How A Heat Pump Works

A heat pump system is made up of four majorcontinuously this motor costs up to 90% less to
components. Let's explore each component, andoperate than a standard blower motor. Variable
learn how a heat pump operates.speed also increases comfort. It ramp starts,
· The outdoor unit or heat pump - is the unitslowly bring the fan up to speed helping to avoid
that sits outside your home and contains thethe sudden burst of air most systems deliver.
compressor, condensing coil, reversing valve,Variable speed runs at a slower speed in
defrost control, fan and motor and all thecontinuous operation, using about as much energy
systems electrical components.as a 100-watt light bulb, as it constantly circulates
· The air handler - is the name given to thethe air in your home. This evens out hot or cold
combined evaporator coil, blower motor andspots, without feeling a draft. This reduces air
electric heater pack. The air handler must bevelocity making your air cleaner and humidifier
properly matched to the outside unit and shouldmore efficient. This motor even compensates for
always be replaced when you purchase a newa dirty air filter by running faster as it senses air
system in order to maintain maximum systemfilter restriction.
efficiency and prolong the life of your new heatHere's how a Heat Pump Works
pump. If you don't replace the air handler theIn the summer a heat pump uses refrigerant,
outdoor unit will fail prematurely.pumped by the compressor, to transport the hot
· The heater pack is the electric heatair inside your home outside. The heat pump coil
elements that are installed in the air handler. Whenoutside dumps the heat into the atmosphere while
the heat pump cannot keep up with the homesthe coil inside the air handler releases cool air into
demand for heat the electric elements cycle on.your home while at the same time absorbing heat
The heater pack is also known as emergencyand repeating the cycle again. The air handler fan
heat - in the sense that it can be used when yourdistributes the cool air inside your home while the
heat pump has failed.heat pump fan dumps the hot air outside. In the
· The line set - The line set is the copperwinter reverse the cycle. There is always some
tubing that connects the air handler to the heatheat in the air outside. The heat pump captures
pump. The black insulation or armaflex on thisthat heat, pumps it inside and releases it in your
tubing keeps it from sweating as the coldhome. Unfortunately there is also moisture in the
refrigerant passes through it. The line set shouldoutside air. This causes frost build up on your heat
be replaced whenever possible to avoidpump and it must remove this frost to stay
contamination and to help extend the life of theefficient. To do this the pump quickly turns back
new equipment.into an air conditioner causing the ice to melt on
· Variable Speed Blower Motor - In additionthe outside coil. As soon as the ice is melted it
to the 4 major components, you also have thereverses back into a heat pump. Now you know
option of adding a Variable speed Blower motorwhat a defrost control and reversing valve do! As
to your Heat Pump System. When you purchaseit gets colder out the heat in the atmosphere is
a heat pump you are purchasing a system. Theharder to find and your electric heaters will cycle
pump outside is matched with the air handlerto supplement the pump. Why not just use the
inside. The blower on the air handler is critical toelectric heat? Because pumping heat from outside
the operation of the pump. That's where variablecan be up to 300% more efficient than using
speed comes in. The variable speed blowerelectric heaters. In other words, you use the heat
increases the efficiency of the system becausepump because it saves you money. Of course a
the GE ECM motor is electrically more efficientheat pump is not quite that simple but for our
than standard motors. When you run your fanpurposes lets leave it at that.