It goes without saying: finding the right heating and cooling system is as fundamental to your comfort as it is to your wallet. Unfortunately for many, it doesn’t matter whether it’s a heat pump or an air conditioner, as long as the device is efficient.
However, it is better to be aware of the options available to you, however slight the differences between the two systems in question may be. It is precisely for this purpose that we have compiled the following information. So let’s take a closer look!
What is the difference between a heat pump and an air conditioner?
First of all, let’s remember that in cooling mode, nothing separates a heat pump from an air conditioner, which both operate in the same way: to rid the outside of the hot air inside. So each of these units has the function of cooling the room temperature. Only, where air conditioning is specifically used for that, a heat pump has another secret string to its bow.
What is a heat pump?
As we have seen, an air conditioner works almost like a heat pump. However, the different offers of air conditioners on the market usually have in common that they are only developed to take care of the cooling of an interior.
A heat pump, on the other hand, offers a dual heat transfer system. While at the height of summer, the device is used to maintain a pleasant level of freshness; when the cold weather arrives, the device triggers the opposite process, which captures the heat to blow it inside.
What is a heat pump made of?
Typically, a heat pump is built around two communicating parts forming a heating system called “two blocks.” The indoor part, connected to the outdoor unit via a supply duct, distributes cool or warm air to the fireplace, depending on the season.
Broadly, the entire system has the following sections:
- A compressor circulates a refrigerant solution, alternating from a liquid to a gaseous state to convey heat.
- Coils, both condensers, and evaporators, heat or cool the air.
- An accumulator, which allows storage and temperature adjustment according to the seasons.
- Electric heating strips serve as a reserve heat source on the coldest days.
- A supply duct that allows the routing of heated or cooled air.
How does a heat pump work?
Equipped with a reversing valve, a heat pump can cool the scorching summers and warm the interiors when spring sets in and the first cold days arrive. Unlike an air conditioner, the device is responsible for capturing the heat, which it redistributes inside in winter.
As long as the outside temperature is above zero, the pump allows the maintenance of a pleasant 21°C without siphoning off the electricity meter. If the mercury was to drop below 0, on the other hand, the system, to compensate for the lack of energy, would compensate by drawing on its additional heat reserves.
A heat pump or air conditioner: how to choose?
As indicated above, the similarities between an air conditioner and a heat pump may at first seem quite negligible, and it is therefore not uncommon for many to have difficulty deciding when the time comes. To see more clearly, it is advisable first of all to consider the expected use that will be made of it: is it planned to use the device only in summer, or on the contrary the year during?
It is then important to ask yourself which size to choose: an element that will influence both general comforts and the efficiency, performance of the device, and longevity. For example, too small, a device will struggle to cool/heat an interior; too large, not only will the device saturate the interior with hot/cold air, risking straining the engine, but the energy expenditure and the adjoining monthly bills are sure to infuriate.
Other determinants should also be taken into account.
Pay attention to seasonal energy efficiency.
In the summer, whether it is an air conditioner or a heat pump, there is generally no significant difference in energy expenditure separating the two systems. In the winter, however, a heat pump usually seems less expensive to run than a boiler.
To better judge, the performance of a device, the seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) is a good indicator, which is calculated by dividing the total cooling capacity provided (in BTU/h) by the amount of energy consumed (in Wh) during the season in question. Let’s simplify: the higher the SEER value, the more the device is recognized as ecological and economical.
Don’t overspend
It’s no secret that price is the single most important factor for many homes. However, the cost can also vary significantly from purchase to home installation. Not only that, although slightly more expensive, a heat pump, which is used in both summer and winter, is a far more profitable solution in the long term.
As in all things, it is necessary to weigh the options available until you find the balance between the characteristics sought and the budget available.
Depreciate the investment in a heat pump
We rarely rely on a traditional wall-mounted air conditioner to get through the winter, which is often replaced, when the first cold snaps blow by switching on the boiler or heat pump. Unfortunately, a heat pump wears out more quickly in service all year round. It is good, however, to keep in mind that it is not difficult to take care of it correctly in addition to offering the possibility of real savings.
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