How To Tell If You Have A Heat Pump
Living in Farmington, NM, means experiencing both hot summers and chilly winters, making your home’s HVAC system a crucial component of your comfort. One versatile solution for year-round climate control is a heat pump.
If you have one of these systems, understanding its unique features and maintenance needs allows you to protect its performance and longevity. That’s why at Robbins Heating & Air Conditioning, we’re here to explain how to tell if you have a heat pump and the role it serves in defending your comfort.
Understanding Heat Pumps: What Are They And How Do They Help?
Visually, a heat pump resembles an air conditioner unit. It is typically designed as a large metal cabinet containing a fan with fins on the exterior. However, unlike an air conditioner, these systems can both heat and cool your home. They are able to do this by transferring heat from one place to another.
In warm months, a heat pump removes heat from your home and releases it outside, functioning like an air conditioner. In the winter, it extracts heat from the outside air — even when it’s cold — and transfers it inside to warm your home.
Do You Have A Furnace Or Heat Pump?
If you purchased a new home and weren’t there to see the current HVAC system installed, you may be wondering how to tell if you have a heat pump or furnace. Here are a few tips to help you identify your system:
- Check the outdoor unit — If your home has an outdoor unit, it’s likely a heat pump or an air conditioner as furnaces don’t have outdoor units.
- Test the heating operation — Turn on the heat and check the outdoor unit. If it runs while heating, you have a heat pump, as furnaces rely on indoor components to heat a home.
- Look for a reversing valve — Heat pumps have a reversing valve that lets the unit provide heating and cooling capabilities. This component is usually visible inside the unit.
- Inspect the label and model number — Check the label on the outside unit to see if it says “heat pump” on it. You can also look up the model number to see if it’s associated with a heat pump system.
Identifying your HVAC system is essential for ensuring proper maintenance and optimal performance. By knowing whether you have a heat pump or furnace, you can better understand its specific needs and schedule appropriate service.
Where Are Heat Pumps Located?
Heat pumps have indoor and outdoor components. The outdoor unit, which looks similar to a large air conditioner, is typically placed on a concrete slab or a metal frame near your home’s exterior. This unit contains the compressor and condenser.
The indoor unit — or air handler — is usually located in an attic, basement or a dedicated closet. This placement ensures that the system can efficiently circulate air throughout your home.
What Does An Air Handler Look Like?
The air handler is an integral part of a heat pump system, working in tandem with the outdoor unit. It looks like a large metal box that houses various components, including the blower, filter and sometimes a supplemental electric heater.
It’s usually located indoors, and it’s responsible for distributing conditioned air throughout your home and returning indoor air back to the system.
Understand Your Heat Pump Maintenance Needs
Heat pump maintenance is important for ensuring efficient and reliable performance — though its needs differ slightly from other HVAC systems due to its dual functionality in heating and cooling. Regular maintenance is needed bi-annually to address seasonal needs and achieve optimal operation.
Ignoring maintenance needs can lead to reduced efficiency and costly repairs. Our team at Robbins provides dependable care to keep your heat pump running smoothly year-round, so contact us today to schedule your service.
Schedule Expert Care For Your Farmington Heat Pump
If you have a heat pump, ensuring it operates at its best requires professional service and regular maintenance. At Robbins Heating & Air Conditioning, we’re dedicated to providing reliable care to keep your system running smoothly.
Whether you need routine maintenance, prompt repairs or expert advice, our team is here to help. Turn to us for all your HVAC needs and experience the peace of mind that comes with knowing your home’s comfort is in capable hands.
