What Is a Heat Pump?

The heat pump is the most versatile heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) product. 

It can keep your home in Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, or Kansas toasty in winter and refreshingly cool in summer, while also reducing your carbon footprint as it saves money on energy bills. There is no need to maintain separate heating and cooling systems because this HVAC workhorse does it all.

Midwest Air Pros can help you find an HVAC expert to select and install the right heat pump that fits your budget. Whether you plan to replace an aging furnace, are remodeling, or want options for new construction in Des Moines, Iowa, we can recommend a qualified professional for the job.

Transferring Heat

When a heat pump is in cooling mode it works just like an air conditioner. Both systems keep your Omaha, NE, home comfortable by moving heat from indoors to outdoors. They use the same components—compressor, condenser, evaporator coil, and refrigerant—to get the job done.

Only the heat pump can reverse the cooling process to warm your Springfield, MO, home. When a valve on the unit is switched to the heating cycle, the heat pump captures warm air from outside and moves it indoors.

The heat-transfer process makes the heat pump an energy-efficient and environment-friendly alternative to fuel-burning systems, such as gas or oil furnaces. A heat pump can cut your electrical use for heating, and it leaves you with fewer HVAC components to maintain. 

Preventative maintenance is the key to extending the service life of your HVAC equipment. Midwest Air Pros can help you get the services you need to keep your heat pump in top condition.

New Technology

Despite their many benefits, heat pumps historically have been installed in areas with a mild climate because they maintained efficiency best in above-freezing temperatures.

Today, because of technological improvements, “leading products are now capable of performing well below -10° F” and have been field tested “as far north as the Arctic Circle” according to RMI, an independent, nonprofit organization working to accelerate the transition to clean energy.

A heat pump that works efficiently in Alaska, will deliver outstanding performance in your Wichita, KS, home. Midwestern homeowners should have no qualms about installing today’s new and improved heat pumps.

Not sure where to find the best equipment? Midwest Air Pros can pair you with an HVAC expert who is knowledgeable about new products from leading manufacturers.

Variety of Heat Pumps

The most popular style is the air-source pump. It works by transferring heat in the air between the inside and outside of your home, and it relies on ductwork to distribute hot or cold air.

A ductless heat pump, also called a mini split, distributes conditioned air through indoor air-handling units that can be installed on the walls or ceilings throughout your home. Each unit has a thermostat, making it easy to heat or cool specific rooms or zones.

One of our pros can help you set up a zone control system with your ductless heat pump for the highest level of comfort and energy efficiency.

A geothermal heat pump extracts heat from underground where the temperature remains consistent throughout the year. Because it is not affected by air temperature changes, the geothermal heat pump is extremely efficient, although it is costlier to install than an air-source heat pump. Like other heat pumps, it also can cool your home and it can be integrated with existing ductwork.

Reach Out to Midwest Air Pros

We can easily connect you with an expert in heat pump selection, installation, repairs, and maintenance in Des Moines, IA, Kansas City, MO, Omaha, NE, Springfield, MO, and Wichita, KS.