Difference Between Heat Pump And Ac Unit

The difference is in the valve.

Difference between heat pump and ac unit.

The performance of the heat pump and air conditioner will only be identical if all of the efficiency aspects are identical as well. However a heat pump is fitted with a reversing valve that allows it to transfer the heat from outside into your home when in heating. The only real difference is that a heat pump can reverse itself so it can provide heating when needed. The heat pump and the air conditioner may rely on the same basic refrigeration principle but if all of the cooling details are identical there is still one key difference.

Together an air conditioner and furnace are a complete heating and cooling system. So basically it s an air conditioner that can reverse itself. Think of air conditioners as heat pumps that can only pump heat in one direction from the inside to the outside. A heat pump can heat and cool the refrigerant used to condition your home while an air conditioner can only cool it.

Both systems are designed to transfer the heat from inside your home to the outside when in cooling mode. Although the difference between heat pump and a c systems is significant they work in a similar fashion. A heat pump s outdoor unit is also more expensive to install upfront than the outdoor unit of an ac system. An air conditioner is typically paired with a furnace to provide heat during the cold months.

At the end of the day it s pretty simple.