How Can Heat Pumps Heat and Cool?

Heat pumps are quickly becoming one of the most popular options for efficient home heating and cooling. However, many homeowners have questions about this technology, which seems too good to be true. Let’s take a closer look at how heat pump installation in Indianapolis can handle both heating and cooling for your home.

The Refrigeration Cycle

The first thing you should know about a heat pump is that it operates on the same basic principles as a standard air conditioner. A fluid refrigerant moves between an evaporator and a condenser in a process known as the refrigeration cycle. This cycle moves heat from one place to another, powering air conditioners, refrigerators, and more.

Next, the vapor is compressed, causing it to rise in pressure. It then enters the condenser, the outdoor unit of a standard AC system, where it releases heat into the environment and turns into a liquid.

That liquid subsequently goes through an expansion valve, returning to low pressure and entering the evaporator. This is the indoor unit that draws in heat, restoring the refrigerant to a vapor that goes to the compressor and starts the cycle again.

Reversing the Flow

The primary difference between a heat pump and a standard air conditioner is that the heat pump can run the refrigerant cycle forward and backward — both the indoor and outdoor units can function as either the evaporator or the condenser. Instead of only moving heat from your home to the outside, it can also move heat from the outside in.

It may sound strange to draw heat out of cold air outside, but it isn’t magic — there’s always some heat in the air, no matter how cold it is. The heat pump concentrates that heat and brings it into your home, similar to how a standard AC can displace heat from inside a cool home to the hotter outdoors.

Professional Heat Pump Installation in Indianapolis

This innovative application of a tried-and-true technology is helping countless homeowners cut down on their heating and cooling costs. The team at Vital Heating & Air can ensure that you get the right solution for your home and provide heat pump installation in Indianapolis you can count on. Contact us today to learn more.