What Is A Split System Heat Pump?

Everyone desires powerful and efficient air comfort throughout the year, both in summer and winter. If you’re looking for a new central HVAC system for your home, consider a split system heat pump. These advanced products can provide the cooling you need during hot weather and can reverse the cycle to generate the necessary heat when temperatures drop.

A Split System Heat Pump Is Essentially an Air Conditioner

Most people are familiar with air conditioners. Whether you have a window unit or an extensive central system, you know that turning down the thermostat cools the house. This is because the refrigerant cycle inside the air conditioner removes heat from your home.  

The primary difference between a split system heat pump and a regular air conditioner is the ability to reverse the refrigerant cycle. Instead of merely removing heat, a split system heat pump can bring heat back inside when the weather turns colder. This versatility gives homeowners more effective control over their indoor comfort.  

A heat pump split system consists of an AC system with a condenser configured as a heat pump located outside and an air handler/evaporator coil inside. In a split system, one component—the condenser/compressor unit—resides outside the home on a slab, flat roof, or landing, while the other component, the air handler/evaporator coil, is situated indoors. This configuration is common in family homes across the US.  

Most conventional heat pump systems use air ducts to distribute heating or cooling, but a split system heat pump can also be ductless. This feature is one of the system's significant advantages. Many models allow multiple indoor air handlers to connect to a single outdoor unit. Each indoor air handler can be programmed with individual thermostats, maintaining specific temperatures in different rooms. This capability not only enhances comfort but also saves both money and energy.  

By eliminating the duct system, a ductless heat pump addresses the approximately 30% of energy often lost in ductwork. Air is distributed directly from the air handler into the room, allowing for greater flexibility in design. Without the constraints of ductwork, air handlers can be installed almost anywhere—on the ceiling, floor, or wall.

Design and Mode of Operation of a Split Heat Pump

A split heat pump consists of an indoor unit and an outdoor unit, with all components that can generate noise housed in the outdoor unit. These components include the fan, evaporator, and compressor.  

As a result, the indoor unit is compact and can be set up flexibly within the home. Only the condenser, circulation pump, and control and safety technology are located indoors. The indoor unit is also extremely quiet, which is not only due to the split design but also to the coordinated components and a carefully considered, noise-optimized design.  

The Heat Generation Process Can Be Repeated at Will

During operation, the fan in the outdoor unit actively draws in outdoor air and channels it to the evaporator (heat exchanger). A refrigerant circulates within the evaporator, heating up at low temperatures. Once the refrigerant's physical state changes, it flows as warm steam to the electrically powered compressor. The compressor compresses the steam, raising its temperature to the required level.  

The hot steam is then transferred through thin refrigerant pipes to the condenser installed in the indoor unit. There, the hot steam transfers its thermal energy to the heating system and gradually cools down. Since it remains under high pressure, it must first pass through an expansion valve to restore its initial state. Once this step is complete, the process can begin again.

A Split System Heat Pump Is Essentially an Air Conditioner

Most people are familiar with air conditioners. Whether you have a window unit or an extensive central system, you know that turning down the thermostat cools the house. This is because the refrigerant cycle inside the air conditioner removes heat from your home.  

The only difference between a split system heat pump and a regular air conditioner is the ability to reverse the refrigerant cycle. So, instead of just taking the heat out, a split system heat pump can bring the heat back inside when the weather turns colder. This versatility gives homeowners more effective control over their indoor comfort.  

A heat pump split system consists of an AC system with a condenser configured as a heat pump located outside and an air handler/evaporator coil inside. In a split system, one component—the condenser/compressor unit—resides outside the home on a slab, flat roof, or landing, while the other component, the air handler/evaporator coil, is situated indoors. This configuration is common in family homes across the US.  

Most conventional heat pump systems use air ducts to distribute heating or cooling, but a split system heat pump can also be ductless. This feature is one of the system's significant advantages. Many models allow multiple indoor air handlers to connect to a single outdoor unit. Each indoor air handler can be programmed with individual thermostats, maintaining specific temperatures in different rooms. This capability not only enhances comfort but also saves both money and energy.  

By eliminating the duct system, a ductless heat pump addresses the approximately 30% of energy often lost in ductwork. Air is distributed directly from the air handler into the room, allowing for greater flexibility in design. Without the constraints of ductwork, air handlers can be installed almost anywhere—on the ceiling, floor, or wall.