Frequently Asked Questions about Heat Pumps
What is a heat pump?
The heat pump is an air conditioner that reverses the process of removing heat from the inside of the house in summer to absorbing the heat from outside air and moving it inside in winter. It is effective by itself down to temperatures around 25 to 30 degrees Fahrenheit. At that point either a gas furnace or an air handler with supplemental electric heat will kick in and help heat your home. The Auxiliary Heat light on your thermostat will light. The heat pump will continue to operate during electric auxiliary heat. It will shut off when a gas furnace is energized. Emergency heat is a manual override option in the event your heat pump needs service.
How can a heat pump obtain heat from cold winter air?
As strange as it may seem, heat is present in all air, even air that's well below freezing. Think of the way your refrigerator removes unwanted heat that accumulates when you open the door and place warm food inside. You can feel that heat coming back into your kitchen from the refrigerator's exhaust fan.
In a similar way, heat pumps remove heat from cold outdoor air and deliver it to your home to keep you warm and comfortable.
Can heat pumps be installed in existing homes?
Yes, especially if you already have a forced-air heating system, suitable ductwork and adequate insulation. Heat pumps can work with any forced air heating system ... gas, oil, propane or electric.
What is the purpose of auxiliary heat?
Under normal operating conditions, the auxiliary heat is brought on automatically by the thermostat when the indoor temperature drops during heat pump operation. There are also times during cold wet weather that the outdoor coil may ice up and your heat pump will go into a defrost cycle. This is nothing more than reversing the process back to cooling mode. Cooling mode makes the outdoor coil hot and melts any ice. The defrost cycle should only last a few minutes and then return to heating mode. During the defrost cycle, your comfort system is in cooling mode and the supply air is cool. To offset this cool air, the auxiliary heat will be energized during defrost. A mist or fog may be visible during defrost.
Is a heat pump the right choice for my home?
The heat pump is effective in many applications. In all electric applications, the heat pump may consume less energy than an electric furnace or air handler using resistance heat. Why? Because it can deliver the same amount of BTUs as electric heat using less electrical input than the electric heat. In moderate climates, it lessens the need for the purchase of a separate gas furnace, as the savings that natural gas yields may not be as advantageous as in colder climates, since there is less frequent use of the furnace in milder climates. Of course the heat pump can be matched with a gas furnace where preferred. The heat pump can operate in the milder temperatures when the gas furnace may tend to short-cycle.
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Copper tubing running through a small 3 to 4-inch opening in the wall or ceiling easily connects the indoor and outdoor units. Refrigerant is cycled through the lines from the outdoor condensing unit to the indoor unit, where the air is quietly distributed to the interior space.
Aesthetically Pleasing
Conventional air duct systems tend to be bulky and can require special structural attention while Halcyon system piping can often be routed through walls and joists to maintain aesthetics.
Flexible, Remote Control Cooling Because each room has its own handler, you can create up to four zones with a timer and optional wired remote that puts you in temperature control and allows you to meet the varying comfort needs of different spaces.
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A typical residential split system heat pump consists of three main components: outdoor unit, an indoor air handler (with a backup heating system) and the ductwork system.
A heat pump transfers heat by circulating a refrigerant between coils located in the outdoor and indoor units. In winter the refrigerant absorbs heat from the outside air and transfers it to the indoor coil where it is released and pushed through the ductwork by the air handler.
Clean, healthy heat, at a low cost
How a heatpump works
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York hestpump PDF
View Robert Shaw Single Compressor Heatpump with Auxillary Heat Non-Programmable Thermostat
On days when there is not enough heat in the outside air to meet the entire heating demand of the house, a backup electric heating coil in the air handler will supplement the heat pump.
In summer when air conditioning is required the refrigerant circulating in the indoor coil absorbs heat from within the home and transfers it to the outdoor coil where it is released.
The first step in any installation is the sizing of the equipment. An Eastwing representative will use proper heat loss calculations based on your building plans to size a system specifically for your home. This part of the process is critical. An undersized unit will not provide enough heat to keep your family comfortable. An oversized unit runs less efficiently and will not run as economically as it should.
Once the sizing is complete, a duct system will be laid out. We will work with you to ensure that duct installation provides proper performance as well as being as non obtrusive as possible in the home.
A heat pump installation will impact some of the other trades people involved in the building of your home. Eastwing will make sure you have the proper information to pass onto the builder and sub trades.
Air Conditioners
No longer a luxury item, air conditioning is a very affordable, efficient product which can be incorporated into any home regardless of what type of heating system the customer has installed.
For those with a forced air heating system, a central air conditioning coil added to the ductwork will cool the entire home. For those with baseboard heat, a "ductless split" system can be installed to air condition one or more areas of the home. These units are not to be confused with the old, noisy window shelf units. These systems give quiet, efficient cooling.
Wall Mounted Mix and Match Muti-Zone Systems
For those with baseboard heat, a "ductless split" system can be installed to air condition one or more areas of the home. These units are not to be confused with the old, noisy window shelf units. These systems give quiet, efficient cooling.
An Eastwing representative will be happy to help you choose a system right for you.
