How Does a Heat Pump Work in Summer?
As the warmth of summer approaches, homeowners in Washington shift their focus from heating to cooling solutions. In this blog, we’ll explore how heat pumps, an all-in-one HVAC system, work to keep your home cool during the summer months.
How do heat pumps work?
In the heat pump’s cooling mode, it acts as a central air HVAC system, capturing the coolness already present in your indoor air. Imagine your heat pump as a coolness detective, stealthily extracting the refreshing breeze from the warm air in your home.
When winter arrives, the heat pump seamlessly transitions into heating mode by reversing the cycle. Instead of capturing coolness, it extracts warmth from the outdoor air—even in chilly temperatures—to move heat indoors. In extreme cold, heat pumps work great with a backup ground source like gas furnaces and electric heaters.
How heat pumps cool your home in the summer
- Capturing Coolness: When in cooling mode, a heat pump operates as a central air HVAC system. Instead of creating cool air, it extracts it from your home’s indoor air.
- Absorbing Heat: The refrigerant, a liquid inside the heat pump, plays a crucial role. It absorbs the indoor heat and, propelled by the compressor, carries it outside.
- Radiating Comfort: The warmed-up refrigerant releases the absorbed heat outside, leaving your home bathed in a pleasant, cool atmosphere.
Types of heat pumps for cooling
Heat pumps are a great cooling system for homes in milder climates, like our beloved Pacific Northwest. While air conditioning is widely used, many homeowners are switching to a heat pump system due to its year-round service. To understand if an air conditioner is better for your home than a heat pump check out this blog.
Air Source Heat Pumps:
The traditional workhorse, these pumps use fans, refrigerator coils, a reversing valve, and a compressor. They can be modified to work with various indoor heating systems.
Ductless Mini-Split Heat Pumps:
Ideal for homes without ductwork, these mini-splits connect an outdoor unit to multiple indoor units, providing flexibility in installation.
Can your heat pump handle the heat?
While heat pumps excel in mild climates like ours, scorching heat waves can make them work a little harder. Think of it like running a marathon in sand dunes – they’ll still get you there, but they might appreciate some extra support. Proper ventilation and shade can help your heat pump be its coolest self, even in peak summer.
Even when working hard, heat pumps are significantly more energy-efficient than traditional air conditioners. This translates to lower energy bills for you and a smaller carbon footprint for the planet. It’s a win-win situation for your wallet and the environment!
You can get tax rebates for new heat pumps
Our local Washington utilities offer rebates for heat pumps because of the real energy savings they provide. The heat pump is also one of the ‘greenest’ ways to heat and cool your home because it is powered off of renewable electricity. Visit the Washington Energy rebates section, to discover if there are any incentives in your area for switching over to a heat pump.
Install a heat pump and keep cool all summer
Our expert team will help you choose the ideal heat pump for your home and handle the seamless installation. Whether you need maintenance, tune-up, repair or installation we’ll ensure your new system is running smoothly and efficiently, keeping your home cool and worry-free.
Start with a free estimate, and let us take care of things from there.
