By 2020 over 17 million houses used heat pumps to cool their residences. A heat pump system sounds like it can only heat a house, but you can also use them to cool a home in Venice, FL.
But how does a heat pump work; what enables it to cool off your home? One primary component is the heat pump condenser – your heat pump won’t work without this part.
But the condenser is only one part of a unified whole. All the answers you want are below, so keep reading to find out how heat pumps work.
What Is a Heat Pump?
Heat pumps are HVAC systems that move heat energy from place to place. You’ll often find heat pumps utilized to transfer outdoor heat inside to warm homes and water.
However, we’re discussing heat pump AC, which removes heated air from indoors.
What Is an Air Source Heat Pump?
The most common kind of this HVAC system is the air source heat pump. There are various kinds of these heat pump units – below is a short list of the many types:
- Ductless: Requires minimal construction due to the condenser and evaporator connecting via a three-inch hole
- Often installed in home additions
- Ducted: Uses ductwork to transmit cold and warm air
- Best suited for homes with preexisting ductwork or new buildings
- Short run ducted: Ductwork that runs through a small section of a house
- Often combined with ductless units throughout the rest of the home
- Split systems: These units contain coil systems in and outdoors
- Packaged systems: Their fan and both coils are outside
How Does a Heat Pump Work?
These HVAC units need two vital parts to function – the heat pump condenser and the evaporator coil. Your evaporator coils are indoors, and the condenser is outside during the summer. The function reverses in the cold months.
Refrigerant lines connect both coils to enable the cooling process. When you activate a heat pump AC unit, hot air enters the evaporator coil inside your home and moves across a cold refrigerant coil.
The heat from the air transfers into the refrigerant, turning it from a liquid to a gas. Your heat pump sends the newly chilled air back into your house.
But the process isn’t completed yet; the gaseous refrigerant still must go through a compressor where it’s heated and pressurized. Next, the gas travels through the heat pump condenser coil.
Hot air from the refrigerant transfers outside the condenser, which turns the gaseous substance into a high-temperature liquid.
Finally, the heated refrigerant enters an expansion valve to reduce pressure and temperature. The refrigerant cycles back into the house once it depressurizes and cools down.
Heat Pump Condenser Not Working?
Your heat pump condenser is an integral part of your HVAC unit and needs to be in working order. There may be an issue, though – you probably can’t tell when the condenser isn’t working.
You can always contact us at Bowersox Air Conditioning & Heating if you’re unsure. Our expert team will provide top-notch service for your heat pump system.
Schedule an AC Repair
Would you like to schedule a visit with an incredible Venice AC company? Contact Bowersox Air Conditioning & Heating to speak to our team.
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