Being located in an area where the weather is somewhat mild throughout the seasons affords one with more unique and energy-efficient heat and cooling options. One such option is the heat pump.
Heat pumps are truly unique because they possess the ability to transfer heat rather than generate it. That being said, just because you are located up North in areas like New York, it doesn’t necessarily mean you still can’t take advantage of the energy ratings of a
heat pump. Thanks to the innovations and technologies available you now can.
However, before you just blindly run out and invest in a
heat pump there are things you’ll want to familiarize yourself with.
What Components Make Up A Heat Pump
Heat pumps might be more energy-efficient units, but there is nothing simple about them. They are fairly complex machines with complex operations. They are also filled with a variety of complicated components. Here are the essentials that make up a
heat pump:
Ductwork – The ductwork is responsible for distributing the air throughout your home or office. They work like a tunnel or branch system. Think of a spider with six legs or more
Control Boards – A
heat pump has to defrost. It also has to kick on and off while switching between the
heating and cooling modes. It is the control boards that are responsible for the distinction of these modes
Indoor Air Handler – Whether you are dealing with a one-piece or two-piece unit, it is the air handler section that houses the blower. This is the section of the unit that is responsible for blowing air throughout the home. This work in conjunction with your ductwork, of course
Refrigerant – Refrigerant or Freon is another critical component of a
heat pump
Accumulators – A compressor is not designed to pump liquid refrigerant. Any little bit of liquid could damage the unit. Since Freon is constantly switching from liquid to gas and back, there is always the possibility of flood back. This is where accumulators come in handy. These devices are installed in places where there might be a flood back and they protect the compressor from exposure to liquid refrigerant
Outdoor Unit (Condenser) – The outdoor or condenser section of the unit is where the compressor is located
Refrigeration Lines And Pipes – Something has to be responsible for getting refrigerant from component to component. That’s exactly where these copper lines and pipes come in handy. They facilitate the transfer and transportation of Freon
Compressor – Many would say that the compressor is the heart and soul of any heating or air unit. This is because it is responsible for pumping and distributing the refrigerant to all the needed components
Thermostatic Expansion Valves (TXV) – A heat pump is constantly switching between liquid and gas refrigerant as well as low and high pressures. It is the job of the expansion valve to ensure that these operations stay on track
Reversing Valves – When a heat pump is in the cooling modes the refrigerant is flowing from the condenser section to the evaporator section. During the heating cycle, the flow of refrigerant is pretty much reversed. It is the reversing valve that facilitates the flow change of the substance
Condenser And Evaporating Coils – These devices work in conjunction with the flow of refrigerant to blow either warm or cold air into the home. During the winter months, the condenser gets warm and the blower motor forces air across it. During the summer months, it is the evaporator that cools and the blower motor that forces air across it
Heat Strips – A heat pump can be installed in areas where ambient temperatures reach down below desired conditions. And, this is because of the heat strips. These are like an electric secondary heating component that comes on when temperatures are extremely low
The Internal Operation Of A Heat Pump
A heat pump works based on the flow of the refrigerant. When the Freon is flowing one way, it will produce the heating cycle. When it’s flowing the other way, it creates the cooling cycle. This in conjunction with the mechanical compression cycles and is how you get your heating and cooling cycles. Either the evaporator coil will cool and the blower will blow air across it, forcing it into the home or the condenser gets hot and the blower blows air across that, forcing it into the home. With a heat pump, there is both an indoor and outdoor unit, even when you just have one unit installed. During the colder months, this unit will transfer the heat from the compressor and condenser into the home. During the hotter months, it’ll transfer this heat outside the home, via a similar method.
Your Source For Heat Pump Services
Whether you experiencing heating and air problems or you have general questions, you can reach out to your local, friendly HVAC tech. There are tons of them available in New York, standing by ready to assist. That being said, not all of them are created equal. Some will home themselves and their employees to higher standards, whereas others do not. Whatever the situation, taking the time to do your research and carefully choosing the right provider will pay off.
