can’t feel it. As a result, heat pumps consume no fuel to generate heat and can reach efficiencies approaching 400%.
A heat pump relies on the following main components to heat and cool your home.
- Outdoor heat exchanger
- Compressor
- Expansion valve
- Refrigerant reversing valve
- Indoor air handler and heat exchanger
Benefits of Installing a Heat Pump
Heat pumps are growing in popularity due to the many advantages they have to offer. The biggest among them is their exceptional energy efficiency. Heat pumps are the only type of heating system capable of exceeding 100% efficiency. For comparison, consider that the average gas furnace is only about 81% efficient. Heat pump efficiency is limited only by the amount of heat energy it can extract from the air.
You can expect the following benefits if you install a heat pump:
- Reduced HVAC energy use
- Heating and cooling from one system
- Quiet operation
- No direct carbon emissions
Installation Options & Considerations
Fraas Heating & Cooling offers multiple options to meet your heat pump installation needs. The most common system type we install is a ducted central heat pump. They share a similar form factor to central AC systems. So, they make an excellent drop-in upgrade for an AC and furnace combination. We also sell mini-split heat pumps, which offer simplified installation and require no ductwork. And if you want the ultimate in heating flexibility, we also provide hybrid heat pumps. Those combine a regular electric heat pump with a gas furnace for backup heating capacity. We can help you choose the perfect system and tailor it specifically for your Bryan home.
Repair & Ongoing Service
Even with consistent maintenance, heat pumps can eventually break down. When that happens, you’ll want a team of experienced technicians to perform your heat pump repair. Fraas Heating & Cooling offers heat pump repair and service for all makes and models. Our HVAC technicians have the training and tools to perform diagnostics and replace broken components of all kinds. You can also turn to us for all your heat pump’s ongoing maintenance needs.