Question about heat pumps

[Dawg]

I just leased a house here in North Carolina and have discovered that this house is equipped with a heat pump. Now I grew up in Indiana and the only furnaces we ever had was an oil furnace, and a gas furnace so heat pumps are very new to me.

Basicly I was wondering what exactly it is (other than a furnace for the house) and how does it work? I think someone told me it's the reverse process of the central air's cooling process?? Also, please pardon my ignorance but is the heat pump in any way associated with my central air conditioner? Do I need the breaker for the central air turned on in order for the heat pump to work? Or can I turn it off for the winter?

Sorry for the silly questions, just wanting to learn something I don't already know. Thanx.

[irregularjoe]

Check out his link http://energyoutlet.com/res/heatpump/how.html

'....Question: ".....can I get a rough estimate over the phone to rewire my house?" ...' Answer: "Somewhere between one thousand and twenty thousand".

[Dawg]

Thanx Joe......that answered most of my questions. Still I'm wondering if the A/C breaker needs to be on for the heat pump to work properly? Or can it operate w/o the A/C breaker needing to be on?

[irregularjoe]

quote:Originally posted by Dawg

Thanx Joe......that answered most of my questions. Still I'm wondering if the A/C breaker needs to be on for the heat pump to work properly? Or can it operate w/o the A/C breaker needing to be on?

YES. The heat pump runs from the same circuit that the A'C does.

Did you ever see OHM'S mother in LAW?...... SHOCKING!