Looking for some basic heat pump help!?

Question

I'm looking to buy a heat pump for our home, but really know nothing about them.

I found one in our local classifieds : Trane 1½ ton heat pump outside unit for $300. I'm sure it's probably sold by now, but I thought I'd use that size as a starter for my questions and go from there.

Is this large enough to heat a single-wide mobile home? Do they all "come with" AC in the summer or just some?

Your answers are greatly appreciated! =)

Answer 1

Ksmink19, I couldn't have said it better!

A heat pump is an air conditioner running backwards.  It expells heat into the house rather than cold air.  In the summer the valves reverse and it chills the house.

But, and a very big "but" at that...the whole system has to be balanced inside and out with the proper A-coils, copper tubing diameter, and etc and etc....

Buying a used heat pump is a bad idea.  People don't usually sell things because they are working great and giving them no problems.

Answer 2

OK, let's see if I can give you some basics.  First, all heat pumps come with air.  That is how they work.  In the winter, they run in reverse, cooling the outside and dissipating heat inside, through a frame, that the fan blows air over.

Now, just to keep you from making a mistake,,, heat pumps come in package units and split units.  A package unit is one combined unit, that makes the warm or cool air and then has an air duct to get it into the home.  A split unit has both an inside unit, and an outside unit.  Freon is passed between the two units inside of copper lines, so the air is just recirculated inside of the house.

Do not by an outside unit, unless you have the matching, correct, inside unit to go with it.  As far as the size to buy, that depends on square footage, climate in the area, the amount of insulation in your home, number of doors and windows, etc.  The size is calculated by the BTU load of your home.  

Since you are not very informed about heat pumps, I would suggest not buying one out of the classifieds.  Even if you did, you would have to hire someone to install it.  If you have an inside track on a HVAC technician / contractor, let them size and buy your heat pump, or just call your local HVAC contractor.  

It is very easy to waste money in HVAC work, by trying to save a few dollars and cutting a corner.