Heat pumps for house heating, which allow the extraction of thermal energy from soil and water, are very popular. They provide a convenient, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly solution for heating houses. If you are thinking about installing heat pumps in your house and are looking for heat pump specialists in Sacramento, this article is for you.

What Is a Heat Pump?

A heat pump for a house is a special vapor compression unit capable of transferring thermal energy from cold sources to hot ones. Energy is transferred through the condensation and evaporation of refrigerant circulating in a closed circuit.

A heat pump for a house operates due to the ability of the refrigerant to take and release thermal energy in the process of changing its state of aggregation.

Schematically, such a device can be represented as a three-circuit system:

● A coolant that transfers energy from a source.

● A refrigerant circulates through the circuit, taking heat from the first circuit and transferring it to the third.

● A heat sink, which is water that transports thermal energy to the heating system of the house.

What Are The Types of Heat Pumps?

There are three types of heat pumps for heating a house based on energy source:

● ground source heat pumps;
● groundwater source heat pumps;
● air source heat pumps.

Let's look at each of them in more detail.

Ground Heat Pumps

The source of heat for such devices is the ground on the land plot. The earth can provide enough thermal energy to heat up the freon and warm up the heating network. The pump can be used throughout the year, since when the receiver is buried several meters, the ground temperature will be approximately the same.

The pipeline can be installed in two different ways:

● Horizontally.
● Vertical.

The required depth is determined depending on the type of pump. A geothermal device with a horizontal collector can be installed at a depth of 1.5 - 2 meters. The exact depth level is selected individually and depends on the depth of freezing of the ground during the cold season if the climate is cold.

The pump manifold should be located below the seasonal freezing level of the ground.
Ground Water Source Heat Pumps

The only difference between water and ground devices is that the former uses groundwater as a source of thermal energy.

They can only be used in areas where groundwater is located below the seasonal freezing point of the ground. At the same time, if it is possible to use water equipment, experts recommend using it, since it guarantees thermal stability and reliable operation of the heating system at any time of the year.

Before purchasing equipment, geological exploration is required, which should show the depth of groundwater and its chemical composition.

Chemical composition analysis is aimed at identifying the presence of iron salts and other impurities in water. If there are few or almost no impurities, a geothermal probe can be used, otherwise a ground source heat pump must be used to heat the house. If you are looking to replace your heat pump equipment and are looking for specialists in this technology in Sacramento, we recommend taking a look at Alpha Mechanical.

Air Source Heat Pumps

Air heat pumps are characterized by ease of installation and reliability. They are capable of extracting thermal energy directly from the air and do not require geological exploration or costly excavation work.

All components of the air heat pump are located on the surface, which greatly reduces the cost of building a heating system.

Benefits of Heating The House With a Heat Pump

Using a heat pump to heat a country house is becoming increasingly popular for several reasons:

● Energy savings. A heat pump uses electricity, but due to its high coefficient, it spends less energy than it releases. For example, a device consumes 1 kW/h and emits 4 kW/h of thermal energy. The pump also does not require much maintenance, which also saves money.

● Heat pumps are suitable for any location. No matter where the house is located, there is a source for the heat pump to draw heat from.

● Simple controls. The operation of the device does not need to be monitored, as for example with solid fuel boilers.

● Safety. No element gets hot enough to cause a fire. There is also no danger of explosion.

● Long service life. Heat pumps last a long time. Repairs will be required approximately every 15 years.

Of course, like any device, heat pumps may have disadvantages for some users:

● High purchase and installation costs;

● Heat pumps do not work well at -15 °C and below, so another heat source is required

● Heat pumps are only suitable for a house under construction; its installation is not practical for an existing building.

How to Choose a Heat Pump For The House

To choose a heat pump for heating your house, you need to study the market and become familiar with the technical characteristics of various equipment. In this case, it is necessary to pay attention to 2 most important parameters of the devices:

● energy conversion coefficient;
● controller type (the most functional is the microprocessor controller, capable of ensuring completely autonomous operation of the heating system).

Other important characteristics:

● performance level;
● rated power of the installation;
● type of refrigerant and its boiling point;
● presence of frequency control.

Many modern manufacturers offer buyers the opportunity to fill out a questionnaire, which notes the features of the house and the personal wishes of the users. Based on the answers, they will help you choose a heat pump for heating your house.

Final Thoughts

The feasibility of purchasing and installing a heat pump depends on many factors, primarily on the possibility of connecting to the main gas pipeline network and the need for heating autonomy. If you are already a heat pump user and need equipment repaired or replaced, we recommend contacting heat pump experts in Sacramento - Alpha Mechanicals. The company also provides installation and replacement services for HVAC systems, air conditioners, and smart thermostats.