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TIL - I always thought that heat pump and air conditioning were just different ways of saying the same thing - here in NZ, I don't think I've ever seen a heat-o
by InvertedRhodium 5y ago
TIL - I always thought that heat pump and air conditioning were just different ways of saying the same thing - here in NZ, I don't think I've ever seen a heat-only heat pump.
- NoahKAndrews 5y agoWe don't have heat-only heat pumps, we have cooling-only air conditioning.
- rkowalick 5y agoTo clarify, in the US, there are two commonly used HVAC heat pumps: - A/C units, which can only cool a room but can’t heat it up - Heat Pumps, which typically do both.
- avianlyric 5y agoWhat’s particularly frustrating is that the only thing that separates one from the other is the inclusion of a $20 reversing valve[1], and some software that can use it. [1] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reversing_valve https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reversing_valve
- mlyle 5y agoWell, that and you tend to split heat pump systems instead of pumping around warm air to pick up efficiency. And the design of the condensers, etc, is a little different for efficiency and to cope with e.g. condensation outside.
- doikor 5y agoThe AC unit can do heating if you just run the pump in the opposite direction. It is just a feature the manufacturer did not bother to install/wants extra money for (it is literally a single $20 part for the valve). Obviously they are not the most efficient heaters as they are not designed for it but they would still work.