HOW IS A HEAT PUMP DIFFERENT FROM AN AIR CONDITIONER?
AS ENERGY PRICES CONTINUE TO SPIRAL UPWARD, MORE HOMEOWNERS ARE TURNING TO HEAT PUMPS AS THEIR PRIMARY SOLUTION FOR INDOOR CLIMATE CONTROL
A heat pump is an appliance that works as a furnace in the cold weather, and as an air conditioner in the hot weather. In other words, a heat pump can provide either cooling or heating, and humidity control with the flick of a switch. Thus, there's no need to install separate systems to heat and cool your home. A heat pump has the ability to switch the direction in which the heat moves from one location to another, and controls humidity by absorbing heat from the inside while cooling, or heating the inside while heating. Think of a heat pump as a large refrigerator, where the coolant takes the air from the inside of the refrigerator and discharges air on the outside of the refrigerator along with exterior coils. Heating is accomplished when the coolant chemicals are changed from a gas to a liquid releasing heat. Cooling is accomplished when the coolant is turned to a gas by absorbing heat from its surroundings. The process is driven by an electric motor that acts as a compressor and coolant pump in a dual system. That’s why, heat pumps offered by Bryant provide economical comfort. They simply transfer heat, rather than burn fuel to create it.
On the other hand, an air conditioner works exactly the same way except that it exclusively cools the house, while a heat pump can either heat or cool it by moving heat indoors or outdoors. These typical scenarios will clarify the difference between a heat pump and an air conditioner.
I Live in Hot Weather. What Are The Summer Humidity Effects?
In the summer, heat pumps operate as air conditioners. They remove humidity from the air inside the house and transfer the liquid condensate to the outside — the visible water drips from an air conditioner outside the house. They do this because the evaporator coils inside the house are colder than the dew point of the humid air inside the house. The excess humidity condenses and runs down the coils to the bottom. From here, humidity is channeled outside the house via a condensate tube.
I Live in Cold Weather. What Are The Winter Humidity Effects?
In the winter, heat pumps operate as heaters that lower relative humidity by raising air temperature well above the dew point of the air in the house. Despite the amount of water vapor in the air is the same, the warmer air now has a lower relative humidity, which can lead to dry skin and irritated eyes and sinuses. This is why so many people use humidifiers during the winter months to restore a healthy and comfortable balance of humidity. This effect takes place whether you have a heat pump or traditional heater.
High-efficiency Performance
Experienced manufacturers like Bryant can make heat pumps operate at different levels of efficiency. A common measurement of this performance is the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER). SEER numbers can vary widely if you compare old heat pumps to new ones. A twenty year old heat pump often had a peak SEER number of 6. The minimum SEER you can buy today is 13. The highest SEER heat pumps made at present are a tad over SEER 18. Any heat pump with a SEER rating above 14 is very high efficiency. If you live in a hot climate, it might make great sense to purchase a heat pump with a high SEER value.
Using a heat pump instead of a furnace and air conditioner may help you save money on your utility bill, so it is important that you learn which kind of heat pump is best for your area. Your local Bryant dealer will do “Whatever it Takes” to assess the ideal heat pump or air conditioner for your home and your location.