Heat pumps are residential or commercial devices that provide heat energy from various sources called heat sinks. The pumps accomplish this heat by moving thermal energy in an opposite direction of a heat flow through a process of absorption.

As with any mechanical device, heat pumps have designated functions that can offer tangible benefits to home if properly maintained.

Below are detailed explanations of how heat pumps work, advantages of using heat pumps in homes, and possible signs of damage the pumps might display.

Process Cycle

The basic premise of a heat pump is the same cycle involved in air conditioners and freezers. While those units focus on cold, the heat pump gathers heat from cold spaces and releases the heat energy into warmer ones.

The cycle can be reversed based on what season of the year it is. A heat pump can be used to heat a home during cold weather months but it can also pump heat out of a home during the summer. This duality makes heat pumps a very economical and efficient home climate system.

Benefits of Heat Pumps (opposed to fossil fuel and A/C units)

• There are no fossil fuel expenditures when operating a heat pump. It is a closed system that operates on either air to air or geothermal principles.
• Longer life expectancy and superior performance to standard A/C and fossil fuel units.
• Superior heat transfer and more even heat throughout the home. (no cold spots)
• Lower electrical consumption on a year-round basis.
• Heat pumps offer newer technology and are based on a R-410A refrigerant that does not contribute to the ozone degradation found in standard refrigerants containing bromine and chlorine.

Signs of Damages for a Heat Pump

• If the unit become stuck, or engaged, in only one mode it could be a sign that the reversing valve is damaged. This means that the unit is most likely only heating or cooling and will not switch between the two cycles.
• Unusual sounds, such as grinding or clicking, coming from the unit cabinet can indicate a problem. The clicking most likely signifies a capacitor fail while grinding can be a prelude to a motor malfunction.
• Ice development on the evaporator coil is a serious sign that there might be a either a crack in the lines leading to a refrigerant leak or that the coil can no longer properly absorb heat because of dirt or debris build-up.

Having the proper heat pump maintenance is huge for your Dundalk home. Call Reliability today at (443) 399-8663, and get that heat pump repaired, so you can feel warm again.