How do heat pumps work?

&#;In the winter, a heat pump provides heating by extracting heat from outside a building and moving it inside. In the summer, it can provide cooling by moving heat from indoors to the outside.

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Find out about the different types of heat pumps, how they work and why they could help to tackle climate change.
 

How a heat pump works

A heat pump uses the same technology as an air conditioner, which cools your home using a refrigerant. The only major difference between an air-conditioner and a heat pump is that a heat pump has a reversing valve, which allows it to also heat your home.

In heating mode, a heat pump works like an air conditioner in reverse; instead of keeping your home cool, it uses the refrigerant to warm your home.
 

Here&#;s a step-by-step process of how heat pumps work:

1. Heat could be sourced from the air outside or warmth from the ground. This is blown or pumped over the heat exchange surface of the exterior part of the heat pump.
    

2. This heat is warm enough to cause the refrigerant liquid in the heat pump to evaporate and turn into a gas. 
    

3. This gas is then moved through a compressor, which increases the pressure, causing its temperature to rise.
    

4. The gas (now heated) is passed over the internal heat exchange surface. This heat can then be either blown around the home's interior or transferred into a central heating or hot water system.
    

5. As the heat is transferred into the home, the gas falls in temperature, causing it to return to a liquid state.
    

6. The cycle of reverse refrigeration repeats until your home reaches the required temperature setting on your thermostat.
    

If heat pumps obtain their heat from outside, how do they provide heat on a cold day?

Even when it&#;s very cold outside, some heat energy still exists. Heat pumps are effective at taking this heat energy from the ground or air around a building and using it to provide heat for your home or business.

For heat pumps to work at their best, it&#;s also important that the building has good energy efficiency installed, such as effective insulation.
 

What different types of heat pumps are there?

There are different types of heat pumps: air-source and ground-source.

Heat pumps can also be paired with fossil fuel gas furnaces; these systems are often referred to as hybrid heat pumps.
 

How does an air-source heat pump work?

• Air-to-water heat pumps take heat from the outside air and feed it into your wet central heating system (similar to existing gas central heating). As the heat produced is cooler than that from a conventional furnace or boiler, you may need to install larger radiators or underfloor heating in your home to make the most of it. Air-to-water heat pumps may be best suited to new-build properties or those that are energy efficient.

• Air-to-air heat pumps take heat from the outside air and feed it into your home through fans. This type of system can be used for heating but can&#;t produce hot water.
   

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How does a ground-source heat pump work?

How does a hybrid heat pump work?

Why are heat pumps important in helping reach net zero?

Around 40% of global emissions come from buildings and most of these result from the ways we heat our homes and businesses.

To reach net zero carbon emissions and tackle climate change, we need to switch from heating that relies on high-carbon fuels to cleaner, low- or zero-carbon alternatives.

Heat pumps will help to achieve this for two main reasons:

• Heat pump systems are designed to extract a greater amount of heat energy from the surrounding environment than the energy they consume to create heat. They can produce two to three times more heat output than they consume in electricity input.

• As more and more electricity is generated from renewable energy sources like solar or wind power, the electricity used to power heat pumps is itself becoming cleaner.
   

Last updated: 13 Apr
The information in this article is intended as a factual explainer and does not necessarily reflect National Grid's strategic direction or current business activities.&#;

Stay warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer with cleaner air from state-of-the-art cold-climate air source heat pumps.

Cold-climate air source heat pumps can replace your existing heating and cooling systems or provide supplemental temperature control in targeted areas of your home. Make sure your air source heat pump is rated for cold climates before finalizing the purchase with your installer.

Benefits of a Cold-Climate Air Source Heat Pump

• Cleaner & Safer: Unlike oil or propane, cold-climate air source heat pumps don&#;t require combustion of fossil fuels or fuel storage, eliminating the potential release of carbon monoxide while improving your home&#;s air quality.
• Efficient Heating & Cooling: Heat pumps are very energy efficient &#; they extract more energy than they consume by moving the existing heat in the air into or out of your home.
• Greater Comfort: Cold-climate air source heat pumps provide whisper-quiet, even heating and cooling regardless of the season.
• Convenience & Longevity: Heat pumps last longer than conventional heating and cooling systems and require minimal maintenance. By switching to a heat pump, you&#;ll eliminate the need for a window AC, and, if you currently heat with oil or propane, you&#;ll never have to deal with the hassle of scheduling fuel deliveries again.

How Do Cold-Climate Air Source Heat Pumps Work?

Cold-climate air source heat pumps extract heat from the air outside and distribute it inside your home. During warmer months, this process is reversed to provide cooling by pulling heat out of your interior space. Air source heat pumps can be used to heat or cool single rooms and whole homes.

There are two different types of distribution methods for cold-climate air source heat pumps. While both are classified as air source heat pumps, they have different internal components and move the heat into your home in different ways:

Air-to-Air Air-to-Water

Works with either ductwork (air vents) or ductless heads like mini-splits.

More efficient at providing cooling than an air-to-water system.

Works with several types of water-based (also called hydronic) methods like wall or baseboard radiators, or radiant underfloor heating.

The heat from an air-to-water system will feel most similar to a fossil fuel boiler system. It provides consistent and even heating.

Can provide domestic hot water without the need for a separate system.

Always work with a NYS Clean Heat participating contractor to determine the best system for you.

Is a Cold-Climate Air Source Heat Pump Right for You?

Cold-climate air source heat pumps are best suited for apartments, additions, or rooms that always seem too hot or too cold, no matter what you do to the thermostat. If you have an existing duct system, consider a heat pump that replaces or supplements your existing heating system, while also replacing air conditioning in its entirety.

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit Air Source Heat Pump To Heat Water.