You’ve seen us discuss heat pumps here before. You probably know that heat pumps are revered not only for their ability to heat and cool homes, but also for the outstanding energy efficiency with which they heat homes. What you may not be totally clear on, though, is just how the heat pump achieves this level of efficiency.

Outdoor unit

In order to understand just how the heat pump is able to heat homes so efficiently, you must understand just how the heat pump actually heats. The key is in the heat transfer process. Review the following information, and let us know if you’re ready to start using a heat pump in Miami, FL.

Transfer Heat, Rather than Generate It!

It’s a bit of an oversimplification, as you’ll see, but the phrase above does pretty much sum it up. Heat pumps are able to heat homes extremely efficiently thanks to the fact that they don’t actually generate heat. Whereas a furnace or a boiler will consume fuel or use electricity in order to create new heat, the heat pump uses existing heat in the air outside in order to warm your home. Only a very small amount of electricity is used in this heat transfer process.

Even when it’s cold out — and it doesn’t get very cold around here, usually — there is still heat in the air. The heat pump acts like an AC in reverse in order to make use of that heat. Refrigerant is evaporated in the outdoor coil, rather than indoors, in order to draw heat out of the air. This warms the refrigerant, which is then compressed by the compressor in order to further increase its thermal energy. The refrigerant is moved indoors to the coil acting as the condenser, and it releases its heat as it’s condensed. That heat is then used to heat the house.

The heat pump sets itself apart in its versatility in addition to its heating efficiency. The reversing valve allows it to reverse the flow of its refrigerant. By reversing the operation of its coils, as well, both heating and cooling can be achieved.

Take advantage of this technology today! Schedule your heat pump services with One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating® of Miami.