How Does a Heat Pump Work in Summer?
Unless you work in the HVAC industry and have an in-depth knowledge of how heating and cooling equipment works, a heat pump might seem complex. It can both help to cool your home down in the summer and warm it up in the winter. How is that possible and how does a heat pump work in Summer? This clever bit of engineering is a trusted piece of equipment for countless homes and businesses throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.
If you have ever wondered how a heat pump manages to do what it does, this article will clear up any confusion. Read on to learn how this intelligent use of the energy transfer, to take heat from where it is to where you want it to be, is keeping you comfortable. Should you happen to need heat pump installation or repair work on your residential or commercial property, get in touch with Walker Air • Plumbing • Electric right away and we’ll schedule your first appointment.
The Basics of How Does a Heat Pump Work in Summer?
A heat pump is a piece of HVAC equipment that can operate in two different modes – heating mode and cooling mode. As those names would suggest, the unit is able to both heat and cool a space, depending on the time of year and the weather outside. The popularity of heat pumps is owed largely to this flexibility, as installing just one unit that can do both jobs is more appealing than needing separate systems to keep your home comfortable throughout the year.
The function of a heat pump is simply to move heat energy from inside to outside, or vice versa. So, in the winter, your heat pump won’t actually be creating new heat – it will take the heat available in the outside air (yes, there is heat energy available even in cold weather) and bring it into the house. Then, in the summer, the process is reversed, and heat energy is taken out of the home and dumped outside into the open air.
Focus On Cooling
In this article, we are talking specifically about how a heat pump works in the summer months, so let’s discuss what happens in cooling mode. As mentioned, the job of the heat pump when in cooling mode is to take heat energy out of your house and move it outside. This is exactly the same thing that an air conditioner does – there is no difference between a heat pump and an air conditioner during the summer. The only difference between these two pieces of equipment is a heat pump can reverse the process in the winter, while an air conditioner cannot.
There are two main components that make up a heat pump, those being the indoor unit and the outdoor unit. These two elements are connected by a refrigerant line, and it is the job of that refrigerant to move the heat energy from one place to another. So, in the summer, the refrigerant will “collect” heat energy when in the indoor unit, thanks to the help of a fan that blows warm air from inside the house over a coil of refrigerant line. The refrigerant will then make the trip outside, where another fan will be blowing and will disperse the heat from the coil out into the air. This cycle continues for as long as the heat pump is running.
Is Your Heat Pump Getting the Job Done?
It’s important to have sufficient cooling performance when living through a hot summer here in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Pay attention to how well your heat pump is cooling down your home on the hottest of days and consider looking into either some maintenance and repair work – or a new unit – if the current model is struggling to get the job done. Even if it does eventually get your home down to a reasonable temperature, you might be using more energy than is necessary if the system is no longer efficient. Working with a pro HVAC contractor on this problem can help you understand where your current heat pump might be falling short and what options you have to get better results.
As you can now see, the underlying concept behind what a heat pump is able to do is actually quite simple – even if creating these units is a rather complex task. Fortunately, you don’t need to understand the ins and outs of how heat pumps work to enjoy the performance they can provide to your property. Call Walker Air • Plumbing • Electric today to learn more about our services. We are excited to serve you!
