Heat Pumps Harford County

An Efficient Heat Pump Cools and Heats for Year-Round Comfor

Heat Pumps offer an energy-efficient alternative to furnaces and air conditioners.  There are many different kids of heat pumps, but they all operate on the same basic principle, heat transfer.  This means that rather than burning fuel, they move heat from one place to another. One of the biggest advantages of a heat pump over a standard heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) unit is that there’s no need to install separate systems to heat and cool your home.  A heat pump can trim the amount of electricity you use for heating by as much as 30% to 40%.

High efficiency heat pumps also dehumidify better than standard central air conditioners, resulting in less energy usage and more cooling comfort in the summer months. The Comfort Zone, Fall 2014

How Air-Source Heat Pumps Work

One of the most common types of heat pumps is the air-source heat pump, which takes heat from outdoor air and transfers it to indoor air ducts.  The key to allowing the heat pump to also cool is the reversing valve.  This versatile part reverses the flow of the refrigerant, so that the system begins to operate in the opposite direction. So instead of pumping heat inside your home, the heat pump releases it, just like your air conditioner does. When the refrigerant is reversed it absorbs heat on the indoor side of the unit and flows it to the outside.  It’s here that the heat is released, allowing the refrigerant to cool down again and flow back inside to pick up more heat. This process repeats itself until you’re nice and cool.

For homes without ducts, air-source heat pumps are also available in a ductless version called a mini-split heat pump. Mini split systems work well in older homes with no ductwork and in additions or remodeled rooms where installing ductwork is not feasible.  The main advantage of mini split systems are their small size and flexibility for zoning or heating and cooling individual rooms.

If you are looking to install a new heat pump system for your Baltimore or Harford County home, or upgrade an existing heat pump, please contact us for a free consultation to help you determine the best type of system for your particular home.