How Does a Heat Pump Function in the Wintertime?

October 19, 2022

As heat pumps become more and more popular for residential use, it’s no surprise that many people are trying to discover more about how they work. Since heat pumps don’t use any combustion, it can be a bit confusing to try to understand exactly how they can heat your home during the winter months. The simple answer is that they transfer heat. It’s All in the Transfer A heat pump’s name is derived from its ability to pump heat to an intended destination. During the winter months, a heat pump will transfer heat from the air outside of your home to the air inside of your home. It does this via the refrigerant. The refrigerant inside of your heat pump runs through an evaporator coil, a condenser coil, and copper tubing. Throughout the cycling of these components, the refrigerant will turn from a liquid to a gas state on a consistent basis as it moves ambient heat. A Wintertime Run During the wintertime, your heat pump will take heat from the outdoors and pump it into your home. Most heat pumps are categorized as air-source heat pumps because they take the heat out of the air outside. There are some...

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Determining Whether You Have a Heat Pump or a Furnace

December 3, 2020

As a homeowner, it’s good to know basic information about your home’s mechanical systems. One of the most complex and confusing of those mechanical systems is the HVAC system. For example, there are some HVAC components that look similar but work in entirely different ways. One component that often causes some confusion is the heating component. While some people have furnaces, others have heat pumps. If you want to know which system you have in your Burbank, CA, home, check out this basic guide from . Indoor Versus Outdoor One way to tell the difference between heat pumps and furnaces is that a furnace is entirely inside while a heat pump has components both inside and outside. That’s because a heat pump uses a compressor on the outside to extract heat from the air. Therefore, if you turn on the heat and you see that the outside component is operating, you have a heat pump. If the outside component doesn’t turn on, you have a furnace, and the outside component is only used by the air conditioner. Utility Bill Another idea for determining whether you have a heat pump or a furnace is to take a look at your utility...

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Should I Buy a Heat Pump or Furnace?

February 27, 2018

A heating solution is necessary in the winter. Many homes will need some type of centralized heating system. There are two common systems that would meet this requirement: a heat pump or a furnace. Understanding the differences between the two will allow anyone to decide which is best for them. Heat Pumps vs. Furnaces Heat pumps and furnaces both heat homes. However, they are not the same. Some things to consider are: • Heat pumps double as an air conditioner in the summer. • Furnaces are generally better once temperatures go below freezing. • Heat pumps are considered the “green” option due to using natural warm air. • Furnaces operate mostly in the winter, which can prolong their lifespan. These facets are a great starting point when considering which is a better option. Heat Pumps Because a heat pump provides both coolness and warmth, there is only one system to maintain. The lack of a furnace will give the homeowner extra space in the home. Heat pumps are located outside. Therefore, they use the warmth found in the outdoor air. Furnaces A furnace is focused only on heating. Therefore, they can be more efficient during freezing temperatures by circulating heat throughout...

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