What Is A Heat Pump? How Does It Work?

Heat pumps are becoming a widely popular heating and cooling option, largely due to the energy savings they can provide. Despite this popularity, many homeowners still don’t quite know what a heat pump is or how it works. Below you’ll find information to explain both.

What is a heat pump?

A heat pump is a piece of equipment which transfers heat from one area to another. It can be used to heat or cool your home. The heat pump systems consists of an indoor air handler and an outdoor heat pump. Refrigerant is circulated between the units, absorbing and releasing heat.

How does a heat pump work?

Heat pumps move heat to a place where it is needed: inside your home in the winter, and out of your home in the summer. A heat pump which heats and cools your home utilizes heat found below ground (a geothermal heat pump) or heat in the air outdoors (an air source heat pump) as an energy source to heat your home during cooler months. The system can be reversed to provide cooling in the summer; the heat pump extracts heat from your home, transferring it outdoors into the air or into the ground, depending on the type of system.

Heat pump systems transfer heat rather than generate heat, like furnaces and boilers. Heat pumps operate on electricity and do not consume heating fuels such as natural gas or liquid propane. Because of this, owners of heat pumps will benefit from great fuel savings compared to using traditional heating systems. They are able to transfer multiple units of heat for every unit of electricity they use, making them highly efficient.

Still have questions about heat pumps? Give Nelson Comfort a call anytime to speak with one of our experts about heat pump solutions for your home.

About The Author

Dan Detmer

Dan Detmer is the owner of Nelson Comfort. Dan was born into the heating and cooling industry, coming from a family of well respected HVAC contractors in Dayton, Ohio. After working in the family business, Dan decided to work for a local HVAC wholesale business helping local contractors grow their business. When he felt his heart moving him back into the residential and light commercial business, Dan joined the Mortimer Heating & Cooling team in Cincinnati, where he had called home and become part of the community for several years. After a short period of time Dan purchased the company and created what is today, Nelson Comfort. Today he operates a company based on integrity, honesty, and stellar customer service. If you have any questions feel free to tweet (at sign) NelsonComfort and we will get right back with you!