Moving To A Home With A Heat Pump? Understand How It Works
If you are moving to a home that uses a heat pump, you may be a bit hesitant to do so. After all, most people a familiar with a traditional furnace and air conditioner when it comes to a method to heat and cool their home. It is a great idea to understand how a heat pump works so that you can troubleshoot any potential problems that come up while it is in use. This will help you know when you should reach out to a professional for service, and be able to discuss the problem with them. Here is an overview of the 4 main parts of a heat pump.
Air Handler
The heat pump's air handler is located in your home and has a fan and motor that is used for blowing the cool or warm air through your home's ductwork. It utilizes a separate system of ductwork to suck the air out of your home and move it towards the evaporator.
Evaporator
The evaporator is another part located inside your house, and it is connected to your air handler. It works similar to a radiator on a car by using small fins for transferring heat. When air blows from the fan and over the evaporator's fins, the heat will be transferred via internal refrigerant. Unlike a car's radiator, the fins will work in both directions. It is what allows heat to be transferred in or out of your home.
Compressor
There will be a line that runs from the heat pump's evaporator to the unit located outside. The line carries refrigerant gas to your compressor. Your compressor's job is to compress the refrigerant gas so that it forms a high-pressure gas. This causes the gas temperature to increase.
Condenser
Your condenser will also be located on the outside of your home. It functions much like the evaporator, using fins to complete the process of transferring heat in or out of your house. At this point in the process, gas will temporarily become a liquid and then turn back into gas so it can travel through a different line to go back to your evaporator. The cycle repeats, which is how a heat pump works.
By knowing the basics of how the heat pump works, you will be able to understand what needs to be fixed on it when any one of these four parts breaks down. For more assistance, contact companies like Mitchell Plumbing & Heating Inc.