A heat-pump system is a great way for homeowners to offset the big energy bills that often occur during winter. While heat pumps are not very efficient by themselves in below-freezing temperatures, they can hep maximize the utility of your current furnace or home heating system.

To better understand how a heat-pump system works, it is important to familiarize yourself with its different components:

• Air handler: The air handler, sometimes referred to as the fan, is the part of your heat pump that is responsible for blowing the warm air into your house.
• Compressor: This part of your heat pump changes the state of the refrigerant from liquid to a gas and back again.
• Condenser/outdoor coils: These coils move existing heat into and out of your home. They are made of copper and surrounded by aluminum for maximum conductivity. They are called outdoor coils because they are housed outside of your home in the heat pump unit.
• Evaporator/indoor coils: Much the same as the condenser, the evaporator is a set of coils that move existing heat into and out of your home. They are located within your house.
• Expansion/reversing valve: The expansion valve, sometimes referred to as the reversing valve, changes the refrigerant flow so you are able to switch your heat pump from heating to cooling.

Because a heat pump does not generate its own heat, but rather moves existing heat, it is extremely efficient. Even during a North Carolina winter, a heat-pump system can help. A heat pump supplemented by a more traditional heating system can save you a significant amount of money on your energy bills.

If you want to know more about heat pumps and how they can benefit you, contact the experts at Smoky Mountain Heating & Air today.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about heat-pump systems and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Smoky Mountain Heating & Air services Asheville, North Carolina and the surrounding areas. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!