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

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.