Disadvantages of an Air to Air Heat Pump

A heat pump is a heating and cooling system that uses the outside air to maintain consistent indoor building temperature. The typical ASHP system uses a compressor and condenser to remove heat in one location and send it to another. Some units use thermoelectric cooling to achieve the heat pump effect using less energy than the compressor/condenser systems.

Air to air heating technology moves coolant through the heat pumps inner and outer coils. It has an indoor compartment and an outdoor compartment. It uses a compressor, condenser, evaporator to change the states of the freon from a cold liquid to a hot gas. When the cold liquid refrigerant passes through the outdoor evaporator heat exchange coils, the liquid boils.  The change of state creates heat which is then captured by the compressor causing more heat to be released. Air to air heat pumps are excellent ideas, however one must consider the disadvantages of the units.

The downsides to this technology are:

• Water and ground based heating systems are more efficient in colder temperatures.


• Air to air systems become less efficient when outdoor temperatures drop.


• Equipment cost can be more expensive depending on the type of system you choose.


• They can be noisy because of the compressor and fans.


• They are not esthetically pleasing to display inside one's home or business.


• They need to be incorporated with other systems to be effective. Ground floor heat pumps work well with air to air heat pumps, excepting they need floor space to be effective.


• Can lose energy efficiency in colder weather.


• Inability to heat water to sufficient temperature to kill pathogens in winter.


• Requires freon coolant even with thermoelectric cooling based systems.


• Energy efficiency ratings at 3 in moderate temperatures.