If you’re like most people, you’re familiar with a typical forced-air furnace, but you may not be familiar with the alternative, a heat pump, which is an efficient solution in New Mexico’s temperate climate. Here’s more information about this terrific technology to decide if you’d like to add it to your home. 

What Is a Heat Pump?

A heat pump is a combination heating and cooling system that helps your home stay comfortable.

In the summer, it collects heat from indoors and transports it outside to cool the house.

In winter, it collects heat energy from outdoors—yes, there is some—and the system transfers it inside. It is very energy-efficient—unlike a furnace or boiler, it does not generate heat, it collects and moves it.

How Does a Heat Pump Work?

The heat pump operates on the same principle as an air conditioner. It uses a fluid with a low boiling point—called the refrigerant—to collect heat and move it around.

In summer, refrigerant runs through an evaporator coil, where it collects enough indoor heat that it evaporates. The process draws heat energy from the evaporator coil so it can cool the metal. It’s similar to how your perspiration evaporating on your skin cools you down.

The gaseous refrigerant is then pumped outdoors into a condenser coil, where it “condenses,” or transforms back into a liquid, and releases the heat it had consumed indoors. Then, the heat expels through a vent, and the whole cycle continues indefinitely.

In winter, the process reverses, and the heat pumps indoors instead of venting out of the condenser coil.

To learn more about heat pumps, contact Glorieta Creek Mechanical in Santa Fe, NM. They are family-owned and operated and have served residents for more than 35 years. They offer all services, including furnace repair, plumbing work, and air quality system installation. Call (505) 757-8872 to make an appointment, or visit their website to request an estimate.