In our hot desert climate, heat pumps are becoming an increasingly popular choice with homeowners who want to pay lower energy bills. Heat pumps are configured similar to air conditioners, with two coils of refrigerant tubing and a compressor pump to pressurize coolant. One of the major heat pump advantages over a traditional air conditioner, however, is its dual operation:
- During our long cooling season, a heat pump operates just like an air conditioner. The evaporator coil extracts heat from the indoor air and discharges it outdoors via the condenser coil.
- When cooler winter weather arrives, a heat pump can switch operation thanks to its reversing valve that sends refrigerant flowing in the opposite direction. This allows the condenser coil to draw warmth from the air outdoors and send it indoors where it’s released by the evaporator coil.
- For those rare times when outdoor temperatures drop below 40 degrees, the heat pump’s built-in electric resistance heat strips kick in to maintain comfort.
Advantages of Heat Pumps
When you purchase an air conditioner, you’ll still need a reliable heat source like a gas furnace. Investing in a heat pump instead offers a number of advantages:
- You’ll enjoy significantly lower operating costs in comparison to running a furnace during the winter months.
- Since a heat pump provides both heating and cooling, you’ll avoid the added expense of buying a furnace.
- Modern heat pumps are equipped with features that boost efficiencies, such as a scroll or two-speed compressors, better coil designs and variable-speed air handlers.
- Heat pumps use electricity, so there’s no need to have a gas line put in or exhaust system installed to expel furnace combustion fumes.
If you’re considering a new cooling system for your Phoenix or Scottsdale home, contact Wolff Mechanical to learn more heat pump advantages.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Phoenix Valley area of Arizona about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).
