Your heat pump is responsible for maintaining an even and comfortable temperature throughout your home. The system has two cycles that are responsible for heating and cooling, as well as a defrost cycle used to reduce any frost buildup on the outside coil. Since frost prevents the system from working properly, the heat pump defrost cycle plays an important role in its performance and efficiency.
Why Does a Heat Pump Have a Defrost Cycle?
During the normal heating operation of an air source heat pump, refrigerant in the outside coil will extract heat energy from the cold outdoor air. When that air is near freezing, the process cools off the air right around the coil, and this can result in the buildup of frost on the coils. This hinders the crucial heat-exchange process that enables the heat pump's heating operation. This is when the heat pump defrost cycle kicks in, melting that frost for a brief period of time.
How Does the Defrost Cycle Work?
Your heat pump is equipped with an outdoor thermostat that detects the presence of frost on the system's outdoor coils. When this occurs the defrost cycle is activated, basically reversing the process so that heat energy from inside the house is transferred outside long enough to melt the frost. At this point, the heat pump's backup heating element inside the house can turn on to cover the heating needs while the heat pump defrost cycle is under way. After the thermostat detects that the frost operation is complete, the heat pump switches back to the heating cycle.
Your heat pump benefits greatly from its defrost cycle since it helps maintain the important heat-exchange process on the outside coil. Your system can run smoother, more effectively, and save energy thanks to the heat pump defrost cycle.
To learn more about a heat pump defrost cycle, please contact us at Hartman Brothers Heating & Air Conditioning. Fort Wayne area residents can rest assured that our team of licensed professionals are here to help them with all of their heating and cooling needs.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in New Haven, Indiana and surrounding Fort Wayne area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about heat pumps and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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