What is the difference between hvac and heat pump

Although many people think that air conditioners and refrigerators add cool air to indoor spaces, they actually subtract heat from the air. They are absorbing heat inside and then discharging it outdoors. By doing so, the air inside cools down. So, when a heat pump reverses itself to heat your home, it is functionally air conditioning the outside environment by extracting heat from the outdoor spaces and transferring it indoors.

You may be asking yourself how a heat pump can remove heat from the outdoors during the winter months when you need heating the most.

Well, consider that your freezer is very cold, but it is still able to transfer heat from the cold inside environment to the coils in the back. There is still heat energy in cold environments. The temperatures would have to be very cold for this process not to work. Learn more about the refrigeration cycle and how air conditioners work.

The best way to tell if you have a heat pump or air conditioner is by checking the manufacturer sticker on the side of your outdoor unit. Once you are back inside, enter the number into your internet search engine. The results will tell you what kind of system you have plus a lot of other information.

So, which type of HVAC system is right for your home, an air conditioner and furnace or a heat pump that can both heat and cool your home? Even though heat pumps can absorb heat from cold environments, when temperatures drop below freezing it can be very inefficient. That is why most heat pumps work in conjunction with a furnace to provide efficient heating in the winter months.

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Search Categories. Cooling , Heating , savings , research and planning. First, the closed loop in a heat pump is set up such that it can blow hot air into the home instead of outside. This allows it to function as a heater in the winter and an air conditioner in the summer. Secondly, many heat pumps rely on a ductless mini-split system — distributing multiple units throughout the home instead of distributing the air through ducts.

Heat pumps are more efficient than central AC, though they struggle a bit when the weather gets particularly cold and they cost more to install.

Heat pumps are a good solution for any Nashville home, and the newer heat pumps are generally more efficient than older models. If you know the difference between a heat pump and a central air system, you can determine the right type of unit for your home.