Why is a heat pump an important system to have in your home? Well, contrary to its name, it offers both heating and cooling, efficiently transferring air and is sometimes used to deliver hot water. A heat pump system helps your HVAC system run properly, and is an efficient and reliable system to have in your property. In this article, we’ll take you through the most important things you should know about heat pumps and their benefits.

At Heat Mechanical Cooling & Heating, we are tenured experts in heat pump installation, maintenance, and repair, serving the Ellis County community for the past 11 years.

What is a Heat Pump?

In essence, a heat pump is an electric system that relies on the transference of heat (rather than generating it from fuel) from one place to another. It provides heating and cooling to homes by taking outdoor air and using it to either heat or cool the home, depending on the season.

By not burning fossil fuels, heat pumps are more environmentally friendly. They also reduce humidity levels and keep the temperature in your home comfortable, no matter the time of year.

There are three different types of heat pumps – air-to-air, water source, and geothermal. They work slightly differently and offer varying efficiency benefits.

How Does it Work?

Considering that they pull air from outside, you might be asking yourself, “how does a heat pump work?” A heat pump system works by utilizing refrigeration technology and electricity to pull in outdoor air and pass it through the refrigerant.

In instances where the heat pump is used to provide cool air, it will remove the thermal energy from the air it intakes, cooling the space. This is the same process used by traditional air conditioner units and refrigerators.

On the flip side, the heat pump will use additional electrical energy to reverse the effect of the natural flow of heat; rather than moving towards a cooler space (as heat naturally does), it will keep the heat inside.

The most common type of heat pump system is the air-to-air heat pump, which transfers outdoor air into indoor air ducts. Water-source, or ‘ground-source’ heat pumps absorb heat from the ground (or water underneath the ground), transferring heat through pipes filled with water or refrigerant.

Geothermal heat pumps take advantage of solar energy that’s stored in the ground. While it’s extremely eco-friendly and can be even more cost-efficient than regular heat pump systems, the initial cost is a bit higher because it needs to be dug into the ground.

Heat pump systems work best in climates like Texas where temperature extremes aren’t so apparent.

The Benefits of Heat Pumps

Two great benefits of a heat pump system include being more environmentally friendly, and being more cost-effective.

Since a heat pump works by transferring existing heat rather than burning fuels to create new heat, they are considered to be using renewable energy, making them kinder to the environment.

Heat pump systems also work more efficiently for cooling and heating, which can lead to significant reductions in your energy costs - up to 50%, in fact.

If you’re ready to switch to this energy-efficient (and cost-effective) source of heating and cooling for your home, give Heat Mechanical Cooling & Heating a call. We have been providing HVAC services and installing heat pump systems since 2010 with only the most knowledgeable experts on our team.

Contact us today to switch to, repair, or maintain your heat pump system. Call us anytime at (972)937-0697.