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How Does a Heat Pump Work for Heating?

If you have been thinking about making the switch to a heat pump, you may be wondering exactly how these systems work to heat your home. A heat pump is an excellent solution for whole-house heating and cooling since it works as an air conditioner and a heater. 

When you’re ready for your in-home assessment, you can call our team for heat pump installation in Riverside. In the meantime, you can keep reading to learn exactly how a heat pump works and why it is such a revered option in the HVAC industry.

Heat Pump Overview

A heat pump is most similar to a central air conditioner. In the HVAC industry, a heat pump is unique because it is the only solution that offers both heating and cooling within a single system. Heat pumps have refrigerant that cycles through the lines to absorb heat from inside your home and transfer that heat outside as a way of cooling down the air.

However, heat pumps have a handful of other specialized components that allow the refrigerant to move in the opposite direction. When you change your thermostat from cooling to heating, the reversing valve on your heat pump triggers the refrigerant to begin absorbing heat from outside your home and bringing it inside.

Heating Capabilities with a Heat Pump

With other types of heaters, the temperature of air is increasing because heat is created. An electric furnace uses burners and a gas furnace uses a pilot light combined with natural gas for combustion. Furnaces are excellent at creating heat, but they are not as energy efficient as a heat pump.

When it comes to operating as a heater, a heat pump does not have to use as much energy as either an electric or gas furnace does. This is because heat is being transferred from one place to another instead of created. Even as temperatures dip lower outside, there is still some heat in the air that the refrigerant lines can absorb and bring into your home.

Why Heat Pumps Are a Great Solution for Our Area

Our winters are usually fairly mild. Farther north, a standard heat pump may not be enough to heat a home effectively in the winter season as temperatures dip below freezing. But in our region, a heat pump is the perfect heating solution.

There’s no need to have a separate furnace that you don’t have to use as often. Instead, you can have an all-in-one solution that allows you to switch effortlessly between heating and cooling as temperature needs fluctuate. You save space by consolidating your heating and cooling needs into a single unit.

Just keep in mind that a heat pump does require biannual maintenance. You have to schedule service for it once as a heater and another time as an air conditioner. These maintenance appointments will ensure you don’t face unexpected breakdowns.

Contact RKM Heating and Air Conditioning today to schedule an appointment with us for heat pump service. Done Right, Priced Right.

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