How Does a Heat Pump Work in Winter?
Although many homeowners use heat pumps to keep their homes comfortable throughout the year, they may not know all the ways in which a heat pump works. In winter, a heat pump plays an important role in keeping your home warm. Evergreen takes a look at how a heat pump works in winter so you understand exactly how it provides the heating you need.
How Does a Heat Pump Work in Winter?
In winter, air source heat pumps extract heat from the outdoors and use it to heat your home. Even when there are cold temperatures outside, heat pumps work to extract heat from the air. The heat pump circulates a refrigerant through a loop of tubing in the outdoor unit, known as the outdoor coil. As the refrigerant passes through the unit, it picks up heat from the air, raising the refrigerant’s temperature.
The indoor and outdoor units are connected by a pair of copper tubes, which form the refrigerant loop. The refrigerant then flows into the indoor unit and through the indoor coil. Within the indoor coil, the refrigerant releases its heat into the air that flows through the unit. This raises the temperature of the air, and this warmed air is then circulated back into the home to provide the heating you need to stay comfortable.
In the winter, a heat pump works in the opposite way of how it works in the summertime to cool your home. In the summer, a heat pump can be used to move heat from your home’s interior to the outside, keeping your home cool and comfortable.
First, the heat pump extracts heat from the indoor air using the indoor coil and transfers it to the refrigerant within. Next, the refrigerant expands, creating a low-pressure vapor. This vapor then flows through the compressor, where it is compressed into a high-pressure vapor. Finally, this high-pressure vapor is passed through the condenser, where it is condensed back into a liquid as heat energy is released outdoors. This now cooled and low-pressure refrigerant is then passed back through the compressor to start the cycle over again. In this way, a heat pump can effectively remove heat from your home on hot summer days, keeping you cool and comfortable all season long.
Benefits of Heat Pumps for Heating
An air source heat pump is a device that uses a small amount of energy to move heat from one place to another. Heat pumps are commonly used for heating, but they can also be used for cooling. Heat pumps are an efficient way to heat your home as they require only small amounts of electricity to perform heat transfer. As such, they can save you money on your energy bills when used for heating, compared to other equipment such as a gas furnace or boiler.
In addition to being energy efficient, heat pumps are also good for the environment. They emit no greenhouse gases or other pollutants because they do not burn fossil fuels to generate heat. Because they do not require the use of fossil fuels, heat pumps are a sustainable choice for heating your home. If you’re looking for an efficient and environmentally friendly way to heat your home, a heat pump is a great option.
Heat Pump Heating for Your Home
A heat pump is a great way to keep your home warm in the winter. Now that you know how these HVAC systems work in the winter, you’ll feel more confident knowing that this energy-efficient appliance would be a good fit for your home. If you’re considering purchasing one, contact us for an estimate. Evergreen Heating & Air will help you find the perfect heat pump for your needs and install it quickly and efficiently.