How can I build a practical heat pump to heat my house?
Heat pumps can be fairly complex, well out of the normal DIY range, unless you have experience designing and building HVAC systems. Their thermodynamic characteristics must also be considered during the design phase, something that has already been done by HVAC engineers in commercial systems. I would not recommend a DIY heat pump. People rarely design and build air conditionering systems on their own, either. The most common type of heat pump is not unlike a central air conditioning system. Most of these employ pressurized freon, which requires special handling because it is a hazardous material. A heat pump consists of two heat exchangers (one interior, one exterior), pump, fans, and a controller. In winter, the unit transfers heat from the exterior to the interior. The heat exchangers and piping are usually fabricated from copper tubing strong enough to safely withstand the system pressure. In summer, the operation can be reversed on many models, allowing the unit to operate as an a
