Air heat pumps are a great way to heat your home using less energy and cost-effective methods. They work by extracting heat from outside sources such as a heat vent or solar panels and re-condensing the warm air. These heat pumps work by taking advantage of the natural draft or “well” created by a heat source like a fireplace, wood stove, or water heater.
These “drafty” homes, especially in humid climates, often find it difficult to heat their homes using traditional methods such as heat radiators and central heating systems. A heat pump is a special type of air-source heat pump that uses a refrigeration system to create an artificial draft. These homes are often referred to as “reverse” heat pumps, as the heat is provided from the outside in.
What is an air-source heat pump?
An air-source heat pump is a type of heat pump that uses either air or an air and refrigeration system as the heat source. Air-source heat pumps come in a variety of forms, including bagged air heaters, evaporative chillers, and bucket chillers. Air-source heat pumps use less energy and are often more cost-effective than those using heating oil or natural gas source.
How Does an Air-source Heat Pump Work?
The basic operation of an luftvärmepump (air heat pump) is similar to that of a cold-plate refrigerator. Air is forced into the refrigeration system, which contains a heat exchanger and evaporator. The refrigeration system extracts heat from the air and produces heat in the form of cold air.
As the air circulates inside the house, it is cooled by the air conditioner and kept at a lower temperature than outdoors. This is because the heat from the air conditioner is transferred to the air, which is then radiated back out into the atmosphere. In essence, the air-source heat pump takes advantage of the natural draft or “well” created by a heat source like a fireplace, wood stove, or water heater.
Different Types of Air-source Heat Pumps
There are many different types of air-source heat pumps. Here are some of the most common:
- Bag-Type Heaters: These heaters use bags to contain the heated air. These heaters are often set up to use less energy (i.e., produce less heat.
- Evaporative Chiller: An evaporative chiller works by spraying water (or another refrigerant) into the air to chill it.
- Bunker-Type Heaters: These heaters use a heat exchanger to transfer heat from the air to a liquid.
These heaters use fluid (i.e., refrigerant) temperatures to set the temperature of the air. These types of heaters are often used in combination with other appliances, such as a refrigerator, to provide a more efficient heating and cooling system.
How to Build an Air-source Heat Pump
If you’re interested in building your air-source heat pump, the best place to start is to understand your existing heater and how it works. Once you know what type of heater you have, you can use the following steps to determine if you should build an air-source heat pump: Start with the basics: Begin by checking to see if your existing heater creates a draft.
Building an air-source heat pump in your home is a great way to improve your home’s indoor air quality. These heat pumps produce less heat than a traditional heater or central heating system, which means you will have less wasted heat to heat or cool your home.