Air Conditioning & Heating

There are plenty of different air conditioning and heating technologies that you can install at home. One of the most popular systems to install is the heat pump. A heat pump is pretty similar to a regular AC unit. But instead of just cooling, this system can both cool and heat indoor air, which means it can be used in both winter and summer. Hence, you will not need to have separate systems for air conditioning and heating.

How Air Conditioning Works

The process works by circulating a substance called a refrigerant through a cycle of evaporation and condensation. A compressor pumps the refrigerant between two heat exchanger coils. In the evaporator coil, the refrigerant is evaporated at low pressure and absorbs heat from its surroundings. The refrigerant is then compressed en route to the other coil, where it condenses at high pressure. At this point, it releases the heat it absorbed earlier in the cycle.

In air conditioners, this mechanism causes the indoor temperature to drop as the system transfers the extra heat outside. You will find various types of AC units out there, but every one of them shares similar technological principles.

How Heat Pump Works

Unlike AC, there are various types of heating technology. While most systems generate the extra heat from either electricity, gas, or oil, a heat pump is simpler and more efficient. It works in a similar way to an air conditioner but in reverse. The heating process draws heat from outdoor air and transfers the heat energy into the house, consequently warming the indoor temperature.

There are several types of heat pumps that vary based on how they transfer heat or where they get the heat from:

• Air-to-air heat pumps
• Air-to-water heat pumps
• Ground source heat pumps (horizontal and vertical)
• Water source heat pumps (closed loop and open loop)

Is a Heat Pump Effective?

Many people are concerned about the effectiveness of heat pumps as both air conditioning and heating. People mainly have doubts during winter because it is so cold outside. They wonder how it’s even possible for the heat pump to absorb enough heat from outside to warm up the house.

What many people fail to realize is that the ground and air outside always contain some heat. For example, the air at -18°C contains about 85 percent of the heat it contains at 21°C. However, if your heat pump has low specifications, it may fail to provide enough warmth during extremely cold winter days.

Therefore, if you live in a mild climate without extremely cold winters, a heat pump will be reliable enough as an air conditioning and heating for your house. It is also important to give your heat pump regular maintenance to keep it performing at its best.

The major difference between a regular air conditioner and a heat pump is that a heat pump cycle is fully reversible, making it able to provide year-round climate control for your house. If you haven’t installed any air conditioning or heating devices in your home, a heat pump may be something worth considering, especially if your house is tiny. Talk to an HVAC technician if you need more assistance in choosing the right system for your house.

 

ECM Air Conditioning, with its headquarters located in Boynton Beach, FL, provides air conditioning services within Palm Beach County, Broward County, Martin County, and St. Lucie County. If you’re looking to have a new HVAC system installed, we’re on-call and ready to assist you. So if you’re in need of an HVAC installation, don’t hesitate to contact us today to schedule an inspection! Our HVAC installation experts will check your ductwork, measure, check wire sizes, and more before making recommendations to ensure maximum efficiency and comfort. Call us at 561-295-1763 or contact our HVAC installation team online by clicking here.