In Hilton Head Island, heat pumps can be a popular solution for heating and cooling your residence.
They seem almost like an air conditioner. In reality, they work in a nearly identical way during high temperatures. Due to a reversing valve, they can transfer warmth in the opposite direction as well as heat your home in the winter.
Not sure if you rely on a heat pump or an air conditioner? Just locate the model number on the outdoor unit and run it online. If you find you have a heat pump, or you’re considering purchasing one, find out how this HVAC unit keeps houses comfy.
How Heat Pumps Run
Heat pumps depend on a refrigeration system much like an air conditioner. Most can work akin to a ductless mini-split, because they can heat and cool. Heat pumps rely on an indoor evaporator coil and an outdoor condensing coil. Refrigerant is sent through these coils to transfer humidity. The outdoor unit also has a compressor and is surrounded by metal fins that function as a heat sink to help transfer warmth effectively.
Summertime Cooling
When your heat pump is set to cooling, the refrigerant is in the evaporator coil. Air from inside the house blows over the coil, and the refrigerant sucks out warmth. Wetness in the air also condenses on the coil, dropping into the condensate pan below and moves away. The following dehumidified air circulates through the ductwork and back into your residence.
During this time, the refrigerant moves a compressor on its way to the outdoor coil. This compresses the refrigerant, forcing it to heat up even more. As it moves through the condensing coil, the exterior fan and metal fins help to exhaust heat to the exterior. The refrigerant heads back inside, passing through an expansion valve that lowers its temperature it greatly, prepping it to begin the process from the beginning.
When your heat pump is installed and maintained appropriately, you’ll have efficient cooling comparable to an energy-saving air conditioner.
Wintertime Heating
When your heat pump is heating, the heat exchange procedure happens the other way around. By traveling in a different direction, refrigerant extracts heat from the outdoor air and disperses it into your house to warm the interior.
Heat pumps working in heating mode are most efficient when the temperature is warmer than freezing outside. If it gets too frigid, a backup electric resistance heater turns on to keep your home comfortable, but your heating costs increase as a result.
Heat pumps operate longer than furnaces as the air doesn’t turn as heated. This helps maintain a more balanced indoor temperature. On top of that, because heat pumps move heat rather than creating it from a fuel source, they can operate well above 100% efficiency. You should expect 30–40% savings on your heating costs by switching to a heat pump.
Request Heat Pump Installation or Service Right Away
Heat pumps are good for the environment and cost-effective. They are a substitute for the regular AC/furnace setup and need the same amount of maintenance—one checkup in the spring and another in the fall.
If you’d like to install a heat pump, Epperson Service Experts is the company to contact. We’ll size and install your equipment to match your heating and cooling requirements. And then we’ll support our installation with a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee* for a year. For more information, contact us at 843-619-3781 today.