How Can a Heat Pump Provide Heat in Winter?
Have you ever considered upgrading from the current heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system in your Tacoma home to a heat pump instead? You would no longer need multiple systems for heating and cooling because a heat pump can provide both to your home!
But how exactly do heat pumps work? Resicon LLC is here to provide the answers for you and offer the best recommendations on heat pump makes and models so you can relish in the comfort of your Washington home during any season. We are the heat pump experts—let us help you find the right heat pump for your home and install it for you.
How Heat Pumps Work
There are three main types of heat pumps: air-source heat pumps, water-source heat pumps, and ground-source heat pumps. Water-source and ground-source heat pumps are also referred to as geothermal heat pump systems. Heat pumps transfer heat from one area to another to either keep it warmer when it’s cold and cooler when it’s warm.
Air-source Heat Pumps:
An air-source heat pump will move heat from the inside of your home and transfer it outside to keep your home feeling cooler during warmer seasons. It can also transfer heat from outside of your home to inside of your home to provide warmth during the winter. Even when the outdoor temperature is low during colder seasons like winter, there is still heat in the air that can be extracted so you can feel warm inside your home. However, the colder the air is outside, the more inefficient the heat pump becomes since it has to work harder to pull and transfer heat to keep your home warm.
Water-source Heat Pumps:
With a water-source heat pump, heat is absorbed and extracted from a body of water with the help of tubing to help keep your home warm or cool, depending on the season. This is an excellent option if you live close enough to a well, lake, or another type of body of water.
Heat can still be extracted from water during colder months, just as it can be from the air with air-source heat pumps, but the water-source heat pump will also have to work harder when the water becomes colder due to the outdoor temperature. Water does remain warmer than the air though, so water-source heat pumps could be a better option for you if you live close enough to a body of water.
Ground-source Heat Pumps:
Ground-source systems pull and transfer heat below the planet’s surface.Opting for a geothermal heat pump, like a ground-source heat pump, is beneficial when you want to keep warm inside your home and the outdoor temperature is low during winter because it is extremely efficient no matter what the outdoor temperature is. Since the temperature several feet below the Earth’s surface remains a constant 50 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit, ground-source heat pumps are reliable and ideal for all types of weather conditions.Upgrading to a geothermal system is so efficient it could decrease your energy usage by up to 70 percent and help you cut down your utility expenses each month, reports the Geothermal Exchange Organization (GEO). Dual-Fuel Heat Pumps: Since freezing cold temperatures can cause air-source heat pumps and water-source heat pumps to operate less effectively, another option worth considering is a hybrid heat dual-fuel system, otherwise referred to as a dual-fuel heat pump. This heat pump pairs up with a gas furnace to ensure there is an alternate method of heating. When the outdoor temperature falls below freezing, the furnace will switch on to begin providing heat and then automatically turn off when your home is warm enough.
If you want a backup heating method for your home during the colder months when your heat pump may struggle to effectively pull heat from the air or water due to lower outdoor temperatures, a hybrid heating system could be right for you. Speak with our Resicon LLC heat pump professionals today to learn more about dual-fuel heat pumps and if this system will work for your home.
We Are the Heat Pump Experts
Whether you’re interested in learning more about the wide variety of benefits that heat pumps provide or you’re ready to have a heat pump installed in your Tacoma, WA, home, our Resicon LLC professionals are here for you. It would be our pleasure to assist you with any and all of your heat pump questions, concerns, and needs. Just reach out to our experts by phone today at 253-625-7952 or request service online.