Why don't we heat our houses using heat pumps from ambient air?

Question

The simplest of which could be a reworked freezer.

With the compressor inside, the cooling coil outside, and the heat dump coil inside.

If freezing of the outside coil is a problem, stick it in a crude solar panel made from a doubleglazed unit filled with antifreeze and black ink.

The black antifreeze will absorb any solar gain, and the pumped heat will go straight into the house.

This has to be more efficient than burning oil or gas - and losing most of the heat up the flue.

Answer 1

I use natural gas to heat with.. but this winter has been mild.. We have a heat pump also..Sounds like an idea though..Lots of bull to have to go through that way.. but its an idea P..

Answer 2

Heat pumps have been around for a long time.  They are a viable choice depending on various things.  How long have you been in that cave?

You don't lose "most of the heat up the flue" with gas and oil heat.  You lose between ten and twenty percent with post 1990 equipment.

Answer 3

well i do not give a care

Answer 4

These have been used, but there is an ozone issue with CFCs and a safety issue with other fluids.

Answer 5

Many people do.  An even more efficient method is the use of a geothermal heat pump that uses ground water as the heat source.