When it comes to cooling systems for your home, do you know all the options available? Air conditioners are a well-known option, and you’re probably already familiar with how they work. But in recent years, heat pumps have gained popularity and you may have heard of them, but not really understand how they differ from air conditioners. Do they both work equally? What features do they offer?

In this article, we will try to remove any doubts and answer some of the most frequently asked questions about heat pumps as opposed to air conditioners.

Differences between air conditioners and heat pumps

Air conditioners and conventional heat pumps essentially work using the same technology. That is, by taking heat from a space and releasing it outside, leaving the room inside cooler and more comfortable. What different heat pumps do is that they can reverse this process and, in simple terms, they can take heat from outside and release it inside, providing heating for our indoor spaces.

Air conditioning works in a fairly simple way: it uses a refrigerant that flows through a closed loop, evaporates and continuously condenses to transfer heat. The indoor unit consists of an evaporator coil, while the outdoor unit consists of a condenser, a compressor and a fan. The heat inside our homes is transferred through the coils and then dispersed outside through the outdoor unit’s fan.

In terms of heat pumps, we can find different types, depending on the source they use, aerothermal heat pumps and geothermal heat pumps. Aerothermal heat pumps use air as a source and transfer heat from the surrounding air. Geothermal heat pumps, on the other hand, use heat from the ground.

In this article, we focus on aerothermal heat pumps or air source heat pumps.

Air-source heat pumps work in the same way as conventional air conditioners, using a refrigerant that evaporates and condenses in a cyclic process to transfer heat from the inside to the outside. In fact, a heat pump generally has the same components as an air conditioner. But as mentioned earlier, this process can be reversed, which is made possible by a reversing valve that changes the direction of the refrigerant through the coils. Heat pumps are able to collect heat from outside, even in the colder months, and transfer it inside to warm our homes.

Within the range of air source heat pumps, we can distinguish another category, depending on how the heat is distributed in our home. As such, there are air-to-air heat pumps and air-to-water heat pumps. Here are their characteristics:

• Air-to-air heat pumps are functionally more similar to conventional air conditioners. They can be found in similar configurations as air conditioners: split, cassette and console. Air-to-air heat pumps transfer heat in the air and release it as cooled or heated air.
• Air-to-water heat pumps transfer heat from air to water through a system of pipes around the house. This type also allows domestic hot water to be stored and used for bathing, showering and domestic hot water. The indoor units of an air-to-water heat pump consist of radiators, radiant floors or fan coil units, through which water circulates for heating and cooling.

Advantages of air conditioners

Despite their similarities, when comparing conventional air conditioners with air source heat pumps, there are some advantages to consider:

• Air conditioners specialize in cooling. As cooling experts, they are designed specifically for cooling and are therefore more suitable in places where temperatures are constantly warm.
• Air conditioners usually require lower upfront costs to install than heat pumps. Although, of course, this depends on many factors, including cooling requirements, tonnage, location of the unit and the size of your home. And although it will vary greatly depending on the architecture of your home; in general, smaller homes benefit from lower installation costs.
• Air conditioning systems can have a simpler installation than heat pumps; although, as mentioned above, this also depends on the type of air conditioner. Whether or not you will need ductwork installed is also another consideration. Air conditioners come in a variety of configurations to suit different spaces, from very small apartments to large multi-room homes. It is possible to install multiple indoor units and a single outdoor unit, and there are a variety of styles for indoor units to choose from.

Advantages of air source heat pumps

As you’ve seen, both air conditioners and air source heat pumps have a lot of advantages, but which one is better? The answer is not as simple as you might expect, as it depends on your personal situation. Here are some factors to consider when choosing between a conventional air conditioner and a heat pump.

• Installation
  Although both air conditioners and heat pumps are adaptable and versatile systems, your initial installation budget may be a deciding factor depending on the features of your home. Ducted and ductless options are possible for both air conditioners and air-to-air heat pumps. An air-to-air heat pump will need to incorporate radiant heaters, radiant floor or fan coil to operate, which could indicate a significant home renovation or could be an ideal solution if your home already has these elements installed.
• Climate
  Do you live in a moderate climate region? Or are you experiencing extreme winter conditions? Even though heat pumps can efficiently heat an entire home, they don’t work as well in sub-zero temperatures. Compared to combustion systems, heat pumps may need to operate more at extreme freezing temperatures to achieve a comfortable indoor heating environment. For this reason, they are excellent for more moderate climates. While this doesn’t mean that they can’t be used in freezing winter regions, they will simply need to be paired with another conventional heating system to back up the heat pump on extremely cold days for optimal heating. This dual type of heating system is known as hybrid heating and is also a much greener alternative to traditional combustion-only systems.
• Cooling, heating and hot water requirements
  What does your home already have installed? Does it need heating and cooling? Or perhaps you already have a heating system that you are happy with and just need cooling? Depending on your answer to these questions, you can look for either air conditioners or heat pumps. In addition, if you need heating and decide to opt for a heat pump, do you also want it to provide domestic hot water? Think about your household’s needs and it will help you better decide which one to choose.
• The size and architecture of your home
  Whether you live in a cozy open-concept attic or a multi-room home with more than one story greatly influences the type of HVAC system you’ll need. Smaller homes can really benefit from simpler mini-split units. Meanwhile, larger homes will require either the installation of multiple indoor units for each room, or radiant floors in the case of air-to-water heat pumps. If you’re not sure which system is best for your home, let a reputable plumber advise you based on your individual situation.