Heat Pumps

How Do Heat Pumps Work?

Air-source heat pumps (ASHP) are the most popular type of heat pump. When the weather turns cold, these units use an outdoor heat exchanger coil to capture heat from the air and transfer it indoors.

Next, the heat travels up the refrigerant line to the indoor heat exchanger coil. Finally, the heat gets fed into an air handler and sent through your air ducts. If you’re using an ASHP water heater, the indoor module sends the heat there as well.

During the summer, the process works in reverse. The indoor heat exchanger sends heat and humidity outside (much like an air conditioner) to cool your home.

Heat Pump Installation and Replacement

Need a new heat pump? Let our team of certified technicians help you find the perfect product to suit your home needs.

No HVAC system is one-size-fits-all. That’s why we take comprehensive measurements of your living space to make sure the heat pump we install is correctly sized. This ensures your heat pump will last longer and perform at peak efficiency.

Our experts bring years of experience and a friendly demeanor to every service call. We’ll always provide you with an upfront estimate and warranty on all of our work. For all of us at Smart Air, this is more than a job—we value the connections with our Texas neighbors.

Our financing plans make it easy for you to create a healthy home for your loved ones. Give us a call for a consultation.

Heat Pump Repair

There’s never a convenient time to lose heating or cooling. Luckily, we’re right down the road in Austin if you need a repair.

Call now and schedule a heat pump repair if you notice:

• Strange smells or noises
• Short cycling
• Frost layer on the outside of the unit (freeze-ups)

If your heat pump is broken, our heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) veterans can fix it. We value open communication and transparency with our customers whenever performing service.

We always keep our customers informed before we begin a repair:

• We diagnose the issue.
• We will let you know how we plan to fix it.
• You will receive an accurate upfront estimate of how much the repair will cost.

We offer 24/7 emergency repair services to be there when you need us. Don’t spend the day in the cold—call us right away!

Heat Pump Maintenance

A well-maintained heat pump will run efficiently for 10 to 15 years. Your heat pump gets heavy use—especially if you have it running year-round for heating and cooling. That’s why seasonal maintenance is a must for making your investment last.

Here are some of the many things your specialist will do during a check-up:

• Clean condenser coils and condensate drain
• Check for safe refrigerant levels
• Inspect and tune up electrical connections

In addition to professional maintenance visits, remember to change your air filter at least every 90 days to prevent mechanical problems. Changing your filter can also lower your energy costs by 15 percent.

Be sure to ask about our A+ Maintenance Plan tailored to your budget and needs. Preventative maintenance allows your technician to check for hidden mechanical or safety issues before they turn into larger problems. 

While we repair, maintain, and install any type of heat pump, we recommend the brands we trust, including the three below.

American Standard

American Standard heat pumps are built for the homeowner who values "over-engineered" durability and balanced performance. Their systems are famous for the Spine Fin™ coil, an all-aluminum design that is much more resistant to the corrosion and leaks common in our humid environment. Known for their "tank-like" reliability, these heat pumps offer a sweet spot of premium-level efficiency without the ultra-premium price tag. They are the go-to choice for dependable, whole-home comfort that lasts for the long haul.

Carrier

Carrier is the industry leader in intelligent heating with their Greenspeed® Intelligence. Unlike standard heat pumps that can struggle when temperatures drop, Carrier’s Infinity® series is engineered to provide consistent, 100% heating capacity even in extreme cold. In the summer, its variable-speed compressor acts like a "dimmer switch," running at the exact speed needed to pull every bit of moisture out of the air. If you want the most advanced, whisper-quiet system that manages both temperature and humidity with surgical precision, Carrier is the answer.

Mitsubishi Electric

Mitsubishi has redefined what a heat pump can do with their Hyper-Heating (H2i®) technology, which provides full heating power even when it’s sub-zero outside. While they are the world leaders in ductless, their central ducted heat pumps are becoming a favorite for Austin homeowners looking to go all-electric. These systems are incredibly quiet and use inverter-driven compressors to eliminate the "cycling" on and off of traditional units. Mitsubishi is the premier choice for those seeking the highest possible efficiency and a "smart" home that stays perfectly balanced year-round.