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