What Is a Heat Pump? How Does It Work?

Keeping your home comfortable is just as crucial as having hot water and electricity. When temperatures start dipping outside, you must have a heating system that you can count on to keep your family warm. One such heating system that is growing in popularity is the heat pump.

As a homeowner, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the number of available heating systems. If you’ve been thinking about a heating installation in McKinney, TX, you might be interested in heat pumps. However, you should first know how a heat pump works before you make any final decisions.

Let’s discuss what a heat pump is and what you can expect when installing one.

Why Are Heat Pumps So Popular?

Before we talk about how a heat pump works, you’re probably curious about what makes these HVAC systems so popular among homeowners. There are a few advantages to heat pumps that are worth knowing about. Learn more about these benefits below:

How Does a Heat Pump Work?

Many homeowners rave about the fact that heat pumps can be used as a heating and cooling system. But what is a heat pump, exactly? During the winter, a heat pump pulls heat from the outdoors and transports it indoors for you to enjoy. During the warmer months, the system will collect the heat from the air inside your home and send it outdoors so that you’re left with cool air.

Essentially, heat pumps can cool and heat your home by moving heat from one place to another. These HVAC systems have an outdoor unit called the “compressor†and an indoor unit called the “air handler.†The outdoor unit can typically be connected to multiple indoor units at once, which makes it easy to control the temperatures of individual rooms.

Now that you have a better understanding of what a heat pump is, it’s time to talk about the various types that are available. There are three primary types of heat pumps on the market, each pulling from different heat sources. Let’s discuss them in more detail.

Air-Source Heat Pumps

Air-source heat pumps are commonly referred to as one of the more “popular†types of heat pumps. As the name suggests, these systems extract heat energy from the air and send it indoors when on the heating setting. These heat pumps are usually the easiest to install as well.

Ground-Source Heat Pumps

There are also two types of geothermal heat pumps to choose from: ground-source and water-source. We’re going to start by discussing ground-source systems. Rather than collecting heat from the outdoor air, these units transfer heat energy from the ground to your home.

You can typically expect ground-source heat pumps to be the most energy-efficient option out of the bunch. Why? Really, the temperature in the ground is less likely to fluctuate than the air temperature, so they tend to use up less energy than air-source heat pumps. As a result, you can potentially enjoy lower energy bills, whether heating or cooling your home.

Water-Source Heat Pumps

Next up is water-source heat pumps! Now, you’re probably wondering how a heat pump works when it pulls heat energy from a water source. Essentially, you can expect these HVAC systems to work much in the same way as ground-source heat pumps. These heat pumps can pull heat energy from a wide range of sources, including lakes and aquifers.

Install a Heat Pump With Adon Complete!

Hopefully, you now have a broader understanding of what a heat pump is and what you can expect from installing one! It’s important to know how a heat pump works before selecting one for your home, as this knowledge will allow you to make an informed decision for you and your home.

If it’s time to replace your air conditioner and heating system, heat pumps can be a potential replacement option. Get in touch with Adon Complete to learn more about our heating system replacements! We offer a wide selection of services, from heat pump installations to heating repair in McKinney, TX. Contact us to schedule an appointment today!