How do heat pumps work?
Everyone hates stepping outside on a scorching summer day. What’s even worse is stepping outside and having your skin feel like it’s burning, and there’s no way to get into the air conditioning.
If you love the idea of staying cool in the summer and staying warm in the winter, we have everything you need to know about heat pump vs air conditioner.
What Is Heat Pump?
A heat pump is a device that transfers heat energy from one place to another. It can transfer heat from a lower-temperature source to a higher-temperature one or vice versa. It makes use of a refrigeration cycle to move the heat from one place to another.
In heat pumps in Edmonton, a cooling agent is used to absorb the heat at the source and then transfer it to the destination by compressing the gas. It does not produce any direct heat, but it pumps heat from one area to another.
What Is Air Conditioner?
An air conditioner is a machine that helps to cool the air in a room or inside a building. It works by drawing in hot air, cooling it, and circulating it back into the room. The cooling process is achieved by evaporating a cold gas or liquid called the refrigerant.
When it evaporates, it cools the air and removes the heat. The air conditioner needs power to power its fan and compressor. The fan helps circulate the cooled air, while the compressor changes the physical properties of the refrigerant for cooling.
Differences in Cost
Generally, an air conditioner costs less to purchase and install but is more expensive over time because it does not provide the same level of efficient energy transfer as a heat pump.
Heat pumps, on the other hand, usually cost more initially but allow for greater cost efficiency in the long term due to their superior energy transfer capability.
Differences in Energy Efficiency
An air conditioner runs on electric power, using it to cool the air in a home or building, while a heat pump runs on both electric and solar energy to cool a space.
Heat pumps are generally more energy efficient, as they only need to use electric power when outside temperatures are too low for the heat pump to obtain the necessary solar energy. The combination of electricity and solar energy being utilized by a heat pump is usually more efficient than electric-only air conditioners.
Differences in Longevity
Air conditioners typically last between 10-15 years, while heat pumps last between 15-20 years. This is due to the type of machinery that each utilizes.
Air conditioners use a compressor that relies on a chemical compound to cool the air, while heat pumps use a reversing valve to transfer heat between the air outside and the air inside the home. This helps to reduce the amount of strain a heat pump puts on its compressor, thus extending its life span.
Explore Heat Pump vs Air Conditioner
In conclusion, it’s important to do your research before making a decision between purchasing a heat pump vs air conditioner.
Both options offer practical solutions to stay cool. Consider cost, energy efficiency, and longevity before making this important investment.
Did you find this article helpful? Check out the rest of our blog for more!
