In Tulsa, heat pumps can be a popular option for heating and cooling your residence.
They look about the same as an air conditioner. In actuality, they run in the same way during warm weather. Due to a reversing valve, they can transfer heat in the opposite direction as well as heat your residence when it's cold.
Not sure if you have a heat pump or an air conditioner? Just locate the model number on the outdoor unit and run it online. If it turns out you have a heat pump, or you’re thinking over installing one, find out how this HVAC equipment keeps houses comfortable.
How Heat Pumps Work
Heat pumps rely on a refrigeration system similar to an air conditioner. Most can operate similar to a ductless mini-split, as they can heat and cool. Heat pumps have an indoor evaporator coil and an outdoor condensing coil. Refrigerant is moved through these coils to transfer humidity. The outdoor unit also uses a compressor and is encircled by metal fins that work as a heat sink to help shift humidity effectively.
Summertime Cooling
In cooling mode, the refrigerant begins in the evaporator coil. Air from indoors is distributed over the coil, and the refrigerant sucks out humidity. Wetness in the air also condenses on the coil, dropping into the condensate pan below and flows away. The resulting cool air moves through the ductwork and back into your house.
At the same time, the refrigerant passes through a compressor on its way to the outdoor coil. This compresses the refrigerant, causing it to heat up even more. As it goes through the condensing coil, the outdoor fan and metal fins help to exhaust heat to the exterior. The refrigerant moves back indoors, moving through an expansion valve that cools it considerably, readying it to begin the process from the start.
When your heat pump is replaced and maintained correctly, you’ll receive efficient cooling on par with an energy-efficient air conditioner.
Wintertime Heating
In heating mode, the heat exchange process takes place the other way around. By traveling in the opposite direction, refrigerant extracts heat from the outdoor air and vents it into your house to warm rooms.
Heat pumps operating in heating mode are most useful when the temperature remains above freezing outside. If it becomes too frigid, a backup electric resistance heater kicks on to keep your house comfy, but your heating costs go up as a result.
Heat pumps operate longer than furnaces since the air doesn’t become as hot. This helps sustain a more even indoor temperature. Additionally, because heat pumps shift hot air rather than generating it from a fuel source, they can perform well above 100% efficiency. You should receive 30–40% savings on your heating bills by installing a heat pump.
Book Heat Pump Installation or Service Right Away
Heat pumps are good for the environment and economical. They are a substitute for the traditional AC/furnace setup and need the same amount of maintenance—one checkup in the spring and another in the fall.
If you’d like to install a heat pump, Jack Nelson Service Experts is the contractor to call. We’ll size and install your system to fit your heating and cooling needs. And then we’ll support our work with a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee* for a year. To learn more, contact us at 918-212-8927 today.