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“There are no added expenses when installing a heat pump air conditioner making them a perfect solution for room additions that require both heating and cooling.”

There are two ways for ductless equipment to produce heat in addition to air conditioning: heat pump and electric heat. For years now consumers have used heat pumps in mini split air conditioners for warmth. Electric heat is relatively new in the mini split industry. While most people grasp the concept behind electric heat, many people don’t understand how a heat pump air conditioner functions.

The only difference between a mini split air conditioner and a heat pump is a small valve called a reversing valve. When shopping for ductless air conditioners remember that if the unit is described as a heat pump that it produces heat and cool air.

So how does a heat pump mini split operate? Heat pump ductless equipment use a reversing valve that changes the refrigerant’s direction of flow, allowing the heat pump to switch from cooling to heating or vise versa. The reversing valve is a heat pump’s sole way of switching between heating and cooling modes.

That’s all there is to it.

Heat pumps are a very efficient means to create heat in the mini split air conditioning industry. The power consumption of the air conditioner in heat mode is very similar to the consumption in cool mode. Electric heat units require more power to operate and usually supply less heat as the outcome.

There are no added expenses when installing a heat pump air conditioner making them a perfect solution for room additions that require both heating and cooling.

The one draw back of a heat pump air conditioner is that their operation temperature usually bottoms out around 19°F. Heat pumps use the compressor located in the outdoor condenser to create heat, and when a condenser is sitting outside in very cold temperatures the refrigeration in the compressor can freeze.

Operating a heat pump below recommended minimum temperatures can cause damage to the compressor.

Some consumers have used crank case heaters and other warming devices to keep their compressor warm in the colder months allowing them to use their heat pump system.

I hope this helps explain the function of the heat pump mini split air conditioner. Feel free to leave comments on this article.

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