Heat pumps are great – so says everyone. But ask them how they work and “why exactly are they great” and most people fall silent. Well, Dan, Adam and the rest of the Comfort Solutions team are here to demystify the physics and process of heat pumps west auckland.
Here are the top 5 questions we are asked:
A heat pump is a two-part machine that combines refrigeration technology and electricity to heat and cool interiors – houses, apartments, offices, retail stores and more.
The two parts are an exterior condenser unit (the “factory” end) and an interior disbursement unit. As the two machine parts are split apart from each other, the system is sometimes called a split unit. The condenser cools or warms the air and pumps it to the interior distribution unit.
The system is renowned for its efficiency.
A heat pump is powered by electricity* and uses refrigerant to move heat from the interior to the exterior or vice versa.
*A heat pump can be powered by solar power from a grid-tie solar system. More solar panels and an upgraded inverter will be needed. An off-grid solar system is also feasible with as much as double the number of extra panels needed (winter demand/supply) and an enlarged battery bank.
A very general indication of panel needs is 1500 solar power watts for every kW of heat pump rating with deep cycle batteries and an appropriate inverter.
The heat pump extracts heat from the exterior air when it needs to heat your interior or the reverse is used. Air is drawn across an evaporator coil’s surface and heat is transferred to the refrigerant and circulated to a condenser coil, then released into an air current. The heat is moved from one location to the next.
A heat pump is powered by electricity (or solar) but does not use that energy source for creating heat or cooling. This makes its energy efficiency ratios soar!
Traditional electric heating produces heat in a direct ratio to the energy it is consuming and is also inefficient in this process so you often don’t get a 1-for-1 heat output versus energy consumed.
A heat pump can produce 3 units or more of heat per electricity unit utilised. This gives you an efficiency ratio that can be up to three hundred per cent.
With energy efficiencies in the hundreds of per cents, you will be slashing your electricity bill instantly. In addition, you will be helping to save the planet by lowering your carbon footprint. Win-win!
Start saving money and saving the planet with heat pumps West Auckland today! contact us