Difference Between Heat Pump And Air Conditioning Unit

An air conditioner is typically paired with a furnace to provide heat during the cold months.

Difference between heat pump and air conditioning unit. When choosing between a heat pump vs ac units it s good to know about the positives of air conditioning. Central air conditioning units are the best way to keep your house at a consistently cool temperature. The difference is in the valve. A central air conditioner generally lasts longer than a heat pump making it a more durable option for those who want to keep their costs under control.

A heat pump s outdoor unit is also more expensive to install upfront than the outdoor unit of an ac system. A heat pump can heat and cool but an air conditioner cannot which is the primary difference between the two hvac systems. Heat pumps use the condenser to generate heat while in an air conditioner it is used to expel heat. In many ways heat pumps are functionally the same as conventional air conditioners.

The only real difference is that a heat pump can reverse itself so it can provide heating when needed. Heat pumps use a reverse refrigeration cycle while air conditioners use the regular vapor compression cycle. Think of air conditioners as heat pumps that can only pump heat in one direction from the inside to the outside. Heat pumps primarily heat rooms while air conditioners cool rooms.

Together an air conditioner and furnace are a complete heating and cooling system. When it comes to air sourced heat pumps the most common found in residential use the easiest way to think of them is as souped up air conditioners. The performance of the heat pump and air conditioner will only be identical if all of the efficiency aspects are identical as well. The major difference between an ac unit and a heat pump is that heat pumps can reverse their air flow direction and transfer heat from the outside to raise indoor temperatures by utilizing a reversing valve built into the compressor.