Lewisville Heat Pump 972-874-1001

Understanding How Heat Pumps Operate

Lewisville Heat Pump Repair and Installation

In Lewisville, TX, heat pumps are rapidly growing in popularity because of their energy efficient operation. The refrigeration cycle in heat pump operation is very similar to a conventional air conditioning system. The compressor forces the refrigerant into the condensing coil where the fan cools and condenses the hot gas into a liquid state. At the evaporator coil, the refrigerant gains heat energy while the air that is blown across the coil enters the home substantially colder.

What differentiates a heat pump is its ability to reverse the refrigerant flow. Heat can be extracted from the outside air and subsequently deposited into the living area. At the heart of this process is a device known as a “reversing valve”. This component allows refrigerant to flow in either direction depending on the selected mode and therefore a single system can satisfy both heating and cooling requirements.

Heat Pump Efficiency

Energy Star qualified heat pumps provide a higher SEER rating than standard models for more cost effective cooling as well as a better heating seasonal performance factor (HSPF) for more efficient heating in the winter. Furnaces burn gas to create heat and then consume more energy distributing the heat through out your home. A heat pump takes existing heat from the cold outdoors air and pumps it into your home, using far less energy.

Heat Pumps and Furnaces

Heat pumps and gas furnaces are similar in terms of overall operating costs however air source heat pumps are somewhat limited geographically. They work best where winters are mild, that is why they are well suited for Lewisville, TX. The professionals from Frost Brothers, the heating and air experts, will provide you with all the facts you’ll need to decide if one of these technologically advanced heating and cooling units is right for you.

As temperatures drop, refrigerant has increasing difficulty extracting warm air from cold outside air. In fact in many climates, an electric strip is installed in the air handler to provide supplemental heat in extreme temperatures. Heat strips are extremely inefficient and costly to operate.

Tax Credits for Heat Pumps

Homeowners have an outstanding opportunity to receive a federal tax credit up to $1500 for the installation of high efficiency heat pumps placed into service by December 31, 2010. This includes qualifying heat pump split systems that have a SEER rating of at least 15 and a HSPF of at least 8.5 and package heat pumps with a SEER rating of at least 14 and an HSPF of 8 also qualify. Call the Lewisville air conditioning experts at 972-874-1001 for a free estimate today.