How Does a Heat Pump Work?

Are you looking for information about how a heat pump works? Typically, homeowners with a furnace or boiler will have a fairly good idea how they work. There are some systems that heat and force the air through the home. Others will heat water that is them moved along baseboards or rotators, giving off heat. But, a heat pump is a bit more complicated than burning a fuel to heat the home. Today’s article will provide an easy to understand and basic description of how a heat pump works.

How Does a Heat Pump Work?

The simplest explanation is that a heat pump works like an air conditioner, only in reverse. As most people know, an AC unit does not actually pump cold air into the home. Rather, it draws warm air into the unit, over the coils, and extracts the heat from your home’s air. The air becomes cool and is returned to the home, while the heat energy is transferred to the outside. A heat pump does something very similar.

A heat pump will extract the heat energy from either outdoor air or the ground, and it will use that to heat your home. Even when it feels bitterly cold outside to you and me, there is an abundant amount of heat energy available. Of course, the more northern states may experience days when a heat pump will not work effectively but, for the most part, heat pumps are ideal in our area.

One big advantage that comes with using a heat pump is you do not need a separate heating and cooling system for your home. Also, since they operate by transferring heat energy, rather than burning fuel, they are often considered a greener option. Still, a heat pump is not the right solution for everyone. Because of the way they operate, they provide a gentle heat. However, some people like the greater intensity of a furnace or boiler system. The right choice for you may come down to this personal preference. 

What haven’t we covered yet that is important to you? If you would like to talk about heat pumps, or a related topic, please contact us.

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