Difference Between Heat Pump And Ac Unit

So basically it s an air conditioner that can reverse itself.

Difference between heat pump and ac unit.

Together an air conditioner and furnace are a complete heating and cooling system. 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. The performance of the heat pump and air conditioner will only be identical if all of the efficiency aspects are identical as well. 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 but an air conditioner cannot which is the primary difference between the two hvac systems. An air conditioner is typically paired with a furnace to provide heat during the cold months. The difference is in the valve. A heat pump s outdoor unit is also more expensive to install upfront than the outdoor unit of an ac system.

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. Although the difference between heat pump and a c systems is significant they work in a similar fashion. The only real difference is that a heat pump can reverse itself so it can provide heating when needed. At the end of the day it s pretty simple.

Both systems are designed to transfer the heat from inside your home to the outside when in cooling mode.