In the hot, humid summers of Montgomery, having a cool, comfortable home is of utmost importance. If your home’s HVAC system is leaving a lot to be desired, it may be time to think about upgrading to a heat pump. Not only will it keep you cool in summer, but it can keep you warm in winter and give you energy savings year round.
How Do Heat Pumps Work?
A heat pump is comprised of a compressor connected to two coils of copper tubing. One of the coils sits in the outside unit, while the other is inside. The coils are surrounded by aluminum fins that help with the transfer of heat, which is at the heart of how heat pumps work.
When the pump is in cooling mode, the refrigerant in the copper coils within the inside unit begins absorbing heat from the inside air. This causes the refrigerant to vaporize into a gas. This gas then runs to the outside coils where it dissipates the collected heat. This causes the vapor to change back into a liquid, which gets circulated back inside to repeat the process all over again.
In winter, the system will use a reversing valve to change the flow of the refrigerant. Instead of extracting heat from indoor air, the system extracts it from outdoor air and brings it inside for heating.
The Efficiency of High-Tech Heat Pumps
All heat pumps sold in the U.S. have an EnergyGuide label showing how efficient the system is compared to other heat pumps. Two ratings are associated with the pump: the seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) and the heating season performance factor (HSPF). The most efficient heat pumps will have a SEER rating above 14 and an HSPF rating above 8. In comparison, heat pumps from the 1970s had a SEER of 6 and an even lower HSPF.
Learn more about the heat pump options at Air Conditioning by Luquire, then contact us at 334-230-5870 for any answers to any further questions you may have!