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A Word about Heat Pumps
Simply put, a heat pump is a device or machine that is used to move heat from one location to another by using a mechanical function. The beginning location is known as the source, and the secondary location is known as the heat sink, or just the sink. Most of the heat pumps used today move heat to a higher temperature heat sink from a lower temperature heat source. Some examples of heat pumps using this technology are freezers, air conditioners, and refrigerators. Heat pumps can also be set to operate in reverse, which produces heat for thermal comfort and also an efficient way of drying. There are many manufacturers that have taken advantage of this energy saving technology such as Toshiba, Panasonic, Miele, and AIG, and have employed it washing dryers and tumble dryers. It is also reported to be quicker than conventional drying methods. Another way to understand heat pumps is by thinking of them as a heat engine that is operating in reverse. It works using a liquid that is able to easily evaporate and condense, also known as a refrigerant, and then exploiting those properties. However, some of the most common heat pumps draw their heat from the ground or the air. It should be noted that many heat pumps utilizing air as a source often will not work as well when temperatures reach or fall below 23 degrees Fahrenheit.
Heat pumps are considered to be very efficient, but when speaking about heat pumps, efficient is not the most used term. More often, you will see the phrase “coefficient of performance” or COP, and that is what is used to describe the ratio of work input to useful heat movement. The more useful heat movement that a heat pump can produce as opposed to the work input used to run it, the better. While heat pumps can be extremely beneficial in lowering energy costs, there are situations in which it still may be more efficient to use other forms of heating or cooling, such as when there is a wide temperature differential. For example, on extremely cold winter days, it actually takes more energy for a heat pump to move the same amount of heat throughout a space than it does on a milder day. Generally speaking, on the coldest days, it puts much less wear on the machine and is actually simpler just to use electric heat.
While it is easy to see that having a heat pump can save help you conserve energy and save money on your electric bill as well, it is also easy to see that there is a lot of science that actually goes into the technology behind heat pumps. If you are thinking about installing a heat pump, there are many resources online that can help you better understand all the factors involved, as well as help you decide if a heat pump will be a good investment for you. As stated before, it depends on your specific situation, but perhaps the best and most efficient situation is when heat pumps are used in conjunction with other forms of heating and cooling.