Heat Pumps & Furnaces
Charlotte Heat Pumps Repair and Maintenance
How a Heat Pump Functions
Even though the name “Heat Pump” gives a hint to what this product does, it isn’t the whole story. Although it is one of the newest products in the industry, its origin is in the same basic cooling system invented more than a century ago. This system works by utilizing indoor evaporator coils to collect heat in the home. Refrigerants absorb the heat and become gaseous. Then, the system pumps the refrigerant gas to the outdoor coil where another pump called a compressor turns the newly formed gas into a liquid. The change that makes the gas into a liquid takes the heat inside your home and pumps it outside, which in turn cools the home. The gas that has just turned into a liquid refrigerant is then cycled back into the home to go through the process again.
Another unique feature that Heat Pumps have is that they work reversely. This means they can pump heat in, and they can pump heat out. As a result, you can use a Heat Pump all year long without needing another HVAC unit. The Heat Pump is a machine for all weather conditions, but it does work best on places with temperate and mild climates, making it perfect for North Carolina homeowners.
Heat Pump Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
Just like any other HVAC system, the installation process for a Heat Pump begins with a load calculation. This is done to make sure that the unit is properly sized for the home it will be used in and to make sure the customer gets the most out of it. Proper sizing avoids future problems down the road that the wrong size system would cause, such as temperature changes and maintenance issues. That’s why the Prime Comfort technicians will make sure that the system the customer selects is the right size.
Since Heat Pumps are used year-round, they naturally accrue more wear and tear over the years. Because of their constant work, it is recommended that regularly scheduled professional maintenance is conducted on these systems. Making sure that the system is running as well as it can and helping to avoid major repairs are important aspects of owning an HVAC unit. During a maintenance visit, HVAC contractors will resolve emerging issues, make any minor, necessary tweaks, and look for any major problems. In the end, regular maintenance will save customers money by reducing the risk of major repairs and reducing the monthly energy bill. With a system that runs all year long, it is especially important to have it running effectively and efficiently.
Unfortunately, despite regular maintenance, something still may cause your system to stop working. During a heat wave or a winter freeze, these unit issues can be detrimental to your health and safety.That’s why Prime Comfort is available 24 hours a day for emergency heat pump repairs.
Prime Comfort's flat-rate pricing will make sure customers are never surprised by costs. The NATE-certified contractors will make sure customers are always satisfied and living comfortably in Charlotte and the surrounding areas.
Furnaces
A furnace burns fossil fuel in order to generate heat. Natural gas models are most common since the fuel is abundant and relatively inexpensive. While propane units are also available, they require special fuel storage tanks that must be periodically replenished. Homeowners considering a furnace replacement should always look at a natural gas model first if the piping infrastructure is available.
Furnace efficiency is rated by the Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) standard. A unit’s AFUE number represents the percentage of fuel that is actually converted to heat energy. For example, a 95 AFUE rated furnace exhausts only five percent of the energy it consumes in the form of waste gas.