What is a heat pump?
The heat pump is an air conditioner that reverses the process of removing heat fromt he inside of the house in summer to absorbing the heat from outside air and moving it inside in winter. It is effective by itself down to temperatures around 25 to 30 degrees fahrenheit. At that point, either a gas furnace or an air handler with supplemental electric heat will kick in and help heat your home. The Auxiliary Heat light on your thermostat will light. The heat pump will continue to operate along with the electric auxiliary heat. It will shut off when a gas furnace is energized. Emergency heat is a manual override option in the event your heat pump needs service.
A heat pump is an all-electric unit that both heats and cools your home by refrigeration. The heat pump is not new. The first factory-made units rolled off the production lines more than three decades ago. There are two basic types of heat pumps. The first is a ground-to-air system known as a Geothermal system (ground source) utilizing a coil buried in the ground outside your home to assist in providing heating and cooling. The second and most common type of heat pump is the air-to-air type, which has an outdoor unit producing heating and cooling. Most air-to-air heat pumps are compact two-piece units with both indoor and outdoor components. However, some homes utilize a single-package unit, which is installed entirely outside, and have the system ductwork extended out and connected to them.
A heat pump is an air conditioner that is able to reverse cycle to provide heating. When in the cooling mode, it functions like a central air-conditioning system, removing heat from within your house to provide cool, dehumidified air. In the winter, it reverses the process going into the heating mode, absorbing heat from outside air, multiplying it and then transferring it inside to produce warm, even temperature levels throughout your home. When outdoor temperatures drop to approximately 30°F, or lower, supplemental back-up heating equipment works to provide additional heat. Depending on the type of heat pump, back-up heating is typically accomplished with either a gas-fired furnace or electric resistance coils – see Heat Pump Diagram.
The heat pump is an air conditioner that reverses the process of removing heat from the inside of the house in summer to absorbing the heat from outside air and moving it inside in winter. It is effective by itself down to temperatures around 25 to 30 degrees Fahrenheit. At that point, either a gas furnace or an air handler with supplemental electric heat will kick in and help heat your home. The Auxiliary Heat light on your thermostat will light. The heat pump will continue to operate along with the electric auxiliary heat. It will shut off when a gas furnace is energized. Emergency heat is a manual override option in the event your heat pump needs service.
