Heat Pump COP and Low Temp Lock Out

HVAC School - For Techs, By Techs

Bryan Orr

Training, Careers, Airconditioning, Self-improvement, Hvac, Business, Education, Refrigeration, Heating, Ac, Apprenticeship

4.8 • 985 Ratings

🗓️ 18 April 2024

⏱️ 56 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

This episode of the HVAC School Live Stream covers the key concepts around heat pump efficiency and understanding the coefficient of performance (COP). Eric Kaiser from TruTech Tools and Jim Fultz from White-Rodgers provide valuable insights into how heat pumps operate and how to optimize their performance, especially in colder weather conditions.

The discussion begins by exploring the COP of heat pumps and how it compares to the efficiency of electric resistance heat. A COP above 1 means the heat pump is delivering more heat for the same amount of energy input compared to electric resistance heat. Many homeowners mistakenly believe they should switch to emergency heat once the outdoor temperature drops, thinking the heat pump is no longer efficient. However, even at very low outdoor temperatures, a well-designed heat pump can still operate with a COP above 1, making it a more cost-effective heating option than emergency heat.

The conversation then delves into the concept of the thermal balance point, which is the outdoor temperature at which the heat pump can no longer meet the heating load of the home. The guests discuss how to calculate this balance point and how to set up controls to optimize the use of the heat pump and any supplemental heating sources, such as electric resistance heat or a gas furnace in a dual-fuel system. They emphasize the importance of proper air distribution and avoiding blowing cold air directly on the occupants, which can be a common complaint with heat pumps.

Key Topics Covered:

Coefficient of Performance (COP) and how it compares to electric resistance heat
Efficiency of heat pumps at low outdoor temperatures
Thermal balance point and how to calculate it
Optimizing control settings to balance heat pump and auxiliary heat usage
Importance of proper air distribution and avoiding blowing cold air directly on occupants
Considerations for dual-fuel systems with both a heat pump and a gas furnace
Best practices for programming thermostats and control systems to ensure optimal performance and comfort

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Transcript

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0:00.0	The HVAC School Podcast is made possible by these brand partners.
0:09.1	Refrigeration Technologies at Refrigge Tech.com and specifically the new Viper Wet Rag Heat Shield,
0:16.2	the revolutionary flame-resistant welding pad designed to be used either wet or dry.
0:22.8	Find a Viper wet rag heat shield at a distributor near you or go to
0:26.6	TrueTech Tools.com and use offer code get schooled for a great discount at checkout.
0:31.8	Carrier and carrier dot com.
0:33.9	I've been a carrier dealer for many years.
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0:55.0	Seriously, this thing is really great, bends even large-sized tubing up to 7-8s,
0:59.5	OD. Find out more at truetech Tools.com use the offer code get schooled for a great
1:04.9	discount at checkout. Santa Fe and Santa Fe dehumidifiers they have one of the
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1:29.0	HVACR School.com slash Santa Fe to find out more.
1:33.0	His Aston Martin is a K-Uv and his sidearm is a k-uv and his sidearm is a Milwaukee driver, Brian Orr.
1:45.0	Hello, hello, this is the HVAC school podcast.
1:48.0	I'm Brian. This is the podcast that helps you remember some things.
1:51.0	You might have forgotten along the way, as well as helps you remember some things you forgot to know in the first place.
	...

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