Heat
Pump Q & A - Energy
Saving Tips - Furnace
Filter Info - What
is HVAC Anyway? - HVAC
Glossary
Residential
Q & A - Heat Pumps
Heat pumps and central air conditioners have an outdoor unit and an indoor unit.
The job of the heat pump or air conditioner is to transport heat either into
or out of your home. The "vehicle" your
system uses to carry the heat is called refrigerant.
For cooling operation, air from your home passes through the indoor coil. Heat
is absorbed from the indoor air and the resulting cooler air is ciruclated back
into your home through your duct system. Heat from your home exits through the
outdoor coil.
While it’s keeping you cool, your air conditioner or heat pump also works
as an effective dehumidifier. The process is similar to what happens when moisture
condenses on the outside of a glass of ice water on a hot, humid day.
For heating, a heat pump basically reverses the cooling process to warm your
home during cold weather.
Where does a heat pump get the heat to warm your home when it’s cold outside?
Even though 35 F air may feel cold to humans, it actually contains a great deal
of heat. A heat pump’s heat exchanger can squeeze heat out of cold air,
then transfer that heat into your home with the help of a fan coil or a furnace,
which circulates the warm air through your ducts.
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What
Type Of Heat Pump Is Best?
The efficiency
of the heat pump when used as an air conditioner is known as the Seasonal Energy
Efficiency Ratio (SEER). A SEER of at least 10.0 is recommended, higher SEER's
are available and are encouraged should a customer want equipment that is even
more efficient. In January of 2006 the Department of Energy will enforce the
increase to a 13 SEER minimum standard for all heat pump and air conditioner
installations.
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Is
A Heat Pump An Economical Or Expensive Way Of Heating And Cooling?
A
heat pump might use as little as 330 watts in an hour - which when compared to
the alternatives is very economical. A heat pump moves heat from
the outside to the inside of the home and vice versa, not using energy to create
heat.
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Can
I Move The Thermostat On My Heat Pump Up And Down Like Other Heating Systems?
During
the heating season, we recommend a setting that is comfortable for your household.
Once your thermostat is set, the best policy is to leave it alone. Night setback
is not generally recommended for a heat pump unless a programmable
thermostat designed expressly for a heat pump is used. Reduce the thermostat
temperature setting for weekend trips or vacations during the heating season.
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What
Do Lights On My Indoor Thermostat Mean?
The lights on your thermostat indicate the
backup auxiliary heat is on. The colder it becomes outside, the less amount of
heat is in the air to heat your home. This causes the heat pump to hit its balance
point meaning it is running at full capacity. If the home requires more heat,
the supplemental heat is used. This is when the lights are on at the thermostat.
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What
Are Some Ways To Help Control My Heating And Cooling Costs?
Once
the thermostat is set, it should be left alone. The air filters inside the system
need to be checked, cleaned, or changed each month. The outdoor fan should not
be covered or obstructed, so it can receive proper air flow. Precision Tune Up
checks should be performed which include refrigerant level checks, indoor/outdoor
coil inspections (cleaning, if needed) and duct inspections.
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How
Often Should I Change Filters?
Inspect
each month and change or clean filters as needed. Time intervals frequently vary
with each family. The most important aspect of efficient operation of your heating
and cooling system is proper air flow. Dirty air
filters will severely limit air flow, which can cause the compressor to run continuously
or overheat your heat exchanger.
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What
Is The Service Life Of The Heat Pump And Compressor?
The
average service life of the heat pump is 15 to 20 years.
The
average service life of the compressor is approximately 10 to 15 years.
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POB 10 Gresham,
OR 97030