If you have an idea about how an air conditioner works then you probably know a lot more about heat pumps than you think. They work in very similar ways, instead of burning fuel they simply transfer heat after being extracted from the air or ground. This makes it much more green than the gas burning furnace. Heat normally flows downhill, it moves from high temperature places to locations with a lower temperature and the heat pump just reverses the cycle. Heat source would be the air, ground or specific place where heat is located and the heat sink is your home or building.
In most cases heat pumps are usually not only a source of heat but they have the technology to cool as well. These machines can be used for different needs not only for the comfort of your bedroom or living room, if you have noticed your neighbor operating his hot tub or heated swimming pool, it’s with the use of a heat pump.
Types of Heat Pumps
There are a lot of different types of heat pump : Air heat pump ( transfers heat from the air), ground heat pump ( transfers heat for the ground), Exhaust air ( transfers heat from the exhaust air of a building), Water source ( uses flowing water as source or sink for heat) and other models. Some machines have the technology to operate as “2 heat pumps” meaning they extract heat from the air but once the temperature outside drops it starts extracting heat from the ground as it is more efficient since it needs to force less.
What Does a Heat Pump Do?
Heat pumps can help consumers save on utilities but in freezing temperatures some tend to under perform in freezing temperatures. If you currently reside in an area where your exposed to freezing temperatures then a heat pump should not be your ONLY source of heat. Even when it is cold outside there is always some heat in the air, but as it nears freezing points like in the months of December in Canadian regions and some of USA’s Northern States, heat pump have to keep forcing to extract the little heat left in the air outside. In some cases supplemental might be necessary to make the heat pump produce enough warmth to comfortably heat your home when the temperature falls below freezing, and that’s no good.
That being said, you should always have a secondary/back up source of heat. Which ever is the common heating system in your are is most probably the best efficient backup. For more information you can always call your utility provider for some questions.
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