A heat pump lives up to its namesake by pumping hot outside air into the home during the winter, and pumping cold outside air into the home during the summer. It’s often preferred in climates with year-round warm weather over conventional air conditioning systems because of its energy-saving benefits.
But there are many different types of heat pumps, one of which is water source heat pump. So, what exactly is a water source heat pump?
Water Source Heat Pump Explained
All heat pumps rely on some type of source from which to extract heat. A conventional heat pump, for instance, uses air. To warm a home or building, it extracts heat from the outside air, pulling this warm air inside. As the outside temperatures begin to drop later in the year, however, these air source heat pumps become less effective.
A water source heat pump also extracts heat to warm a home or building. But it differs in the sense that it extracts heat from water instead of air. A typical water source heat pump features a system of pipes submerged in a body of water. When water flows through these pipes, it extracts heat from the surrounding water. The heat pump then transfers this hot air into the home or building.
To cool a home or building in the summer, a water source heat pump performs this operation backwards by transferring the heat to the water source. These units are recommended in climates with cool temperatures. However, you’ll need access to a body of water to install and use one.
To learn more about water source heat pumps and how they operate, contact us! AAON’s Water Source Heat Pump line is now available through BCS. AAON has begun selling water source heat pumps.
