In recent years, more homeowners in the Portland, Oregon area have been choosing to install heat pumps in their homes. One of the major reasons so many homeowners are making the switch is that heat pumps can actually heat your home in the winter and cool your home in the summer. This versatile HVAC solution does an excellent job of keeping homes comfortable all year round.
How a Heat Pump Works to Cool Your Home
During the warmer months, a heat pump works in a very similar manner to the way a traditional air conditioning unit works. The warm air inside your home travels inside the unit to a refrigerant coil. The refrigerant absorbs the heat from the air inside your home. The refrigerant, which is a liquid, then evaporates into a low-temperature gas. Finally, the cooler air is transferred into your home.
It may help to picture a circular pattern. The air inside your home travels into the heat pump. It then goes over a coil, becomes cooler, and a fan in the heat pump blows the cooler air into your home’s ductwork, creating a comfortable living environment.
This is the basic idea of how a heat pump cools your home, though the specifics can vary slightly depending on the unit. For example, there are heat pumps that connect to your current ductwork and blow cooler air through your ducts the same way a ducted air conditioner does. There are also ductless systems that work the way ductless mini-split air conditioners do. With a ductless heat pump, there is a fan in the unit that is inside the house. The fan blows the recently cooled air directly into the room. The results are the same. The home becomes cooler without directly burning fossil fuels to make it happen.
How a Heat Pump Lowers Energy Usage
Homeowners who use heat pumps usually see the greatest decrease in their energy bills during the winter months. This is especially true for homeowners who are switching from a heating solution that uses propane or oil.
A heat pump doesn’t have to generate heat. Instead, it moves heat from one area to another, passing it over the refrigerant coils as it does so. A heat pump doesn’t require using fossil fuels and it doesn’t require using a bunch of energy to create heat. Many heat pumps are highly energy efficient. The Energy Star label can be found on many quality models.
The Installation Is Smoother Than You Might Expect
If your home currently has a central air conditioning system, a heat pump can cool your home using the same ductwork you have now. Alternatively, ductless mini-split heat pumps are available. This option is particularly convenient if your home doesn’t have ductwork already installed.
Homeowners who are currently using a gas furnace and an air conditioner will want to carefully consider the versatility of a heat pump solution. If you are only a few years away from having to replace your gas furnace, switching to a heat pump may cost less than buying a gas furnace and a new air conditioning unit. This will vary depending on the type of systems you choose to install.
Get Answers From the Experts
Every home and homeowner is different. What’s best for your neighbor may not be what’s best for your needs. That’s why at Climate Control, we offer our clients in the greater Portland, Oregon area installation services for heat pumps, ductless heat pumps, and traditional air conditioners. We’re here to help our customers evaluate the size of their homes and their energy usage to find the solution that’s best for their needs. Our team has been providing top-tier services to the area since 1989. In that time, we’ve built a strong reputation for reliable, customer-oriented home comfort services.
Additionally, our honest contractors provide our customers with heating and air conditioning repair, installation, and maintenance services. We’re also available for indoor air quality services like indoor air quality audits, air purifier installation, and duct cleaning. We can install your water heater for you or repair your existing model, too.
Heat pumps are a popular HVAC solution that can both heat your home in the winter and cool it in the summer. Contact Climate Control today to learn more.
