Primer

How Air-Source Heat Pumps Work

Heating with cold air? Cooling off with hot air? Heat pumps performing these feats (especially mini-splits and VRF systems) have taken off, but how do they work?

Air-source heat pumps have been growing rapidly in popularity over the past decade. In many regions, simple point-source mini-split systems are now the leading choice for designers and builders of high-performance green homes, and more sophisticated variable-refrigerant-flow (VRF) multi-split systems are popular in multifamily and commercial buildings.

All heat pumps perform the same basic function: they move heat from one place to another, using electricity. In heating mode, air-source heat pumps move heat from the outside air into a building; in cooling mode, they take heat from the inside air of the building and dump it outdoors, cooling the indoor space in the process.

Published February 3, 2014

Wilson, A. (2014, February 3). How Air-Source Heat Pumps Work. Retrieved from https://www.buildinggreen.com/primer/how-air-source-heat-pumps-work