How Does a Heat Pump Work?
Air Conditioning is simply a process of changing and transferring the temperature of the air inside a room to a desired level set by the controls.
What makes a heat pump so efficient is the way it operates. It does not use electricity, but extracts 'free' heat from the outside air and transfers it inside your home. During the summer months this operations is reversed and the heat within your home is pumped outside using the internal gas exchange system.
Home heat pumps are compact sealed systems similar to a refrigerator - but unlike your fridge, they can both heat, cool and dehumidify.
Example:
The warm air that rises from the back of your fridge is coming from the inside. The internal evaporator coil extracts warmth from food in side and transfers it to the condensing coil on the back.
Heat pumps work much the same way to linked coils, one inside your home, one outside, circulate a refrigerant that draws warmth from the outside air and transfers it into your home. Best of all, at a flick of a switch your heat pump can work in reverse, acting as an air conditioner to pump heat out of your home and keep it refreshingly cool in summer or you can set some models on Automatic.
ENERGY SAVING TIPS
- Ensure all doors and windows are closed when the Heat Pump is on
- Turning the unit to a higher or lower setting will not make it heat or cool faster, this will only waste energy
- Don't let the heat build up and then try to cool the room quickly. It is more efficient to start the unit earlier in the day and let it cool gradually and maintain the temperature.
- If cold weather is forecast, have the timer bring the room up to temperature earlier. The air surrounding the outdoor unit can sometimes frost up and the heat pump may have to defrost.
This will cause cool air to filter through the unit if it seizes or Freezes we recommend leaving he unit on even when not at home but turn it down to keep your home warm.
- Keep the area in front of the unit clear, to allow good air flow.
- Clean filters monthly to ensure your' unit can work to its highest ability
Running Costs Example Inverter Models
Based on 12c per kw per hour over 8 hours of running Fujitsu Inverter Model Heat output Running cost for 8 hours Standard model Heat out put Running Cost for 8 hours
AST9L 3.6kw 0.79c AST9U 2.95kw 0.89c
AST12L 4.8kw 1.20c AST12U 4.05kw 1.28c
AST18L 6.25kw 1.66c AST18U 6.3kw 1.92c
Heat Pumps & Air Conditioning Units
FACTS:
- Every 1kw of power consumed gives you 3-4kw of heat (Spend $1 and get up to $4 worth of energy)
- Heating for winter and cooling for summer means that you can use your appliance all year round (you need to choose at selection time as cooling needs more energy than heating)
- Dehumidifies for a dry and healthy home
- Quiet, clean and safe run - no ash or smoke, no hot surfaces or pilot flames
- Filters the air removing dust and dirt - some models have extra filters that are suitable for asthmatics (some have self cleaning filters)
- Non-combustible gas in event of a leak
- Most models have timers that allow the unit to switch off or on
- New R410A gas is environmentally friendly and highly efficient
- Heat pumps are very quiet as the motor outside (all noisy components are in the exterior unit) and are fully insulated & weatherproof.
- Have adjustable temperature settings and most models have remote controls
INVERTER VS STANDARD
- Inverter outdoor unit compressors, vary speed output to match the kilowatt (heating or cooling) requirements of the indoor unit.
- Standard models of inverters turn off once the room has met the desired temperature. The heat will move through to adjoining rooms and the unit will restart and heat the area again. this cuts down power consumption substancially.
- Inverters are more suitable for single areas, once the area is at the desired temperature the output is reduced and quietly maintains the temperature, although if open plan will equally provide a good quiet solution.
- Inverters reach the desired room temperature more quickly (see boost facility)
- Inverters are approximately 30% more efficient than Standard models
EXPERIENCED ADVICE
It is important to receive experienced information on the Size and Model of your heat pump. Choosing an "oversized" unit will cool an area too quickly, causing the unit to turn on and off too often which will waste electricity and money. Similarly a unit that is too small will run constantly and will not heat or cool the room adequately.
