this post was submitted on 13 Sep 2023
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Explain Like I'm Five
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I dunno, is a heat pump the same thing as air conditioning ? And if it is, why is one seemingly good for the environment and the other isn't ?
it is, (although the design is slightly different, you couldn't just run the motor on an AC backwards).
Heat pumps are better for the environment because it's (usually) more energy efficient to extract existing heat than create it. Heat-pumps get more heat per unit energy spent than resistive heat (like electric radiators) because they're not creating the heat, they're just moving it.
Natural gas still kind of wins out, but that has the issue of constantly needing more natural gas.
The most environmentally friendly play would be, if you were like on a space station or something: Imeaditley stop producing more natrual gas, use up whatevers left in reserves, then install heat pumps. But of course that's not how things work so we're transitioning now.
edit: re: AC not being good for the environment. AC isn't the problem, just the power is. So it's just seen as a luxury as opposed to necessity, although obviously that's starting to change.
Small correction, no motor runs backward. You can't reverse the flow through a compressor, so heat pumps have a reversing valve that slides back and forth to reverse the flow of refrigerant in the system.
Here's a fun video to watch
Oh fair point. My dumb-ass sitting here going what is he talking about? A motor can run backwards, most pumps and compressors can't, or at least wont be effective if they do. Unless their something like a peristaltic.
Lol yeah, a motor can run in either direction, but I can't think of any that do in the equipment I service as part of normal operation right now.
And now you've stumbled upon the debate that us air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics are all participating in. Refrigerants right now have some sort of danger.
R-22 has an ozone depletion potential. It has clhlorine atoms that break up ozone in the atmosphere, and it's been discontinued in 2020.
R-410A has flourine atoms, so has no ozone depletion potential but has a global warming potential, like CO2. It's the current refrigarant for air conditioners and heat pumps, next to be phased out when we find a better replacement.
Ammonia is natural and not harmful for the environment, but flammable and toxic in high concentrations. Lucky for you, most air conditioning or residential/commercial refrigeration systems don't use it, it's only large scale industrial refrigaration, like fisheries, ice cream and yogurt factories, etc.
Some say the hydro companies are pushing heat pumps to make more money. They also require more maintenance than a furnace, which also cost $$. Change your filters, and have your electrical components checked at least once per year and your system be happier in the long run and you'll save on break downs and repairs.
Me, I just try to do a good job, practice good workmanship to make sure my installs and the equioment I maintain don't leak or break. That's how I'm doing my part for the planet
We're constantly trying to do better and be better, it's just a long process.
But does a reversible heat pump require more maintenance than a separate AC and furnace?