Suggested Reading
- 2016
- AC
- AC Installation
- AC Units
- AFUE
- air conditioing
- air conditioner
- air conditioning
- air conditioning maintenance
- air conditioning service
- air conditioning tune-up
- air duct
- air duct cleaning
- air handlers
- air pollution
- Air Purification System
- air purifier
- Air Sealing
- angie's list
- award
- basement Finishing
- Bathroom remodel
- BBB
- BBB Accredited Business
- before and after
- Best air conditioner
- best filters
- best generator
- best locks
- best water heater
- best window install
- boilers
- bryant
- Bryant AC
- bryant furnace
- bryant heat pump
- christmas lights
- clean air
- clothes drive
- Clothes For Kids
- coat drive
- combi-boiler
- comfort
- community
- Construction
- contractor
- contractors
- Cooling
- Cooling equipment
- Coronavirus Protection
- custom
- daikin
- deals
- discounts
- DIY
- Donation
- Donations
- door hardware
- door installation
- door replacement
- Door Transformations
- doors
- drafty home
- drain cleaning
- Duct Cleaning
- Duct Cleaning Services
- ductless
- Ductless heat pump
- ductless heat pump. mini-split
- Ductless heat pumps
- ductless heating system
- ductless heating systems
- ductless installation
- Ducts
- earth day
- eco friendly
- EER
- election
- electrical inspection
- emergency
- energy
- energy conservation
- energy efficiency
- energy efficiency rebates
- energy efficient AC
- energy efficient air conditioner
- energy efficient home
- energy efficient hvac
- energy efficient HVAC Systems
- energy efficient windows
- energy myths
- energy saving
- energy saving home products
- energy star
- energy tax credit
- environmentally friendly
- exterior doors
- fall
- fall weather
- fiber cement
- fiberglass doors
- filter
- filter change
- financing options
- fireplace
- fireplace insert
- fireplace repair
- fireplace tune-up
- front door
- furnace
- furnace filters
- furnace install
- furnace maintenance
- furnace mileage
- furnace problems
- furnace replacement
- furnace service
- furnaces
- Garage door replacement
- gas fireplace
- gas fireplace inserts
- Gas Fireplace Makeover
- gas furnace
- generators
- going green
- good business practices
- green solutions
- Guardian Maintenance Club
- heat
- heat pump
- heat pump installation
- heat pump maintenance
- heat pump vs ac
- Heat Pumps
- heat pumps maintenance
- heat wave
- Heating
- Heating and Cooling equipment
- heating and cooling systems
- Heating Brands
- Heating Control
- Heating equipment
- Heating System Tuneup
- heatwave
- HEPA filter
- history
- holiday
- home
- home buyer
- home energy
- home energy efficiency
- Home energy efficiency solutions
- home exterior
- home heating
- home improvement
- Home Improvement Rebates
- home improvement repair
- home inspection
- home maintenance
- home maintenance checklist
- home maintence
- home performance
- home protection
- home repair
- home safety
- home upgrade trends
- home upgrades
- home value
- homeowners
- honeywell
- hot water
- hot water heater
- houzz
- how to
- HVAC
- HVAC Contractor
- HVAC Contractors
- hvac system
- IAQ
- indoor air quality
- infographic
- install
- install furnace
- insulation
- intellihot
- interior doors
- kids
- Kitchen face lift
- LED light
- LED lights
- light bulb
- light bulbs
- locks
- mailbag
- maintenance
- march
- membership
- mini-split
- modulating furnace
- money saving
- money savings
- navien
- new door installation
- new home
- New homeowner
- new windows
- news
- pacific northwest weather
- patio doors
- pets
- plumbing
- plumbing inspection
- power
- power outages
- precision tune up
- preventative
- Pro Tips
- Programmable Thermostat
- Programmable Thermostats
- propane
- PSE Award
- PSE Energy
- PUD
- Q & A
- Ratings
- rebates
- refund
- REME Halo
- Remodel
- remodeling hacks
- Replacing Heating System
- reputation
- Safe Home Insulation
- sale
- save energy
- Saving money
- scam
- scams
- seattle
- Seattle Weather
- SEER
- service
- services
- Siding
- Siding replacement
- sliding glass doors
- Smart Home
- Smart thermostat
- smoke
- Solar Attic Fan
- solar power
- Solar Powered Light Strand
- sound
- spring
- standby generators
- storm doors
- summer
- summer fires
- Summer heat
- Summer home
- super service 2016
- tank water heater
- Tank water heaters
- tankless tune ups
- tankless water heater
- tankless water heaters
- tax rebate
- thanksgiving
- Thermostat
- tips
- trends
- tune-up
- upgrade
- upgrade cooling
- upgrade heating
- utilities
- utility rebates
- veterans
- Washington Energy
- washington energy services
- water conservation
- Water Heater
- water heater installation
- water heater maintenance
- water heater repair
- water heaters
- water leak protection
- Wildfire Season
- wildfire smoke
- window
- window energy efficiency
- window install
- window maintence
- window remodel
- window repair
- window replacement
- windows
- winner
- winter
- zone heating
- Air Conditioning
- Air Purifiers
- Cooling
- Doors
- Ductless heat pump
- Environmental
- Fireplace
- Furnace
- Gas fireplace
- Generators
- Heat pump
- Heating
- Home improvement
- How to
- HVAC
- Indoor Air Quality
- Insulation
- News
- Plumbing
- Rebates
- Seattle
- Siding
- Smart Home
- Tank water heaters
- Tankless water heaters
- Tips to save money
- Uncategorized
- Wildfire Season
- Windows