How Does a Heat Pump Work in Winter?

In winter, heat pumps take the heat from the outside air and pump it inside. It's a bit like your AC in reverse, and it can help you use less fuel to keep warm.

But there are some things to be aware of that might make it tough for your heat pump to keep up with low temperatures. One of them is poor home insulation.

Refrigerant Cycle

During the winter, your heat pump does something quite different from how it works in the summer. This is because of how it uses refrigerant, which is a liquid/gas that absorbs heat and releases it when it’s put under pressure.

The refrigerant cycle, or the way that your air conditioner and heat pump work, is based on a long-known principle. That is, when you dip your finger into water, the liquid evaporates and extracts heat from the surrounding air, making your finger feel cooler.

But when the temperature is low, the refrigerant will not be able to evaporate as quickly, so it needs to be pushed through an extremely high-pressure coil to extract heat from the outdoor air.

The refrigerant goes through the evaporator coil, which is located inside your indoor unit, and is pumped into your outdoor condenser coils. The outdoor condenser coils absorb the heat from the air, and this makes the refrigerant boil and turn into a low-pressure gas that can be pushed through the compressor.

Condensate Drainage

Your heat pump works by removing excess moisture from the air. This creates a condition called condensation, which causes water to form in your evaporator coil.

The condensate drain line collects and transports this moisture to a pipe outside your home, where it drips away from the system. Keeping this line clean and functioning properly is crucial for the health of your HVAC system and your home.

If you have a problem with your condensate drain, call an HVAC expert for repair. This will help keep your home comfortable and prevent water damage from occurring.

Thermostat Controls

In the winter, your heat pump is working hard to make your home as comfortable as possible. However, it’s not unusual for your thermostat to stall a few degrees below the target temperature you’re trying to reach.

If you find your heat pump is a few degrees off, try setting it to the higher end of its recommended range, rather than the lower. This will help it work more efficiently and reduce your energy usage.

For more control, try a smart thermostat that can learn your comfort patterns and automatically adjust the temperature for maximum efficiency and savings. Some of these thermostats even connect to your WiFi and learn your location so it can tailor its heating schedule to your specific environment.

You can also save as much as 10% a year by turning your thermostat back 7deg-10degF from its usual setting for 8 hours a day. This process proves even more profitable for homes in milder climates vs. those in more severe ones.

Maintenance

A heat pump is an energy-efficient way to bring warmth into your home during the winter. It doesn’t use any fuel to generate heat, like furnaces do, instead relying on a process known as refrigeration to extract the heat from the air and transfer it inside your house.

A properly maintained heat pump uses less energy than one that is not well cared for, helping you save money on your heating bills. That’s why it’s important to have your heat pump serviced before the weather gets too cold.

During your maintenance visit, the technician will inspect all components of the heat pump for any damage or wear. They will also clean out the system and check the lubrication levels to ensure that all motors operate smoothly.

A dirty or clogged air filter can cause ice to build up on the outside of the unit, which will make your heat pump work harder to get warm air into your home. To avoid this, change the air filter regularly.

Cosmic HVAC Inc

https://www.cosmicair.today/

Cosmic HVAC Inc

1655 S Blue Island Ave Suite 422, Chicago, IL 60608

(872) 222-3059

In winter, heat pumps take the heat from the outside air and pump it inside. It's a bit like your AC in reverse, and it can help you use less fuel to keep warm. But there are some things to be aware of that might make it tough for your heat pump to keep up…