Heating and cooling
Heat pumps in Tomball
One outdoor unit that heats and cools the house, installed and serviced by the same Tomball crew for over 20 years.
Chapter 01
One machine for both seasons
A heat pump is an air conditioner that can run in reverse. In summer it moves heat out of the house, and in winter it moves heat in from the outdoor air, using the same outdoor unit, the same refrigerant circuit and the same indoor coil. That is why one system can answer for both seasons in a house that sees a long cooling season and a short heating one.
The tradeoff is that nothing gets a rest. A furnace sits idle all summer and an air conditioner sits idle all winter, but a heat pump works in both, so its wear shows up in both. The parts that matter are the reversing valve that switches its direction, the defrost cycle that clears the outdoor coil when it frosts over, the compressor, and the fan and blower motors.
Heat pumps also come in more than one shape. A ducted heat pump pushes air through the same ductwork a furnace would use. A ductless one, like the Mitsubishi Electric mini split systems, serves a room or a zone with its own indoor head and no ducts at all.
Mitsubishi Electric outdoor unit on a timber stand against a brick wall
Setting the unit, pulling the vacuum, proving the charge
The outdoor unit needs a level pad or stand, room to breathe on every side, and a clear path for the air to leave. A unit that cannot draw or discharge air freely works harder than it should, so the spot is chosen before the unit is set.
The refrigerant side is where the craft is. The line set is run and the connections are made tight, then the technician pressure-tests the lines with nitrogen, pulls a vacuum to remove air and moisture, and only then opens the system to refrigerant. Gauges tell him whether the charge is right. That is the kit a Mr. Chill technician carries to a Mitsubishi Electric condenser: gauges, hoses and a nitrogen bottle.
The installer finishes by checking compressor amperage, blower amperage and supply voltage, then runs the system in both modes so you see heating and cooling work before the van leaves the driveway. Mr. Chill is a Mitsubishi Diamond Dealer, with NATE-certified technicians, and installs Bosch, Trane, Ruud, Carrier and Goodman equipment as well.
Chapter 03
Looking after a system that never takes a season off
Because a heat pump runs year round, it benefits from being looked at twice a year. The Chill Club, $179 a year, covers an annual cooling visit in spring and an annual heating visit in fall. The cooling checklist runs through the evaporator coil, the condensate drain, the condensing fan, the line set and a water clean of the condensing coil, and the heating checklist covers amps, ignition, safeties and air temperature rise.
If something does go wrong, Chill Club members get priority service, 10% off repairs, no service call fee with a repair and a two-year warranty on any parts replaced. Additional units at the same location are $99 each.
Free estimates are offered on top-of-the-line brands, and financing is available with approved credit. The Tomball office is open 6:30 AM to 7 PM Monday to Saturday, and the Texas licence is TACLB27361E.
Mr. Chill. Licensed and insured, TACLB27361E. Call (832) 698-4273.