July 12, 2005

• Heat Pump

  
  

  This is in answer to a comment, and I also know others that have asked me what a heat pump is.  

  
  

  An air conditioner is usually used for making the temperature in a room or house cooler.  A heat pump is a unit that pumps the heat in one of two directions, inside or outside.  In a simplified explanation, when the house is too warm, the heat pump pumps the heat outside; when too cool, it pumps the heat inside.  In essence, the heat pump is a heat exchanger that is usually more efficient than an air conditioner.  It takes less energy (electricity) to cool or heat a house using a heat pump.  Of course, a heat pump will lose its efficiency when the temperatures go to extremes, like into the teens or lower (°F) in the winter, or above 110+ °F  with high humidity in the summer.

  
  

  Generally speaking, the heat pump is the outside part of the HVAC system.  It contains the heat exchanger, compressor, and fan.  This unit picks up the heat from the air in the winter, and rejects the heat to the air in the summer.  The inside part contains the the fins (indoor heat exchanger) and the blower (including duct work).

  
  

  Usually, when the heat pump is properly sized and installed, it can reduce heating bills from 30% to 50% over the normal electric furnace.  The cooling is significantly lower, also.

  
  

  I worked many years in a Consulting Engineering firm and was the HVAC and plumbing designer.  I've always liked how a heat pump is described as pumping heat uphill.  If you like the technicals, then...

  
  

  The key to understanding how a heat pump works is that even when we feel it is very cold outside there is still heat energy in the air.  Air would need to be -460°F ("absolute zero") for there to be no heat energy.  A day that is 20°F outside is 480°F above absolute zero. 70°F is 530°F above absolute zero.  So a heat pump only has to move the heat uphill a relatively small distance.  It uses the "refrigeration cycle" to do this.  So with everything properly sized and installed, it's relatively easy to get heat from a cold day, and cool from a hot day!

  
  

  Appreciation

  
  

  I've been discussing with several young people (teens and early 20s) that mentioned that they didn't appreciate what their parents had done for them until they had actually moved out on their own.  I had to agree that that's the time that I really appreciated my parents, when I moved out and had to do lots more things that I had never done, and when I had to start paying for things that they had paid for in the past.  I guess that's pretty universal, and probably always will be.

  
  

  I wish I could tell my Mom that I appreciate the things she did, but I can't.  However, my Dad is still on this earth, and I try to tell him everyday that I appreciate him and love him.

  
  

  This has also been a time to reflect back, especially on the last few years, on all that my hunni has gone through with me (thinking about the wreck and life changes after that).  All I can say is that I'm eternally thankful that she has stayed with me through all this.  I have really been blessed with her.

  
  

  Thesaurus-ize

  
  

  The totality of proceedings are achievable with the absolute being.

  
  

  Un-thesaurus-ize

  
  

  24 June 2005: "I regret that I have only one life to give for my country." Nathan Hale
  8 July 2005: "Absence makes the heart grow fonder." Eleanor Roosevelt
  10 July 2005: "Love is never having to say your sorry." Estelle Getty

  
  

  The FogWalker takes a nap....hopefully to feel better to see the Fantastic Four....

  • 5:49 pm
  • 3 Comments