Do Heat Pumps Need Freon to Operate?

Many people in Las Cruces, New Mexico, use heat pumps during the winter to keep their houses warm. It’s easy to understand how a furnace that burns gas generates heat. However, many have questions about how heat pumps actually heat the home and whether they use Freon.

How Do Heat Pumps Work?

A heat pump heats your home by transferring heat from outside to inside. Heat pumps can do this even when the temperatures outside of your home are below freezing because there is always some heat in the air that can be absorbed.

To transfer heat, a heat pump uses a chemical compound called refrigerant. Freon is a brand name for a type of refrigerant that DuPont produces. Refrigerants like Freon can be dangerous to people and the environment if not handled properly. For this reason, if your heat pump needs repair or maintenance, don’t do it yourself. Let the professionals at Aircon Heating & Cooling Inc. do it for you.

Refrigerant’s Role in the Operation of Your Heat Pump

Refrigerant only requires a small amount of energy to go from a liquid to gas and back to a liquid again. In times past, air conditioning and heat pump systems used flammable or toxic chemicals. However, modern equipment uses safer blends, commonly called Freon. The most common blend used in a heat pump today is R410A.

Refrigerant is what transfers the heat from one set of coils in the heat pump to another. The refrigerant absorbs the heat from the outdoors and releases it to the indoor coils during the winter, heating the home. During the summer, the process is reversed, allowing the refrigerant to pull heating from inside the house and transfer it outdoors.

Since refrigerant does not disperse during regular heat pump operation, it does not contaminate the environment. If leaks develop due to a loose connection, corrosion, or damage, the heat pump will malfunction, requiring maintenance from a trained technician.

Dependable Heating and Cooling Services in Las Cruces

At Aircon Heating & Cooling Inc., we proudly provide dependable heating and cooling services. Our focus is on your comfort. The services we offer include heating and cooling repair, maintenance, and installation. We work in commercial and residential environments throughout Las Cruces. Contact Aircon Heating & Cooling Inc. today to set up your appointment.