[vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”How Does a Heat Pump Work?” font_container=”tag:h1|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

With the increasing popularity of efficient heat pumps in some areas of the U.S., many homeowners are asking if a heat pump is a good option for heating and cooling their Lynchburg area home. Here is an overview of how home heat pumps differ from traditional central heating and cooling systems.

The main difference between a furnace and a heat pump is that a heat pump can be reversed to both heat and cool a home. Heat pumps consist of two parts: an indoor unit called an air handler and an outdoor unit that is similar to a central air conditioner – called a heat pump. A compressor circulates refrigerant to absorb and release heat as it travels between the indoor and outdoor components of the system.

Depending on the season, a heat pump exchanges the cool air with warm air, or the other way around. Even air that’s seems cold can retain heat energy. When the temperature is cold outside the heat pump works by extracting the heat and transferring it to an air handler inside the home where it can be distributed through the home’s air ducts. When it’s hot outside, the process is reversed to function basically like a central air conditioner, exchanging/removing the warm air inside the home, lowering the temperature.

Is a Heat Pump a Good Option for the Lynchburg area?

When considering whether to upgrade your central heating and cooling system to a heat pump it’s important to understand that, unlike a gas furnace which generates heat by burning fuel, a heat pump can only exchange heat, and cannot deliver the high degree of warm air that is required in colder climates. Luckily, the climate in Lynchburg and the Central Virginia area is mild enough to make heat pumps a reliable and efficient option for heating and cooling most homes.

Have questions about heat pumps? Call Hickey Plumbing, Air & Electrical. We’re happy to answer all your home heating and cooling questions.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]