Air Source Heat Pumps | Popular and Affordable Heat Pumps
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Air source heat pumps remain the most popular type of heat pump because they are affordable and can supply air conditioning and heat to the entire home. They do this using the home’s air handler and the system of duct work. If the home’s construction allows it, most homeowners choose an air source heat pump when they want to heat and cool the entire house. They are called air source heat pumps to set them apart from ground source heat pumps, though because of their popularity they are often simply called heat pumps.
What is an Air Source Heat Pump?
Air source heat pumps are heating and cooling systems that draw heat out of the air and move it do a different location. They do this with the use of refrigerant, heating/cooling coils and a compressor which acts like a pump.
How Does an Air Source Heat Pump Work?
When cooling your home, the compressor sends refrigerant to the indoor coil located in the air handler. The refrigerant passes through a valve and expands into a gas, capturing heat from the air surrounding the coil. Removing the heat from the air surrounding the coil makes the coil very cold.
The refrigerant carries the heat outside through a copper refrigerant line. It enters the condensing unit where it is compressed back into a liquid, forcing the heat out of it. That heat is dissipated through the outdoor coil like heat through a radiator. The refrigerant then cycles back into the house to capture more heat.
The direction of the refrigerant is reversed when the air source heat pump is in heating mode. The refrigerant captures heat outside, carries it into the house and releases it in the inside coil, making it very hot. These heat pumps are effective until temperatures outside fall into the lower 30s.
The air handler pushes untreated air from the house over the indoor coil, which is either hot or cold depending on the mode, and distributes that treated air into your home through the ducts. The cycle continues until the thermostat indicates that the temperature has been raised or lowered to the desired level.
What are the Most Common Brands of Air Source Heat Pumps?
The brands that produce the majority of heat pumps include Aire Flo, Amana, American Standard, Armstrong, Bryant, Carrier, Coleman, Ducane, Electrolux, Goodman, Heil, Lennox, Luxaire, Maytag, Payne, Rheem, Ruud, Trane and York.
How Much Does an Air Source Heat Pump Cost?
Prices vary greatly depending on the size of the unit, how efficiently it uses electricity as determined by its SEER rating, and whether or not it provides staged or variable heating. The cheapest, smallest heat pumps cost under $1,200. The largest, most efficient heat pumps cost over $5,000. For most homes, just the heat pump will cost $2,500-$4,000.
Keep in mind that installation is extra and so are parts if needed such as an indoor coil or air handler and refrigerant lines. For a complete heat pump heating and cooling system installed, the price can range from $5,000 to over $10,000.
