Heat pumps are great systems to use for heating and cooling in the Longwood, FL, area. This is because our climate is perfectly suited for this type of system, particularly the winter months. We don’t experience winter as other areas in the country do, but we do get cold enough during the heart of the winter to warrant a good heating system, and your heat pump is perfectly up to the task. It can be pretty confusing to understand how a heat pump provides your home with warm air when there is no flame generating heat. The key is heat transfer. (more…)
Certified Air Systems, Inc. Blog : Posts Tagged ‘Heat Pumps’
If There’s No Heat Generation, How Does a Heat Pump Heat?
Monday, December 21st, 2015My Heat Pump Isn’t Changing Modes
Monday, November 30th, 2015We are still enjoying pretty warm weather here in Orlando, but once the sun goes down, our evenings are getting pretty cool. If you have pressed the “heat” button on your heat pump’s thermostat only to find that it isn’t giving you warm air, it is time to give the HVAC pros from Certified Air Systems, Inc., a call. There can be a few reasons why your heat pump won’t switch to heating mode, but it’s very important to allow an expert to find out the issue. (more…)
What Is a 2-Stage Heat Pump?
Monday, July 13th, 2015Heat pumps are known for their energy efficiency, but you can maximize this efficiency even more with a 2-stage heat pump. If your heat pumps system is ready for an upgrade, you may want to consider a 2-stage heat pump for your replacement system. The heat pump system experts at Certified Air Systems, Inc., are here to help with all your heat pump needs in Longwood, FL – just give us a call! (more…)
How Is a Heat Pump Different from an Air Conditioner?
Friday, April 3rd, 2015Heat pumps and air conditioners are, in most important ways, the same type of appliance. They operate on the principle of heat exchange, the shifting of heat from one location to another, and both use the same types of refrigerant to move heat between sets of cabinets. Most of their internal components are identical, and when a heat pump is in cooling mode, there is little outward difference between it and an air conditioner.
Of course, there is an important difference between the two: a heat pump can work as both a heating and cooling system. In this post, we’ll look at a few of the internal differences between the two systems that allow a heat pump to perform two functions.
For more information regarding heat pumps, or to schedule service for the heat pump that keeps your home comfortable around the year, call on Certified Air Systems, Inc. We provide installation, repair, and maintenance for heat pumps in Orlando, FL.
The Heat Pump Difference
The key difference in a heat pump is a component called the reversing valve. This valve is attached to the refrigerant line near where it exits from the compressor, and it is what allows the heat pump to change between heating and cooling mode. When a slider in the valve moves, it reverses the direction that refrigerant travels when it exits the compressor. If the valve moves the refrigerant to the outdoor coils first, the unit is in cooling mode. If it moves the refrigerant to the indoor coils first, the unit is in heating mode.
Another difference is that a heat pump uses less refrigerant when in heating mode. A component called the suction line accumulator, positioned between the compressor and the reversing valve, siphons away the extra refrigerant until it is needed again, and helps prevent this refrigerant from flowing back into the compressor. A crankcase heater on the compressor takes care of evaporating any liquid refrigerant that might enter the compressor from the wrong direction.
Finally, heat pumps need to have two sets of condensate pans and drains, one for the outdoor unit and one for the indoor unit. An air conditioner only requires one set, since evaporation and dripping water moisture only occurs in the indoor unit.
Do you have more questions about heat pumps? Don’t hesitate to give our professionals a call at Certified Air Systems, Inc. We’ve served Central Florida since 1993 with high quality heating, cooling, and indoor air quality, including comprehensive services for heat pumps in Orlando, FL.
Is a Heat Pump Right for My Home?
Wednesday, March 11th, 2015To understand whether a heat pump is a good choice for your home comfort, you need to first understand how a heat pump operates. Our professional team at Certified Air Systems, Inc. has many years of experience with installing, repairing, and maintaining heat pumps in Apopka, FL, and can answer any further questions you might have regarding how these appliances work, as well as give you a definite answer about whether your home will benefit from one. Do not hesitate to give us a call.
How a heat pump works
A heat pump is essentially the same as a standard split system air conditioner: it moves refrigerant in a cycle through a set of indoor and outdoor coils. The refrigerant absorbs heat through one set of coils, then releases that heat through a second set of coils. A compressor is responsible for applying the energy to the refrigerant that allows it to circulate and carry out the process of heat exchange.
The difference between a heat pump and an AC is that an air conditioning system can only carry out heat exchange one direction: the indoor coils absorb heat, cooling down the air in a home, and the outdoor coils release the heat. A heat pump can make the two coils swap jobs, so that in addition to cooling down a house, it can also absorb outdoor heat and release it indoors. It only takes one change on the thermostat to turn an cooling system into a heating system.
How a heat pump can benefit you
In Florida, heat pumps are very effective home comfort systems because they work as well as any air conditioning system of the same size, and have little difficulty coping with the mild cold weather. Since heat pumps must draw their heat from the outdoor when in heating mode, they work more efficiently in moderate chilly conditions, as opposed to temperatures below freezing. A heat pump in Florida will usually work far more energy efficiently as a heater than a standard furnace would. Going with a heat pump for your home can take care of all your heating and cooling needs, and save you money as well.
Are there any drawbacks?
No heating or cooling system is ideal for all homes, and this applies to heat pumps as well. However, since heat pumps are most at a disadvantage in extreme cold weather, they are almost always well-suited for homes in Florida. To make sure about your choice, call Certified Air Systems, Inc. and talk to our experienced installers. They will help you with heat pumps in Apopka, FL and see that you end up with the perfect comfort system for your home.
How Does a Heat Pump Work?
Thursday, February 5th, 2015It’s not hard to see why heat pumps are becoming so popular among homeowners. They’re energy efficient, safe, and can both heat and cool a home. Plenty of people are eager to reap the benefits of heat pumps, but not many of them know how a heat pump actually works. The more you know about a system, the better you’ll be able to gauge whether or not it fits your needs. With that in mind, let’s examine how a heat pump works.
Heat Pump Construction and Operation
A heat pump has two main parts, the indoor and outdoor units. As you might expect, the indoor unit is installed inside the house, while the outdoor unit is installed outside. The two units are connected by power and refrigerant lines, which are vital to the operation of the system. Inside each unit is a coil, which is connected to the refrigerant line that runs between the two units.
When the heat pump is turned on, the outside unit begins to evaporate refrigerant inside its coil. As the refrigerant evaporates into gas, it draws heat from the air surrounding the unit. The gas then travels down the refrigerant line, taking the heat with it. When it reaches the indoor unit, the refrigerant is condensed back into a liquid and the heat is released to warm the home. This cycle continues as long as the heat is on, with the refrigerant constantly being converted from liquid to gas and back again.
Advantages of a Heat Pump
Heat pumps have many advantages over more traditional heating systems, the first of which being their energy efficiency. Heat pumps do not burn fuel in order to create heat, instead moving existing heat from one place to another. This is a much less wasteful process than the methods combustion systems use, and saves quite a bit of money over time.
Heat pumps are also safer than most traditional heating system. Any time fuel is being combusted, there are leftover waste materials that are often vented out of the house. In the case of natural gas, these byproducts include toxic gases like carbon monoxide. While systems that produce such pollutants are designed to safely dispose of them, there is always a risk of a malfunction exposing members of the house to them. Heat pumps have no such thing to worry about.
If you’d like to know more about heat pumps and their benefits, call Certified Air Systems, Inc. We provide professional heat pump service in the Oviedo area.
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