Will a heat pump work for cooling in Houston?

[DB2]

I'm looking at mini-splits and can't seem to get an answer on whether or not a heat pump will provide adequate (and efficient) cooling in Houston, TX in the summer, where both the average temp and average humidity are very high.

I have relatives in Georgia, and they all have heat pumps for home heating and cooling. However, I have never seen one installed in Houston (for cooling).

I have read that a heat pump will work in Houston, but only if it has a variable speed fan. Any comments or suggestions?

BTW I'm trying to cool, and heat, a 26 x 24 x 10 fully insulated shop. It has 9 30" x 30" windows and an insulated steel garage door.

 

[rickairmedic]

DB2 yes a heat pump will cool just fine in Houston . I grew up in Fla ( about the same temps ) . I would say for your garage a 1 &1/2 - 2 ton would do just fine . The only differance between a heat pump and a standard AC unit is a reversing valve that changes the direction the refrigerant goes through the system in the winter thus providing heating as well. Yes before I get flamed there are other differances but thats the major one .



Rick

 

[redsky49]

Of course it will work. The Houston climate (hot and humid) is very similar to certain areas of Georgia so your experience should be similar to your relatives.

The only shortcoming of the small split systems is that typically the efficiency is not quite as good as the efficiency of the best larger AC systems (and of course the cost). This is offset by the ease of installation.

Properly sized and installed you will be pleased with this type of system. The only difference between a cooling only unit and a heat pump is that the thermostatic expansion valve is replaced with a "reversing" valve (ricairmedic cut me some slack. This is layman's version of an explaination )

Mitsubishi and Sanyo are the premier quality units, and have the most manufacturing experience, though many other manufacturers have entered the market.

As always, offered only as opinion

 

[redsky49]

Hi Ric,
Great minds, etc....

 

[redsky49]

Off topic thread hijack

Ric,
In your business do you see capillary tubes rather than TXV's?

 

[rickairmedic]

Actually Red on most residential units the TXV if used is still there on a heat pump system and the reversing valve as well as an accumilator go in the outside ( condensor ) unit usually the TXV if used as oposed to capilary tubes is connected to the Evapoator coil. To answer your question I run into both TXV's and capilary systems in the residential end although TXV's are becomming more common with the higher SEER systems .



Rick