In Winnipeg, heat pumps can be a popular choice to heat and cool your residence.
They appear very similar to an air conditioner. In fact, they work in the same way during warm weather. Since they have a reversing valve, they can transfer warmth in the opposite direction as well as heat your home 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 you find you have a heat pump, or you’re thinking about purchasing one, find out how this HVAC equipment keeps residences comfortable.
How Heat Pumps Operate
Heat pumps have a refrigeration system similar to an air conditioner. Most can work like a ductless mini-split, since they can heat and cool. Heat pumps depend on an indoor evaporator coil and an outdoor condensing coil. Refrigerant is pumped through these coils to shift humidity. The outdoor unit also contains a compressor and is encircled by metal fins that act as a heat sink to help move heat effectively.
Summertime Cooling
When your heat pump is set to cooling, the refrigerant starts in the evaporator coil. Air from within the house blows over the coil, and the refrigerant extracts heat. Moisture in the air also condenses on the coil, dropping into the condensate pan below and flows away. The ensuing dehumidified air moves through the ductwork and back into your home.
Meanwhile, 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 exterior fan and metal fins help to exhaust heat to the outside. The refrigerant travels back into your house, moving through an expansion valve that lowers its temperature it greatly, preparing it to begin the process from the start.
When your heat pump is installed and maintained appropriately, you’ll have efficient cooling comparable to an energy-efficient air conditioner.
Wintertime Heating
When your heat pump is set to heat, the heat exchange cycle takes place in reverse. By flowing in the opposing direction, refrigerant extracts heat from the outdoor air and adds it into your home to warm the inside.
Heat pumps working in heating mode are most useful when the temperature is above freezing outside. If it becomes too chilly, a backup electric resistance heater kicks on to keep your residence cozy, but your heating expenses go up as a result.
Heat pumps work longer than furnaces as the air doesn’t get as hot. This helps maintain a more balanced indoor temperature. Also, because heat pumps shift heat rather than making it from a fuel source, they can perform well above 100% efficiency. You should receive 30–40% savings on your heating costs by switching to a heat pump.
Schedule Heat Pump Installation or Service Now
Heat pumps are good for the environment and money-saving. They are a substitute for the standard AC/furnace system and need the same amount of maintenance—one appointment in the spring and another in the fall.
If you’d like to install a heat pump, Winnipeg Supply Service Experts is the company to get in touch with. We’ll size and install your system to meet your heating and cooling demands. And then we’ll back our services with a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee* for a year. To learn more, contact us at 204-800-0613 now.