Most people probably know what a furnace is and roughly how it works. However, heat pumps are much less common, and are therefore less well-understood—despite the fact that they've been around for more than 160 years. If you are unfamiliar with the concept, Cowboy's Heating & Air, an experienced heating contractor in Ohio's Miami Valley, offers some useful information below.

What Is a Heat Pump?

A heat pump is a device that extracts heat from the air and moves it from place to place. For example, in summer, it extracts warm air from inside your house and transports it outdoors, thus cooling your house. You may be familiar with this type of process, which is common in both air conditioners and refrigeration units. However, it can also perform the same process in reverse. In winter, it removes heat from outdoor air—even cold air carries some heat energy—and moves it indoors, helping you stay warm. These devices are useful all year long, and because they only move existing heat rather than generating heat, they’re more energy-efficient than a traditional furnace and cost much less to operate, although initial installation costs may be considerably higher.

How Does a Heat Pump Work?

In cooling mode, a heat pump works exactly like an air conditioner. A refrigerant—a substance with a very low boiling point—is pumped between an outdoor condenser unit and an indoor evaporator unit. The refrigerant absorbs indoor heat until it starts to boil and evaporate. The resultant hot vapor is transferred outdoors where it condenses back to liquid form, releasing the heat it absorbed upon evaporation. The liquid refrigerant then returns indoors to start the cycle over. In heating mode, the heat transfer is simply reversed, with the indoor unit acting as the condenser and the outdoor unit as the evaporator.

To learn more about having a heat pump installed, contact Cowboy's Heating & Air, the most trusted furnace repair company in Greater Cincinnati, OH, and the Tri-State Area. They offer dependable work, affordable prices, and 24-hour emergency service, 365 days a year. Visit their Facebook page to connect with them online, or call (888) 912-6926 to request a free, no-obligation quote.